Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6L Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Picastes
(Expert)

Review Date
February 29, 2008

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Review 1 of 35

Price Paid: $200.00 from ebay

Summary:

A real good inexpensive telelens with some macro capability . I have had a Sigma 70-200mm f2,8 before and this is far superior . The quality and weight convinces most . Also AF is not as bad as people would think . Not USM but still good .
For 200 Euros it was a real bargain . It is like a prime lens .

Strengths:

Weight and picture quality . I like pull and push . Very fast .

Weaknesses:

Not weathersealed .

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 70-200mm f2,8 .

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: Keranka Yordanova
(Professional)

Review Date
December 28, 2007

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 2 of 35

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

Very sharp lens.10 of 10

Strengths:

10 of 10

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:

jusval50
( Intermediate)

Review Date
April 12, 2006

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
2.00 of 5,
4 votes

Review 3 of 35

Price Paid: $325.00 from ebay

Summary:

This was one of the few "L" series lenses that I could afford. The choices for good Canon glass are limited unless you have the big bucks. I have been pleased with the results of this lens. I shoot it on my 10D and have taken many good shots with it. I don't care for the push/pull zoom. It's too loose and moves too easily, but you get what you can afford. The photos are sharp up thru 200mm and even at 300mm, it's sharper than any other aftermarket lens I have tried.
I also had the non- "L" version of this lens and the difference in sharpness of this "L" lens is immediately apparent!
Overall I think it's one of the best affordable lenses for Canon EOS. I would rather have a genuine canon, than aftermarket, due to compatibility issues. At least I knoe that this lens works on all Canon EOS.
I would recommend it over the Sigma and Tokina lenses in the same price range.

Strengths:

Sharp photos.
Genuine Canon brand.

Weaknesses:

Push/Pull zoom.
Slow focus compared to newer ultrasonics.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma and Tokina lenses in the same focal length range and price range.

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:

Braxus
( Intermediate)

Review Date
December 29, 2005

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 4 of 35

Price Paid: $400.00 from Vistek

Summary:

I got this lens because its the best option for this price range. The Canon cosumer zooms are just not up to par optically, and I couldn't afford the L zooms at the time. I will eventually replace this with a newer Canon L zoom. The optical quality of this lens is quite high. If you can deal with its very slow focussing, push pull design, and its 5.6 aperature- then this is a good lens to get. I shoot mostly landscapes with it, so it works for that. There are times though I had to put it into manual focus to track fast objects or keep it from hunting. Its an old design lens, but for what these are going for used these days- a decent option.

Strengths:

High optical quality Low price used

Weaknesses:

Slow focussing 5.6 aperature push pull if you dont like that Low resale price today

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by:

Christiano
( Professional)

Review Date
June 20, 2005

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
4 votes

Review 5 of 35

Price Paid: $510.00 from adorama

Summary:

NEED I say more that has NOT been said hmm?? *LOL*;I was in the market for a very pro quality BUT easy to carry and light lens this time. well,i got an arsenal of midrange lenses but was tired of the heavy lenses. i found this pearl true research and reading reviews and wau maan! this one is a hidden jewel!! it is so sharp crystal clear and with all of the qualities you think of bearing the L name on it. The former reviewr is damn right it is soo close to the 70-200 F4 and f2,8 that the differ is none.Its a tad slower than the other two L lenses ;on my 10 D and 1D is almost equal furthermore, the noise is much less than other says. But Best of all ; ITS much lighter and easier to handle..great!! i also compared it to the 100-400 L but no big deal..This 100-300 5,6 lens rules! The 5,6 is only a problem you can fix by adjusting the ISO ,and i do.No probs at all. I now use daily for all kinds of work and i am so greatfull form this piece of wau! Canon make it again please. Buy one IF you can find one.

Strengths:

all-sharp sharp sharp-super colour ..no distortion...simply L class..

Weaknesses:

none

Similar Products Used:

canon 100-300 usm,canon 70-200 f 4 (super too)L,canon 70-200 F2,8, sigma 100-300 F4(super too)canon 300 f 4 is(great!) sigma 70-300 (best buy) tamron 70-300.

Customer Service:

nope

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.