Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Pro Reviews

Canon says that their redesigned Extender EF 2x III delivers optical performance on par with the finest Canon super telephoto lenses, and I believe ’em. It features a built-in microcomputer for seamless communication between camera body, lens, and extender and uses nine elements in five groups along with coatings to minimize ghosting, flare, and chromatic aberration. It even has the same Fluorine coating as the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens to minimize soiling, smears, and fingerprints. The Extender EF 2x III measures 2.8x2.1” and weighs only 11.5 oz. This beauty costs $499.99, but if your credit card can handle the hit from any L-series lenses you should get one with the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM because of the versatility it provides. Note: The Extender EF 2x III is only compatible with fixed focal length L-series lenses 135mm and over, as well as the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, EF 70-200mm f/4L, and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L.

This is a really lovely lens that has been a positive pleasure to test. It is fairly expensive but this is a professional zoom and is priced accordingly. As such it cannot be considered to be a bargain but neither is it unreasonably positioned within Canon's line-up. And as the list above illustrates, if a cheaper option is required then Canon has plenty of alternatives. If this one is the lens you choose, you won't be disappointed.

The Canon 70-300mm ƒ/4-5.6L IS USM didn't produce tack-sharp results, but it produced a consistently good images at each focal length, with good control of chromatic aberration. While you can certainly spend less money to get the same range of focal lengths, the build quality and technological supremacy of the Canon reflects the price point - it's a lens you won't be afraid to take anywhere.

If you are spending the time and effort to take pictures, you probably want your results to be great. With pro-grade image quality, pro-grade build quality, fast/quiet AF and excellent IS in a relatively light lens, the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM Lens may have your name on it.

The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM L IS delivers high quality results throughout the zoom range but especially at 70mm. So does the EF 70-300mm USM L IS live up to the high expectations ? Well, I'd say mostly but not entirely. The optical quality is at the high end for a lens in the 300mm zoom class but it doesn't shine quite as bright as e.g. the (more affordable) EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L IS and, frankly, the pricing isn't aligned accordingly. Yet you won't find another EF mount lens with this build quality, range, compact size and very decent optical quality.

The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM L IS shines when used on an APS-C DSLR. It is capable of delivering very high quality results throughout the entire zoom range and across the whole image field here. Distortions, lateral CAs and vignetting are negligible. The bokeh is generally smooth and out-of-focus highlights are rendered perfectly on the cropped format. The lens performs somewhat worse on a full format camera but we didn't find any significant downside within the APS-C scope ... apart from its very high pricing maybe. Therefore highly recommended here!