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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from Longview Texas on 9/24/2008
Upgraded to a Canon XTi two years ago and now find it time to buy a telephoto zoom, this is what I found in the price and zoom range that I need. I am highly satisfied with this lens.
Images shared by: Kenf16 @ 1/20 IS works
Tags: Made with Product
from Guatemala on 8/7/2008
Is a perfect lens, i am very happy with this product.
from McKinney, TX on 8/6/2008
Nw lens purchase and not much experience using this lens. But the results to date have been very good/excellent. Sharp images. Fast focus.
from PA on 7/23/2008
I had the Canon EF 70-200 f4L, but prefer this lens with the IS and the increased zoom. I shoot alot in lower light situations and the IS does a nice job getting a cleaner picture.
from Central Ne. USA on 7/15/2008
If your not quite as steady as you used to be or get excited during the shoot,like I do at games, then this is the lens for you!!!!
Unless you can afford/justify an f 2.8 L lens this lens is a dream come true.
from Houston , Texas on 7/10/2008
Bought this lens to replace an older one, very happy with this one !
from Annandale, VA on 6/14/2008
Great lens for outdoor sports with a long reach and quick focus. The IS works really well for indoor shots. The lens is too slow for indoor sports/action shots.
from Snoqualmie, WA on 6/12/2008
Got this lens with my Canon XSi and I am still learning to play around with it.
My only beef is that I am finding that focusing does take longer but I don't know if that is normal or not.
from Alamo, CA on 6/7/2008
Like some of us I was considering the 70-200L lenses and even the 100-400. While I conceed that the L lenses are sharper the one to compare this one is the 70-200L IS. This one is almost 1/2 the price, 20% lighter and 100mm more. The only thing I don't like is the rotating barrel, it's a pain with polarizing filters. Lens is very sharp and no focus problems makes for a nice lightweight walk around telephoto.
from Rhode Island on 5/21/2008
This is a great lens for a great price. The image stablization is worth it. It is very well constructed. I would recommend this lens to anyone and everyone.
from Canada on 2/21/2008
Nice lens for a beginner will upgrade to 70-200mm f/2.8 when i can afford it
from Palmer, Pennsylvania on 1/26/2008
used this lens to shoot artificial flowers and was able to see the cloth weave clearly up to 200% magnification. At long distance it was also very sharp. Image stabilivation seems to work very well. It is probably not as sharp as my 70-200 f4L but the image stabilization makes it more useful.
from Las Vegas on 1/21/2008
A fair priced lens, construction is kind of cheap feeling, difficulty shooting sports in indoor areas that use fluorescent lights. Excellent for outdoor use.
from Springfield Mo. on 1/21/2008
Sharp lens and I purchased due to light weight and IS feature. Very good lens for the $$
from towanda illinois on 10/1/2007
Quiet and easy to use, sharp focus and the auto focus is very fast.
from Cleveland, OK on 9/26/2007
The lens was everything I expected. I have not tried it on fast action yet. That will be the true test.
Images shared by: NoneTulsa Zoo Lion
from Mt. Zion, IL on 9/26/2007
Great lens and when it is focused well, it is great. I was going to buy the 2.9 all the way out but it was 3 times the money. This lens is very clear and most the time focuses quickly.
I have used it often at football games in continuous shooting mode and sometimes I change subjects quickly with the action and the focus occasionally struggles to keep up. This is great for the money.
from Boston, MA on 9/26/2007
I used this lens while shooting a nostalgia drag race in September with terrific results, and when taking the kids to the park, switched the lens to this one for a real close up of a monarch butterfly that landed nearby with real good results. I really like this lens a lot.
Images shared by: NItroDog1/640 f/9 165mm iso 800 exposure comp +1.3
Tags: Made with Product
from Santa Cruz on 9/26/2007
A consistently reliable lens with quick, sharp focusing. Image stabilization is awesome; you have your choice of two modes, the first is omnidirectional for fixed objects, the second is for tracking moving objects, which disregards the background (very useful for moving wildlife, sports, etc.) A lock button prevents the lens from zooming out when you're walking around with the camera. It is so fun to use that we now have two in our family (we just can't share it when we're outside taking photos!) Highly recommended.
from madison, AL on 8/10/2007
I really liked this lens. The images produced are quite sharp, even at 300mm, especially when stopped down one or two stops. I think the sweet spot would be around f6.3-f8 at the short end and f8-f11 at the long end.
The IS works like a charm, especially at the long end. You really see the difference when you press the shutter button and the IS starts to work. Nice construction too.
The zoom ring is a bit stiff, but that is not necessarily bad. I believe zoom creep is a rather unlikely event as it would require strong forces.
a shot at 300mm.
Tags: Using Product
I have had this lens for a number of years and it has seldom let me down. It has great IQ for a non 'L' lens and it's IS works very well.
This was one of the first lenses I bought when I got into photography and I have never regretted it. I highly recommend this lens to anyone just getting started with photography. It's relatively inexpensive, lightweight and takes great pictures.
The lens body is plastic and it has never struck me as being very 'sturdy' so I have always been very careful with mine. So far I ahve not had any problems though. But the construction is why I only gave it 4 stars.
from Omaha, NE on 7/10/2007
A terrific upgrade from my 15-year-old 70-300 lens. Image Stabilization works great. Lens is not real fast, but for the price is very acceptable. Its a little heavy, but not unreasonable for IS lens with US focus.
from Peoria, IL on 7/10/2007
I have just started using this lens, but am very impressed with how lightweight it is and easy to use.
from Thousand Oaks, CA on 7/10/2007
I took this lens to Africa and was not disappointed. I got closeups of lions and babboons that are astounding - all from a safari van and without a tripod.
Images shared by: Carol
Tags: Using Product
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Raleigh, NC on 6/16/2007
After using this lens on several outings I have found that the stabilization feature helps, but is not all that I had hoped for. By using manual focus with this lens I found that I had the best results 'on the fly'. Although the stabilization is not the cat's meow, it has allowed me to take shots at long focal lengths (see photo examples) and still hand hold them. The way this lens focuses also makes using a circular polarizing filter difficult. However, for the price it is still a good buy.
Images shared by: randaveSeagull in flight
Tags: Handheld exposure at 300m
Bee on flower
Tags: HH closeup using lens
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Sebastian FL on 5/10/2007
Easy to use and works well. Will not take out motion of the subject blur, and over long distance I will still use a tripod. Certainly worth the investment There is no feature I don't like
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Albaquerque, NM on 5/9/2007
This is a great lens. When I arrived home aand discovered it waiting for me, I had to shoot a few frames despite the lack of sun at 8PM. At 300mm, across the kitchen, with available light, I was able to shoot a bakery label and read it when blown up in-camera. The letters were clear and distinct in this otherwise impossible photo. It's even better in the sun. If you're on the fence like I was, just buy it, you'll not regret it.
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from RESEDA CA. on 5/9/2007
LOVE THE LENSE
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Cape Cod, Massachusetts on 4/19/2007
I love this lens, it's a great value for the money.
from Daytona Beach, FL on 3/26/2007
A great companion lens to the 17-85mm lens. With the pair, you can "cover the waterfront".
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Southern CA on 3/26/2007
Overall a nice lens for the money. Images are slightly softer at 300mm but stopping down to F/8 helps. IS helps most at very slow shutter in low light. Focus is reasonably fast. On the down side- the rotating focus elements actually cause torqueing of the whole camera, and makes it hard to use a polarizer. The lens is also generally too slow to get strong background blur. Also, Canon does not include a lens hood, so really the lens costs [...] more if you want one. Shame on Canon.
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Georgia on 3/26/2007
My first zoom lens and have been very happy. Great pictures, especially sports.
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Lambertville NJ on 3/26/2007
I find this lens to be very good out in the field. I have taken many shots of ducks out on the pond and the shots are clear and you can see every detail on the ducks. GREAT LENS as far as I am concerned.
from Houston, TX on 3/26/2007
Does exactly what it says it will do.
I have done away with the tripoid except for portraits.
I am very pleased with the various abilities of this lens.
Quality of my pictures is what I would expect from a much costlier lens.
from Clarks Summit, PA on 3/26/2007
It is a great lens for outdoor use. The IS helps with that "quick" shot. Using a tripod make a crystal clear pic.
I tried to use it inside but the overall quality did not match a faster lens.
However, love this lens. I'm usually outdoors so it is always on.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Texas on 3/26/2007
Started with a lesser 75-300 Canon zoom but was not happy with the sharpness much less no IS. This seems to fill the bill at my level of skill
from Tampa Bay, FL on 2/14/2007
love the i.s. it's a great tool with a large zoom. i use it handheld alot and couldn't do without it now.
from Milwaukee on 2/13/2007
Although not as rugged as the "L" series, the smaller size is an advantage. For the money, this is a good choice.
from Tucson, AZ on 2/13/2007
I have used this lens for a number of applications and it works very well. I really enjoy the longer lens for shots of soccer players, and sunsets (love to bring it up close), and wildlife shots. The fact that you can get long distance shots up close is great, and the IS/USM helps keep shots clear.
My only drawback of this lens is that it struggles with low light. My attempts at volleyball action have required me to set a high ISO, which sacrifices clarity/details. I am planning to upgrade to the f/2.8 lens to accomplish the low-light action shots I'd like to have as well.
from Bloomfield, MI on 2/12/2007
Good value but pretty long when zoomed. Must use the lock when walking around to keep lens from banging open.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Berkeley, CA on 2/12/2007
Went on a Kenya & Tanzania 18 day safari & the lens exceeded my expectations. My friend was shooting with a more expensive heavier Canon 100-400mm lens & I would compare the 70-300mm almost equal to that lens. Most shots were using ISO 100.
Images shared by: Lee T'ai ChiLeopard in tree, Serengeti, Tanzania
Tags: Using Product
Elephants crossing river, Samburu, Kenya
Tags: Using Product
from Panama City, FL. on 2/12/2007
[...] It might not compare to Cannon's white lens. I does the job for a IS lens under $600.00.
from Minneapolis, MN on 2/12/2007
Great lens for wildlife & travel. Light and inconspicuous. Needs to be stopped down for best results, but that's expected from a consumer-grade lens.
All in all, well worth the money.
from Poulsbo, Wa on 2/12/2007
Best all around telephoto lens, stops action and works in lower light conditions. I have sent mine back (under warranty) as the lens drive stuck but was fixed quickly and no problem since
from DFW, Texas on 2/12/2007
I was looking for a lens that I could use to take pictures at zoos and on vacation which would allow me the kind of zoom I was used to on my Sony H5. This lens met all my needs. It is not so big or so heavy that I have to use a tripod. I can carry it for hours without the weight slowing me down. The zoom, when attached to the Xti, allows me to get close enough for most of my zoo pics. I would recommend the lens for these uses.
from Taipei, Taiwan on 2/12/2007
Loved:
The image quality produced by this lens is pretty sharp at 70~200mm, and degrade a little above 250mm but still very good.
Hated:
The torque of the auto focus motor is so strong that will shake the body. So you'd better half press the shutter to focus first and shoot later.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Gilbert, AZ on 2/7/2007
I have thoroughly enjoyed this lens for outdoor wildlife photography, especially for birds. It is light weight and with the image stabilizer, you do not need a tripod. It is not a lens for indoor distance photography without a powerful flash unit. The 5.6 aperture is just not wide enough to deal with gymansium lighting for sports events even using the 1600 iso feature.
Images shared by: RobSample photo
Tags: Using Product
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Tempe, AZ on 2/6/2007
Every shot I take with this I love. I have tried using a 1.4x with it though and it gets a little dark. Other than that is is really fast and very clear. Since it is not a 2.8 I do not recommend it for low light, but the IS does help with that. Great buy all around.
Images shared by: BowlerSample photo
Tags: Using Product, Made with Product
sample photo
Tags: Made with Product, Using Product
from Quebec, Canada on 2/5/2007
This lens is very useful for wildlife photography. It give enough lenght to frame bigger birds and animals, as well as butterflies at the shortest focusing distance (1.5 meters). Its not too heavy and we can cary it everywhere we want. The IS is outstanding and help very much get sharp photo without a tripod. Everyone should have this lens in his lens collection.
from Denton, TX on 2/5/2007
This lens is great for discreet shots of kids. I can sit quietly away from a child or children at play and still fill the screen. I also have used it often for close up shots of flowers. Since I frequently shoot in low light situations, it is often necessary to bump up the ISO rating, particularly to avoid an extremely shallow depth of field. Image stabilization helps a lot for this work. The lens is sometimes a little slow to focus, especially when changing from one close subject to one farther away. Altogether it is a fine lens which produces sharp images.
from Topeka, Kansas on 2/5/2007
I do most 90% of my photography in nightclubs, which involve low light situations, musicians moving on stage, and the possibabilty of being bumped by a dancer in front of the stage ;-). I find my new Canon Rebel with EF 70-300mm w/ USM is a great lens to use in these situations. Sometimes I use a flash but a lot of times I don't use the flash. The EF 70-300mm w/ USM still does the job.[...]
[2 of 2 customers found this review helpful]
from Marquette, Michigan on 2/5/2007
This lens has excellent range and clarity found in more expensive lenses. The image stabilization worked flawlessly and the focus and zoom were smooth and quick. I would highly recommend this lens!
Images shared by: DigidarylThis photo is about 50 feet away from the subject.
Tags: Using Product
This photo is about 75 feet away from the subject.
Tags: Using Product
from Manchester, CT on 2/5/2007
This is a great lens, I got it after having the 70-200 f/4L because of the IS and other photographers saying that it was on par with the L glass. The quality is just as good, as the 70-200 was. Also, the IS allows shots that would be more difficult without it. It's black, lighter and smaller, therefore draws less attention which is important for me since I do aviation photography. Over all it's a great lens and I highly recommend it.
from Houston, Tx on 2/5/2007
Met all expectations. Easy to use. Lightweight makes nature photograhy easier. I am not a professional so any deficiencies related to photo quality vs more expensive and heavier Canon lenses not problematic for me.
from Madison, Wi on 2/5/2007
I purchased a Canon EOS 20 along with 3 lenses. The 70-300mm lens was going to be the "long lens". With the digital factor of 1.6 the lens reached out to 480mm. This made it a very good buy. The stablization and quick focus of the lens produced very good pictures. I have used it to shoot college football, soccer, basket ball and wildlife in Colorado. It is a very good all around lens. Good quality, fast enough, managable weight. I have since sold it to a friend and purchased a 100-400 Canon "L" Lens. Quite a difference. Higher price, higher weight, and higher qualtity. You get what you pay for. For entry level the 100-300 lens is a great choice.
Sometimes I really miss it.
from OK on 2/5/2007
Excellent images
from Saliisbury, MA on 2/5/2007
I have used this lens, hand-held, for high school football and short-distance nature photography with good success. It's by no means an L series but is a reasonable value.
from St. Louis, MO on 2/5/2007
So glad I waited until the IS model was available. I've gotten some of my best pictures ever with this lens.