Very sharp with great contrast over entire focal range

RDM5546 wrote:

Octopuss wrote:

Do you have any comments about the AF speed of the lens? Did you shoot anything moving by chance

I also have the EF100-400L II which is very similar in focus speed to the EF 70-300L. It is a lot longer lens though. If I were using it to shoot wild life I would strongly prefer the extra reach of the EF100-400L II but I think the focus properties of both lenses are nearly identical. The EF70-300L came out in 2010 long before the EF100-400L II.

Before the EF 100-400II which is weather sealed I had the EF 100-400 Mk I dating back to 2001. I hated the push pull zoom control and lack of weather or dust sealing of that lens https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=50552

The arrival of the radically improved design of the 100-400L II mad quite a difference. I believe the 70-300L is the design predecessor of the 100-400L II. Both have lots similarities and the 70-300L was produced about four years before the 100-400L II.

The 70-300L is 2.1lbs which is heavy by comparison to the 1.6lbs of the cheaper consumer grade 70-300 II IS USM which was the first lens to have a nanomotor USM. However it is not metal construction rugged or weather sealed which be important i some travel use cases. The consumer grade model is not has sharp and good IQ although is good for lenses in it's price range of $600. The 70-300L is excellent IQ and something special as also is the 100-400L II but it is bigger and significantly more expensive.

Both are special lenses and the 100-400L II has a very attractive reach for shooting wildlife and small birds. With the EOS R, R6 and R5 bodies the 100-400L II works well with the Canon 1.4X III and 2X III TCs for even greater range while the 70-300L does not really work well with the TCs and they are not recommended to be used.

However the much smaller size of the 70-300L fits upright in camera bags and in travel bags much easier with less travel weight than the 100-400L II. If wildlife is the objective the I recommend something with more reach like the 100-400L II.

I recently splurged and got the RF 100-500 and the RF1.4X and 2X TCs. The IQ of the 100-500L is spectacular and maybe better than the EF100-400L III but not by much if any. However, the focus speed is faster and the keeper is therefore higher when shooting action with R5. Once you use the RF100-500 it hard to go back to the EF 100-400II though I love the lens. However, the cost of the RF 100-500 with the two TCs is very expensive at over $4,000 including sales tax.

All three of the L lenses are spectacular and the 70-300L is now ten years old so you can buy them used in great condition for around $800 if you want a top grade travel lens.

I think two youtube reviews reveal a great deal about the performance of this lens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTGPG_kujD0   Dustin Abbott was really impressed with the lens despite the high price he thought it be a keeper for him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctIu_4YiUbg