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Canon EF 70-300 4-5.6 IS USM

Started Aug 5, 2015 | Questions thread
Steve Balcombe Forum Pro • Posts: 15,582
Re: Canon EF 70-300 4-5.6 IS USM

BalasmicVinegar wrote:

I've had this lens for a few years. Don't use it that often but when I do the results are disappointing at max zoom and max aperture.

The images often appear soft when displayed at 1:1 on a monitor. It's been back to Canon for recalibration but doesn't seem to have improved much.

I'd be interested if anyone can recommend an alternative lens with a similar range that produces better images.

I'm using it on a 70D and previously on a 50D

You will often see claims that this is a sharp lens, but then when you see images posted by people making these claims they are not really sharp. That fact is that people's standards and requirements vary.

I don't necessarily even mean that as a criticism of the lens - it's a reasonably priced, full frame, consumer grade tele zoom and it performs exactly as you would expect it to. If you want something significantly better you will need to move up a notch, if your budget will allow. The 70-300L is the obvious choice, and highly recommended. It's much more expensive but that's the only way you will get a significant improvement. If you find yourself constantly shooting at 300 mm and maybe wishing you had more reach, the 100-400L II is equally good and in some respects better. It's quite a bit bigger and heavier though, and even harder on the wallet.

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