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Questions & Answers

Shopper : how do I see questions and answers?
Shopper : Photorara from Boston wrote "a bit of a magenta cast at f2.0-F4." How do you get F/2 from an F/4 lens?STEVEN C : F4 is as wide as this lens opens.
Shopper : Can it be used with a 2x extender?ALLAN O : Yes, if one has the right Canon camera.By adding the 2X extender one is now shooting at F8.The Canon 1Dx,MarkiV,Mark iii, Mark ii, also the5D Mark iii will allow you to shoot in the Auto Focus mode.Most of the other cheaper canon Cameras, will not be able to shoot with Auto Focus.I hope this info will help you. AlJOSEPH K : Yes. But, I would only use a Canon extender (not another brand) and expect to see a reduction in image quality and a need to either decrease your shutter speed or increase your ISO. If you have a camera with one of the newer sensors (Canon 5DMkIII or Canon 6D this will allow you to shoot with a higher ISO. Rent the lens first and try it with the 2x extender and then without before you decide.CHARLIE V : Yes, you can but the auto focus is very slow under low light.David B : Yes! But you have to shoot on manual focus if you do! I use the 1.4 extender and I am getting great results! The plus side is that I can use auto focus with the 1.4! Hope this helps! I love the lens BTW!LAWRENCE D : Yes, this lens is compatible with Canon's EF 1.4x II and 2x II Extenders. I have used it extensively with the 1.4 extender with excellent results. With a 2x extender you need a lot of light and a good tripod as the lens becomes an f8 600mm equivelant.JAMES J C : No it can't be used with a 2x extender but it can used with a 1.4x.ROY C : Yes, but the aperture then turns to 5.6.

Reviews about this item

Review Summary

2022-12-06T02:18:13

Rated 5 out of 5

Sharp

Sharp lens. Great service

Scott D.

2019-01-01T19:00:00

Rated 3 out of 5

Image Stabilization makes a clunking sound

Got this for Christmas and haven't had a chance to really use it except just playing with it around the house. The Image Stabilization makes a small clunking sound whenever it goes into action. Is that normal?

Swish

2018-09-16T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

My Go To Lens

Bought this lens from B&H a few years ago and it is my absolute favorite! It is super sharp, weighs much less than the 2.8 lens and fits easily into any bag. I photograph horses so I needed a lens that was easy to carry and yet produced sharp images. I highly recommend this lens!

Marty123

2018-05-28T09:40:54

Rated 5 out of 5

Wonderful place to shop

Great lense, delivery was good

ROBERT K.

2017-10-13T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

An older lens but still a powerhouse

Bought this a couple years ago as a lens with decent reach and with f4 it is a great value. I love the bokeh I get at f4! It has IS but it is older generation so, while it’s better than no IS, it’s not the best. Also the AF is ok but not great and at least my copy is a bit noisy with IS on and when AF engaged. Nevertheless it does produce very good images.

Cytography

2017-08-06T13:17:30

Rated 5 out of 5

Biggest bang for your buck

If you have the light this is a great lens at it's focal length. Light enough to carry around and remain conspicuous. Sharp center to edge and nice contrast. Best yet, it's not huge investment (thousands) where you can risk some weathers conditional sessions and reap the rewards of some great shots. A bit noisy focusing, apparently normal for this lens.

GARY B.

2017-07-12T20:00:00

Rated 2 out of 5

Loud IS

I bought this lens to shoot plays and sports events. It has been acceptable for sports but I cannot use during indoor plays due to the the loud IS. It is too distracting to people anywhere near me. I sent in to Canon service and they say that it "performs to factory specs". I plan on selling it.

Mac P.

2017-06-21T03:01:06

Rated 5 out of 5

Now my Go-To Lens

I purchased this lens used from Adorarma not knowing what to expect. When it arrived, I was surprised to find it in perfect condition. If I didn't know it was used, I'd swear it was new. It even came with a hardcase and the manual. I was a little concerned when I first picked it up. This thing is heavier than my other lens, but soon you get used to it. I was worried I wouldn't be able to take good handheld shots. No worries, just set the shutter speed higher and shoot away. Pictures are stunning. Yes, it takes some practice, but once mastered, you will love the results you can obtain with this lens. Even at f4, its crisp, sharp optics. I'm glad I bought this lens.

Richard H.

2017-01-11T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

amazing lens~still shots or moving

WONDERFUL LENS~ONE OF MY FAVORITES~CHASING JETS BACK WASH~FLYING EAGLES~MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHY ONE OF CANONS BEST LENSES EVER~VERSATILE ADD A 2X AND U HAVE AN 800MM LENS~FANTASTIC CLEAR & CRISP

Sorjourner

2016-10-28T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Fast, IQ is great

Puchased this lens a week to ten days ago. Best lens I own. The AF is quiet, IS works as it should, not as light as you'd think but, having it on a 1Dmk3 is worth its weight. functioing range is a bit short for birds unless your within 50 feet. Still searching for mtn. cats, bears, ect, but would expect to be within the capapbilities of the lens.

Just i.

2016-04-21T11:45:34

Rated 5 out of 5

Great alternative

I bought this lens to pair with a 7D MKII and 1DX - I wasn't dissapointed. This lens gives me tack sharp, quality images. It is great alternative to the 300/ 2.8 and MUCH lighter to carry. It actually seems lighter than my 70-200 /2.8. and can be easily hand held. It will not take the place of of 300/ 2.8 if you need low light capabilities. With that said, it will give decent images in a professional stadium at night, and in daylight you can't beat it.

Jerry P.

2016-01-12T19:00:00

Rated 1 out of 5

Most of my photos aren't in focus with this lens

I bought this lens a few days ago, and have to say that I am highly disappointed with it. On my first day using it, None of the 70 or so photos that I took were in focus. I have been using the 100-400mm IS mkII since it came out, and was expecting this lens to be at least as sharp as it, but, so far, its not even close. I did read on-line where other people were having similar issues with it and recommended using ONE SHOT AF versus AI SERVO (AI SERVI is what I have always used with my other lenses, so I tried it today just using ONE SHOT and did have a couple of photos that were sharp, but, 2 sharp photos out of 60, isn't very good, and the other 58 weren't even close to being sharp. I could have gotten some really nice Red Tail Hawk and Coopers Hawk photos today had I took my other lens. I don't know if I just got a bad lens or what, but, it looks like I will need to send it in for repairs.

Charlie

2015-12-18T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent lens for the price

This lens is a real bargain. It is a serious professional lens, but since it has been in Canon's line-up for more than a decade, it can be bought for a really nice price. The AF is actually very quiet. Many people saying that AF is loud simply mistook the noise of the old IS system for the AF noise. Turn off IS and you get a quiet lens, although you will need a support and faster shutter speed to compensate. Image quality is excellent as you would expect from a 300mm prime lens. It's not as sharp as the 70-200mm/2.8 IS II, but perfectly fine unless you are printing wall sized prints. AF is fast and accurate. The weight difference from the 100-400 is really nice when you swing the lens around to follow birds. The extra stop of aperture is also handy. All in all a good lens. Hope Canon would update it with a more modern version with better IS which would really make it perfect, even with the same image quality.

Jack

2015-05-07T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

neato

i purchase this lens from canon website they ship it fast i receive it only 2 days after purchase. the auto focus is loud and eats battery but works very well im super happy.

cake

2015-04-01T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Clear glass

Bought this lens used from adorama . Rating was spot on , glass is perfect body is excellent. it was a very good deal.

Brian

2014-07-12T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

I may as well weld this to my 5D3

I have owned this lens for eight months and it, together with an EF 1.4x III, stay on my 5D Mark III more than 90% of the time. I absolutely love this lens, and picked it out to get a bit more reach over my EF 200 f/2.8L II (also a superb lens). The autofocus is fast, dead accurate, and the color and contrast are outstanding. With the teleconverter image quality is still excellent. I shoot wildlife, birds large and small, flying and still, turtles, dragonflies, and it handles them all superbly. The detail rendered by this lens is astonishing, and the bokeh is beautifully creamy as you would expect from a lens of this length. The image stabilization works also very well. For the price you can't beat this lens if you want fantastic quality in the 300-400mm range.

Roscoe4321

2014-06-28T20:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Great as a close-up lens

This is my second L series lens, and I've had the same problem with both of them, neither auto-focuses accurately on one of the 60 D bodies that I own. The problem may be with the one body, but all my other lenses, Canon or other brands, work well with that body. This is a great lens to use for near macro photography,for somewhat larger subjects such as butterflies, dragonflies, and larger flowers. It is extremely sharp, the colors are dead on, and it is much better than any of my other lenses in low light conditions when I shoot at higher ISO settings. This lens makes my 60 D body look good. However, for photos shot between 20 and 50 feet, the sharpness falls off, I believe that to be due to the auto-focus not being accurate in part. By stopping the lens down, I can get usable photos in that distance range, but I have another brand of telephoto zoom lens that does better. Past 50 feet or so, the sharpness returns, I've shot some super sharp photos of raptors and other large birds in flight using this lens. The auto-focus is relatively fast and quiet. The auto-focus has no problem keeping up with larger birds in flight, but it isn't fast enough for smaller songbirds. The Image stabilization works very well, but it is loud, and seems to drain my camera's battery much faster than any of my other lenses. I would tell any one looking for a lens for taking close-ups of flowers and insects that this lens is great. However, I wouldn't recommend it to any one looking for a lens for birding, there are better choices available for birding. I knew that when I purchased it from the other reviews that I read before making the purchase.

QuietSoloPursuits

2014-06-01T21:00:00

Rated 4 out of 5

Excellent Wildlife Lens

Purchased for small boat cruise in Alaska and found the lens to be an excellent choice for capturing whales other distant wildlife.

STEVE S.

2014-05-01T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great lens

Took this lens on a whale watching workshop and it performed awesomely. It is tack sharp and an amazing piece of equipment. Would recommend it to anyone that wants or needs a longer reach.

Wildlife s.

2014-04-07T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM Lens Used.

Love this lens. Beautiful condition. Excellent price. I shoot birds and this prime has taken over from my 70-300 zoom and my 150-500 zoom. I shoot full frame. The IQ is so good that cropping to what my 500 would "see" far exceeds the 500 zoom in quality. For me, at age 80, it is also hand holdable and a natural for BIF. It would be nice to have the newer IS. However, I have not found a problem with this older version. I am a retired professional full time photographer who did studio and location work for advertising and magazines.

jim

2014-04-07T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Advertised as USED. NOT gray market

Love this lens. Beautiful condition. Excellent price. ( is that because it was gray but not advertised as such ? ). I shoot birds and this prime has taken over from my 70-300 zoom and my 150-500 zoom. I shoot full frame. The IQ is so good that cropping to what my 500 would "see" far exceeds the 500 zoom in quality. For me, at age 80, it is hand holdable. It would be nice to have the newer generation of IS. However, this 2 stop version has not been a problem. I am a retired full time professional who did studio and location work for advertising agencies and magazines.

JAMES I.

2014-04-02T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great lens at a great price!

I use this lens for action shots or wildlife. The images are sharp and clear. If I need a little more reach I can slip the 1.4 in line and go up to 420mm @F5.6. The lens is lite-weight so it's easy to hike with or move around tracking birds or other wildlife.

JACK E.

2014-02-11T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great lens!

I've had this lens for about 6 months now and I absolutely love it! Great buy! Even better price!

Sportsphotog

2013-07-30T20:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Super L quality

This is the second L lens I own, the first is the 70-200mm f4 L IS. After the first L, I just had to get another. The amazing quality that I've never had in any other lens, sets the L lens apart from all others. Smooth mechanism, great build and unbelievable sharpness! This lens is worth every penny I paid. The first time I saw an image at 100% on my monitor, I knew i had something special. Spot on auto focus, edge to edge sharpness...wide open. You can't go wrong with one if you need a long lens in this range! This prime won't disappoint!

Gjbpro1

2013-07-22T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Great lens at a significant savings

I researched this lens thoroughly and a few others (notably the 70-200mm F2.8 lens). The latter was a whopping $2,400. I didn't want to pay more than about $1,000 or $1,100. I probably would have mostly used the zoom at the 200mm range. So, I figured, why not go with a 300mm telephoto instead. The rating was high, it was image stabilization and was far less expensive, at around $1,400. That was still more than I wanted to pay, but Adorama offered a used model in excellent condition for slightly over $1,100. I had some trepidation about buying a used lens, but when it arrived, there was absolutely no sign of wear and tear. If I didn't know it was used, I'd never have been able to tell. Of course, the real value was apparent immediately after I began using it. This lens is a great tool for any photographer looking for high quality images, especially if you want to get closer to your subject when shooting nature and sports. I'm thrilled with this lens and very impressed with Adorama.

Bill M.

2013-07-12T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Outstanding image and build quality

I use this lens for wildlife and sports still image photography. I have a Canon 6D and EOS1DMKIIn and the lens is very well balanced with both bodies. I use it mostly handheld and the IS certainly is utilized, effective and appreciated. At this focal length, handheld, you need to be mindful of how you have the camera metering set. The lens tripod mounted with the included collar is perfect as you would expect. The images from this lens are sharp and clear and provide consistent quality compared to my other 5 Canon L Series lenses. The mode 2 panning works well on sports and actions shots. Next to the functionality and image quality of this lens I especially like the build quality, included accessories (tripod collar, Canon case) and the built-in lens hood. I have rented the 300mm f/2.8 L IS which is in a class by itself (it is the pinnacle of this focal length) however this lens offers a very attractive alternative in performance, quality, portability, and practical price point for most serious enthusiast and above.

Christian K.

2013-05-20T21:00:00

Rated 3 out of 5

A little soft in focusing

Have been using this lens with a 1.4 extender and have found that it is a little slow to focus in low light. Have been able to take some good photos with it.

REBECCA W.

2013-05-13T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Excellent lens!

My copy of the 300 f/4L lives up to the excellent reputation that this model has. It meets or exceeds my expectations.

Cal K.

2013-03-18T21:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

Wonderful Lens

use it for birds, mostly. Nice and fast even for birds in flight. Am now trying it with 1.4X tele and so far it's working well, although the focus is definitely less responsive.

curt

2013-01-08T19:00:00

Rated 5 out of 5

I like this lens.

I use this lens with my 7D. It is fast focusing and easy to carry. I would recommend this lens.

DENNIS S.

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Canon 300mm F/4L Specifications

General

General

Jump to...
  • Brand

    Canon

  • MPN

    2530A004

  • Lens Series

    Canon EF

  • Color

    White

  • Lens Type

    Telephoto

  • Lens Mount

    Canon EOS

  • Format Compatibility

    Full Frame

  • Focus Type

    Auto Focus

  • Focusing Technology

    N/A

  • Closest Focus Distance

    58.8" / 150cm

  • Distance Information

    N/A

  • Built-In Motor

    N/A

  • Focal Length

    300mm

  • Angle Of View

    8 deg. 15'

  • 35mm Equivalent Focal Length

    Not Applicable

  • Coverage

    N/A

  • Minimum Aperture

    f/32

  • Maximum Aperture

    f/4

  • Maximum Magnification

    0.21x

  • Lens Coating

    N/A

  • Aspherical Elements

    N/A

  • ED Glass Elements

    N/A

  • Filter Size

    77mm

Construction

Jump to...
  • Lens Elements / Groups

    15 Elements / 11 Groups

  • Diaphragm Blades

    N/A

  • Dimensions

    8.7 x 3.5" (221.0 x 90.0mm)

  • Weight

    67.3oz / 1190g

Features

Jump to...
  • Image Stabilization Type

    IS

  • Tripod Collar

    Yes

  • Waterproof / Water Resistant

    N/A

  • Dust Resistant

    N/A

  • UPC Code

    082966213380

69 Accessories for Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM Lens

  • All Accessories (69)
  • Filters (24)
  • Bags & Cases (3)
  • Lens Caps (2)
  • Covers & Caps (4)
  • Rain Covers (1)
  • Extended Warranty (2)
  • Cleaning Accessories (17)
  • Teleconverters (9)
  • Extension Tubes (6)
  • Gimbal Heads (1)

About Canon 300mm F/4L

FEATURED REVIEWS

a lot of bang for the buck

By ondo

One of the best values for a telephoto. Easy to hand hold. If you can't afford to buy the big glass @ f-2.8 ; go for this. The glass is sharp,focus is fast. A friend who is an NFL photographer referred this lens to me. Good advise!

Have used this for years - great lens !

By nature l.

I 'm a female photographer and want to encourage other women to be bold and get into the field of wildlife work. I bought this lens when I first started wildife photography in 2000. I researched for months before buying. I wanted to photograph birds particularly. I'm a stickler about sharpness so I don't settle on my equipment. I love the hood, the scratch resistant coating and the sturdiness. I was once out in the field changing lenses on a picnic table. This lens rolled off and hit the grou...

View full Review

Compact L-series telephoto lens with an Image Stabilizer which compensates for camera shake with the equivalent effect of a shutter speed two stops faster. Two Image Stabilizer modes are provided: Stabilizer Mode 1 (the same mode featured on the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM) and the new Stabilizer Mode 2 which steadies the image during horizontal or vertical panning. Mode 2 detects the panning direction automatically. The closest focusing distance is 4.9 feet (1.5m).

High quality, stabilized telephoto lens
The EF 300mm f/4L IS USM is a compact telephoto lens featuring an Image Stabilizer that compensates for camera shake, allowing shutter speeds two stops slower than normal to be used without blur. Stabilization can be turned off in one direction to allow for panning.

L-series quality
The L-series is Canon's flagship professional lens range, representing the best in precision-designed EF optics. L-series lenses combine superior performance with superlative handling, and are resistant to dust and moisture.

Ultrasonic focusing
A ring-type ultrasonic motor drives autofocus extremely quickly, and in near silence. Excellent holding torque ensures the point of focus is reached accurately, without overshooting. Furthermore, full-time manual override is available, making it possible to adjust focus without leaving AF mode.

Super Spectra coating
Super Spectra coatings ensure accurate color balance and enhance contrast. They also reduce flare and ghosting - a common problem caused by light bouncing off a camera's sensor.

Integration with E-TTL II flash metering
The lens passes distance information back to a compatible EOS camera's E-TTL II flash system to ensure optimal flash metering.

Canon 300mm F/4L Features

  • L-series construction and optic
  • Two UD lens elements
  • Fast, quiet USM autofocus
  • Super Spectra coatings
  • Circular aperture for excellent background bokeh
  • 77mm filter size

Key Features

  • L-series construction and optic
  • Fast, quiet USM autofocus
  • Circular aperture for excellent background bokeh

What's in the box:

  • Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM AF Telephoto Lens
  • Lens Cap E-77U
  • Rear Lens Cap E
  • Lens Case LZ-1128
  • Tripod Mount
  • Strap
  • Lens Hood (Built-in)
  • Canon 1 Year Warranty