New Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 IS USM

Eric_Chan · #8 09-24-2005, 09:49 PM

Paul, I did not realize the new 70-300 (non-DO) is out already! It's not even listed at B&H.

How much did it cost in the UK?

Is the lack of full-time manual related to the fact that it still uses an older USM mechanism?

Have you tried the IS? How is it?

What is the build quality like?

Eric

Paul_Kearley · #9 09-25-2005, 04:37 AM

I paid 469.99 pounds sterling from AJ Purdy.

Yes, it still uses the older USM mechanism.

The IS seems to work as good as the IS on the DO lens, but I haven't tested it thoroughly yet, most of my comparison pictures were done using a tripod.

At 300mm the CA becomes noticeable especially in the OOF areas.

The whole unit feels very light in weight and also feels very 'plasticky' same sort of quality as the 85mm 1.8 or the 50mm 1.4, not as good as the 'L's', still feels quite nice though. The IS and AF/MF switches are now quite well protected against accidental movement. The lens hood is still an optional extra, but it uses the same hood as the DO, when fully extended with the hood on it is quite long and not very discrete, but then thinking about it nor is the DO.

Paul.

Roy_Strutt · #10 09-25-2005, 07:16 AM

Paul

Thanks for the comments - I too took the plunge and bought the 70 - 300 IS USM on Friday (from AJPurdy as well - I am based in Essex)

I used it for reportage at a wedding on Saturday and I am very impressed - agree with your comments

More testing to do but first impressions are very favourable

Kind regards

Roy

Eric_Chan · #11 09-25-2005, 11:11 AM

Roy, are you using the new 70-300 on a 1x, 1.3x, or 1.6x body?

Eric

Roy_Strutt · #12 09-26-2005, 06:15 AM

Eric

I am using it on the 20D (1.6x)

Kind regards

Roy

Fred_Bopp · #13 09-28-2005, 02:39 PM

I was very dissapointed with the 70-300 DO. I retuned it after 2 days because it has a serious FLAIR & GHOSTING problem. If you try to shoot subjects towards the sun or anything with high reflectivity your picture come out looking like Holloween. On top of this the photos are not predictable and are soft.
I respect Michael Reichman but dissagree with him on this lens. Tried to shoot a sunset with the DO on both my 20D and 1D MK2 and the results looked like comic book pages from Spiderman.
I'll stick with my 70-200 2.8L IS and a converter as this has always worked for me.
Regards, Fred

Eric_Chan · #14 09-28-2005, 03:37 PM

M. Reichmann did say the 70-300 DO has a tendency to flare. The hope is that the new 70-300 non-DO is better in this regard.

Eric