Canon EF 300mm f/4.0L IS

[cqf]

I am really interested in getting this lens in the near future to shoot surfing and other action sports. I have a 20d and am also interested in a 1.4x converter. Can you share you experience?
--
cqf

 

[Zidar162589]

The lens is good for spots where the surfers are close, like where there's a cliff or a good beach break. I'd suggest the 2X extender.

I have the non-IS lens, which I bought in the early 90s. It is a great lens and I use it all the time. It is compact and light enough that you can carry it around.



This shot is from Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. It was shot on film with an EOS-1.

Zidar
Alaska
http://www.pbase.com/zidar

--
'He's out there operating without any decent restraint, totally beyond
the pale of any acceptable human conduct.'

• Apocalypse Now

 

[cqf]

Great shot man. I figure that with a 20d plus the 1.4 or 2x converter I can get petty close to what I need.

Thanks for the reply. Do you have more surf images?

Fernando

The lens is good for spots where the surfers are close, like where
there's a cliff or a good beach break. I'd suggest the 2X extender.

I have the non-IS lens, which I bought in the early 90s. It is a
great lens and I use it all the time. It is compact and light
enough that you can carry it around.



This shot is from Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz. It was shot on film
with an EOS-1.

Zidar
Alaska
http://www.pbase.com/zidar

--
'He's out there operating without any decent restraint, totally beyond
the pale of any acceptable human conduct.'

• Apocalypse Now

--
cqf

 

[Apostolis Kalliakmanis]

Hi,

I've just bought one yesterday and test it today with my 5D in soccer.

Here are the results
http://www.pbase.com/kalliakm/gsaa

Regards
Apostolis

--
Canon 5D, Canon Eos 3
Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L USM, Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L USM,
Canon 50mm f1.4 USM, Canon 24-70 f2.8 L USM,
Canon 300mm f4 L IS USM,
http://www.pbase.com/kalliakm
Pbase Supporter

 

[Daniella68313]

I am really interested in getting this lens in the near future to
shoot surfing and other action sports. I have a 20d and am also
interested in a 1.4x converter. Can you share you experience?

if you think you will be using the TC most of the time, get a 400mm lens instead.

either the 100-400 IS or the 400mm F5.6 L.

--
cqf

--



http://www.pbase.com/zylen

 

[cqf]

Nice images, thanks. I see it was an overcast day. The images look pretty good to me. Where you handholding or was it on a monopod/tripod?

Hi,

I've just bought one yesterday and test it today with my 5D in soccer.

Here are the results
http://www.pbase.com/kalliakm/gsaa

Regards
Apostolis

--
Canon 5D, Canon Eos 3
Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L USM, Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L USM,
Canon 50mm f1.4 USM, Canon 24-70 f2.8 L USM,
Canon 300mm f4 L IS USM,
http://www.pbase.com/kalliakm
Pbase Supporter

--
cqf

 

[Apostolis Kalliakmanis]

Handholding all the time
--
Canon 5D, Canon Eos 3
Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L USM, Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L USM,
Canon 50mm f1.4 USM, Canon 24-70 f2.8 L USM,
Canon 300mm f4 L IS USM,
http://www.pbase.com/kalliakm
Pbase Supporter

 

[cqf]

Ok I’ll look into it. Thank you. Regards. Fernando.

I am really interested in getting this lens in the near future to
shoot surfing and other action sports. I have a 20d and am also
interested in a 1.4x converter. Can you share you experience?

if you think you will be using the TC most of the time, get a 400mm
lens instead.

either the 100-400 IS or the 400mm F5.6 L.

--
cqf

--



http://www.pbase.com/zylen

--
cqf

 

[cqf]

Sweet. Thanks.

Regards.

Fernando.

Handholding all the time
--
Canon 5D, Canon Eos 3
Canon 16-35mm f2.8 L USM, Canon 70-200mm f2.8 L USM,
Canon 50mm f1.4 USM, Canon 24-70 f2.8 L USM,
Canon 300mm f4 L IS USM,
http://www.pbase.com/kalliakm
Pbase Supporter

--
cqf

 

[ohyva]

I am really interested in getting this lens in the near future to
shoot surfing and other action sports. I have a 20d and am also
interested in a 1.4x converter. Can you share you experience?

if you think you will be using the TC most of the time, get a 400mm
lens instead.

either the 100-400 IS or the 400mm F5.6 L.

Considered that a long time, but ended to 300 f4 IS.
100-400 IS seemed a bit soft (in comparison as it's a very good lens).
400 f4.6 does not have IS and 400 f4 or 400 f2.8 are so expensive.

I already have the 1.4TC so with that I'd get a decent "400 f5.6 IS".

--
cqf

--



http://www.pbase.com/zylen

 

[Daniella68313]

I am really interested in getting this lens in the near future to
shoot surfing and other action sports. I have a 20d and am also
interested in a 1.4x converter. Can you share you experience?

if you think you will be using the TC most of the time, get a 400mm
lens instead.

either the 100-400 IS or the 400mm F5.6 L.

Considered that a long time, but ended to 300 f4 IS.
100-400 IS seemed a bit soft (in comparison as it's a very good lens).
400 f4.6 does not have IS and 400 f4 or 400 f2.8 are so expensive.

I already have the 1.4TC so with that I'd get a decent "400 f5.6 IS".

only decent though..you won't get that wow sharp factor that I get with the prime wide open.

I think if one is going to use the 1.4x tc on the 300mm lens..it makes absolutely no sense to buy a 300mm.

the 300mm F4 IS with a 1.4x is NO better than the 100-400 IS wide open, maybe even worse, depending on the copy.

--
cqf

--



http://www.pbase.com/zylen

--



http://www.pbase.com/zylen

 

[bronxbombers]

Ok I’ll look into it. Thank you. Regards. Fernando.

for sports i would really go with the 300 f/4 and the TC over a 400mm, unless everything will be in the bright sun and all action is super far away, in that case certainly the 40mm.

the f/4 can often be of critical importance, and sometimes 400mm is just too long and it is trickier to frame action well.

 

[bronxbombers]

only decent though..you won't get that wow sharp factor that I get
with the prime wide open.

I think if one is going to use the 1.4x tc on the 300mm lens..it
makes absolutely no sense to buy a 300mm.

the 300mm F4 IS with a 1.4x is NO better than the 100-400 IS wide
open, maybe even worse, depending on the copy.

certainly if all you will ever do is use it with the 1.6x on, but for lots of sports 300mm is better and the fast f/4 critical. so the 300mm gives you a lot more flexibility.

 

[cqf]

Precisely, I think Daniela has a very good point, but I think the 400 can be just a bit too long. I ahvent’t use the TC 1.4 but I’ve heard it couples well with the 300 f4. Right?

Ok I’ll look into it. Thank you. Regards. Fernando.

for sports i would really go with the 300 f/4 and the TC over a
400mm, unless everything will be in the bright sun and all action
is super far away, in that case certainly the 40mm.

the f/4 can often be of critical importance, and sometimes 400mm is
just too long and it is trickier to frame action well.

--
cqf

 

[Daniella68313]

Precisely, I think Daniela has a very good point, but I think the
400 can be just a bit too long. I ahvent’t use the TC 1.4 but I’ve
heard it couples well with the 300 f4. Right?

if you want the lens for sport then yes the F4 is better..but the 300mm F4 IS with a 1.4x tc need to be stopped down to F5.6 at least to give decent results. the 400mm is tack sharp wide open. that's why if you think you will be using the TC a lot..there is no point getting the 300mm F4. only if you plan on using the TC rarely that it is worth it.

Ok I’ll look into it. Thank you. Regards. Fernando.

for sports i would really go with the 300 f/4 and the TC over a
400mm, unless everything will be in the bright sun and all action
is super far away, in that case certainly the 40mm.

the f/4 can often be of critical importance, and sometimes 400mm is
just too long and it is trickier to frame action well.

--
cqf

--



http://www.pbase.com/zylen

 

[Daniella68313]

only decent though..you won't get that wow sharp factor that I get
with the prime wide open.

I think if one is going to use the 1.4x tc on the 300mm lens..it
makes absolutely no sense to buy a 300mm.

the 300mm F4 IS with a 1.4x is NO better than the 100-400 IS wide
open, maybe even worse, depending on the copy.

certainly if all you will ever do is use it with the 1.6x on, but
for lots of sports 300mm is better and the fast f/4 critical. so
the 300mm gives you a lot more flexibility.

yep..I agree with that..as long as you don't endup having to use the tc most of the time because as soon as you put the tc on that lens, you lose all advantages it can offer.

--



http://www.pbase.com/zylen

 

[cqf]

That was really good know. I really have to consider my subjects closer and decide on the lens.

Really helpfull though. Thank you for you attention.

Best regards, Fernando.

only decent though..you won't get that wow sharp factor that I get
with the prime wide open.

I think if one is going to use the 1.4x tc on the 300mm lens..it
makes absolutely no sense to buy a 300mm.

the 300mm F4 IS with a 1.4x is NO better than the 100-400 IS wide
open, maybe even worse, depending on the copy.

certainly if all you will ever do is use it with the 1.6x on, but
for lots of sports 300mm is better and the fast f/4 critical. so
the 300mm gives you a lot more flexibility.

yep..I agree with that..as long as you don't endup having to use
the tc most of the time because as soon as you put the tc on that
lens, you lose all advantages it can offer.

--



http://www.pbase.com/zylen

--
cqf

 

[bronxbombers]

Precisely, I think Daniela has a very good point, but I think the
400 can be just a bit too long. I ahvent’t use the TC 1.4 but I’ve
heard it couples well with the 300 f4. Right?

pretty well to my non-IS one at the least, not that it will match the 400mm prime of course, but it's still pretty decent.

anyway, if all you shoot are surfers who are always too far away and there is enough light for f5.6, get the 400mm certainly, otherwise if you shot other sports or can sometimes get closer in to surfers or believe f5.6 would make the shutter speed too slow, get the 300mm for sure.

here are few 100% crops, all heavily processed, only had 1.4x for a couple days, not done much with it yet but here are few samples:

300mm f/4:



420mm f/5.6:



420mm f/7.1:

 

[cqf]

I see what you mean. I really have to consider what I’ll be shooting. I certainly would be doing surfing but am also considering other sports like soccer, basketball and even rodeos.

By the way, thanks guys for the interest in my dilema!!!

Fernando

Precisely, I think Daniela has a very good point, but I think the
400 can be just a bit too long. I ahvent’t use the TC 1.4 but I’ve
heard it couples well with the 300 f4. Right?

pretty well to my non-IS one at the least, not that it will match
the 400mm prime of course, but it's still pretty decent.

anyway, if all you shoot are surfers who are always too far away
and there is enough light for f5.6, get the 400mm certainly,
otherwise if you shot other sports or can sometimes get closer in
to surfers or believe f5.6 would make the shutter speed too slow,
get the 300mm for sure.

here are few 100% crops, all heavily processed, only had 1.4x for a
couple days, not done much with it yet but here are few samples:

300mm f/4:



420mm f/5.6:



420mm f/7.1:

--
cqf

 

[Lee Jay]

if you want the lens for sport then yes the F4 is better..but the
300mm F4 IS with a 1.4x tc need to be stopped down to F5.6 at least
to give decent results.

Ummmm...that would be wide-open, Daniella.

Did you mean f8?

--
Lee Jay
(see profile for equipment)