oh yes the 300 2.8L telephoto lens. I snagged one back in 97 brand new. Tack sharp,works well with 1x converter,sharp contrasty lens,at six pounds you still can hand hold it. I haven't tried the new IS version but I just acquired the new Canon 400 2.8 IS lens,need more time to report back on it. but if the 400 lives up to the old 300 2.8 then I'm in for a real treat.
Strengths:
fast 2.8,good weight
Weaknesses:
none
Similar Products Used:
canon 50 2.5 macro,17-35 2.8L,28-70 2.8L,70-200 2.8L(non IS version) and Canon 400 2.8L plus life size converter and 1.4 teleconverter.
This got to be the finest 300 f2.8 around
(apart from the IS version).
I used it mainly for wildlife photography and sport. With my EOS-3, the AF system can lock into flying birds with much higher success rate than my Contax manual and AF focus system. Also I am planning to use it for gymnastics and figure skating events. My lens was belonged to a press photographer of a national newspaper so it is very battered but it still works perfectly. It costs $130 to get a secondhand ET-118 II hood and case replacement.
As a regular Contax user, this is my first L lens and I think it is an awesome piece of optics.
Strengths:
incredibly AF speeds
razor sharp even wide open
tank like built
Fast, silent AF, color/contrast/sharpness are absolutely mind blowing!
1.4x TC images are a good as lens only, 2x TC loses a bit of sharpness/contrast. Nothing that can't be managed by using a stable tripod, higher ISO/shutter speeds.
Strengths:
Built like a tank, fast, silent AF, unmatched sharpness/colors/contrast.
The EF 300 2.8L has been the standard of sports shooters since it was intoduced. As a motorsports shooter I have to shoot everything from a very close <1 m to as far away as 1/2 km. This means I have to carry around a LOT of glass, EF 17-35 2.8L, EF 28-70 2.8L, EF 70-200 2.8L are the standard track lenses in the bag.
The EF 300 2.8L is my normal lens because it''s incredibly sharp and contrasty, has very fast AF and is extremely versatle. With the zooms and eF 300 2.8L I add an EF 1.4x and/or EF 2x converters to the EF 300 2.8L and have the most flexible fastest focusing 35mm SLR system available anywhere covering a focal length ranging from 17mm to 600mm with AF and manual focus out to 840mm when used with the 12mm extention tube combining EF 1.4x and EF 2x converters.
Strengths:
sharpness, contrast, AF speed, bullet proof construction
Weaknesses:
none found yet
Similar Products Used:
Canon EF 70-200 2.8L, EF 200 1.8L, EF 200 2.8L, EF 300 4L, EF 300 4L IS, EF 400 2.8L
This is what a 300mm 2.8 lens SHOULD be. Sharp, contrasty and absolutely beautiful color rendition. Sharpness wise, this would beat out every 300mm lens that I've seen, with the exception of Canon's new IS versiion. Color rendition is possible through Canon's use of fluorite. No ED glass "green/blue" shifting.
Sharpness wise, this is one of the best lenses in any focal length I've seen. Only beat out by Canon's 85mm 1.2L EF and, of course, their 200mm 1.8L EF. These two lenses would edge out the 300 2.8L EF in terms of sharpness, but not in color rendition. Contrast wise, the 300 2.8L EF would edge out the 200 1.8L EF by about 5 percent. Barely noticable, but it is there. (Kodachrome 64, 200 and Provia F (rdpIII) use for subjective evaluations.)
A very flexible lens when coupled with the 1.4x and 2x EF extenders. 300 2.8 becomes a nice 600 5.6 for wildlife shooting. Light enough to carry around but not so heavy as to cause semi permanent back injury! When coupled with the 2x AND 1.4x extenders (place 12mm ext tube in between), it becomes a nice manual focus 840mm at f/8 lens. Only possible due to the generous amount of backfocus. This was originally designed so you can use the lens in sub zero weather. (temp compensation)
Canon's flagship lens from 1987 to 1996 until the IS series lens was introduced in the same focal length. This lens cause many a Nikon fanatic to "jump ship" due to it's near silent focusing, sharpness, contrast and unbeatable color rendition in the 35mm format. The newer IS lens is better corrected in sharpness and color, but not by much. No other lens maker can even come close to the ability to capture the depth in hard to reproduce colors (reds, violets). The "best of breed" in 300mm lenses. No sports shooter should be without this lens in their arsenal.
If you have the money and you find this lens used, pick one up! You can't go wrong with this lens for sports shooting. Always use the lens hood if possible.
(Sidenote...Takahashi, a telescope maker, had Canon help them with their fluorite lenses in 1977. Now they are considered one of the most accurate due to the use of fluorite. Scopes with ED glass can't even come close due to their inherent color shifting. For more info check out http://www.takahashiamerica.com )
Strengths:
Excellent color, contrast and sharpness! Fluorite! Can be used with 2x and 1.4x EF teleconverters. Very flexible lens. Very fast focusing, still beating out 99% of the AF lenses out there. Variable speed manual focus selection. Extremely nice feature for critical manual focus. Focus preset ring comes in handy. Just preset focus (such as a hoop at a basketball game) and it will return to that point when the preset ring is nudged.
Weaknesses:
Weight. At 6.3 pounds, this needs a monopod or tripod for extended shooting.
Focus preset switch can be bumped by accident. You can increase the friction of the switch so it doesn't bump on as much by accident but you'll have to take apart the panel.
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