Canon EF 300mm f/2,8 L IS II USM - beast of a lens. New review!

Jay Brookstone wrote:

Hi Van:

The 300 f2.8 IS L (I and II) are media and sports photographer favorites due to their outstanding optical performance, very fast focusing, reasonable weight (compared to the 400mm f2.8 IS L) and ability to take both 1.4x and 2x tele-converters and still pump out great shots. In fact, this is the only lens I really like a 2x converter on, which means it works very well at 300, 420 and 600mm. The main hit with the 2x is slower focus speed - but its still very good.

Having used both versions I and II of the 300mm, I find both to have equivalent optical performance, similar IS (the improvement, if any, seems incremental, but I don't lean on IS much with this lens), similar weight (just 150 grams lighter) but slightly different handling. The V2 lens has a fixed mono/tripod collar, and so is a little more in the way when I sling this lens around handheld than the V1 with the collar removed. And the V2 has some enhancements for video that I've never used (plus IS mode III).

As a small favor from Canon (really small), the 300mm f2.8 IS L II retail price was not jacked up as much as the 400mm f2.8 IS L II over the version I.

Either one is a pure pleasure to shoot with.

Jay

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The first lens that I really felt an almost unbearable desire to own was the Canon EF 300mm f/2,8. However, with its hefty price tag, it wasn't even on the horizon for me to actually purchase, beeing just a young university student at the time.

The dream still lives on however and certainly didn't weaken after reading the latest review at Lensfreaks.com.

http://www.lensfreaks.com/lens-reviews/canon/canon-ef-300mm-f28-l-is-ii-usm-review-a-nice-little-beast/

That lens doesn't require stopping down the aperture if you want to achieve maximum sharpness. It is so incredibly good allready at f/2,8. Just take a look at those MTF-curves!

Seems like I won't be buying a new car this year. The old one still rolls and this lens rocks!

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM

Yeah, I guess the Mark I is about as good as the new version, and a lot cheaper on the second hand market. Maybe a better choice if I want to be able to upgrade both the photo equipment AND the car Don't need it for video either so the special IS-mode is less useful to me than a detachable tripod collar.

Have you seen any impovements in how it handles flares in backlit conditions?