IS is definately an advantage. USM is quiet and fast

Only thisg I could find lacking is that the front element rotates during autofocus which is bothersome when a polarizing filter is attached. But, you get used to it and adapt very easily.

I have read other reviews of this lens where it is compared to Canon "L" series lenses, complaints about barrel extension, and poor construction. First it is wrong to compare this lens to an "L" series professional lens, but that does not mean it is a poor lens. I have used this lens in hot and cold temps, dust storms (at construction sites, rain, at a zoo, deep in the woods around wet lands where the humidity was near 100%. The lens has performed flawlessly. Yes the front extension is made of a plastic material but that was done to keep the weight down and does not hinder the use or effectiveness of the lens. I have encountered no problems with the barrel self extending. The IS feature is a godsend especially above 200mm. it works flawlessly and has enabled hand held photography to 300mm - using 200 ISO film the 8x10 enlargements are clear and crisp. if you are wavering or questioning weather you should buy this lens all I can say is if you don't buy this lens it is your loss for when it is coupled with the Canon 28-135 IS USM you have a great combination covering 28-300mm.

Customer Service

Haven't needed it

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 7, Canon EOS ELAN IIE, Canon 28-135 IS USM, Tamron 28-200, Sigma 28-105

Image Stabilization (IS) sharp at 300mm at f8 acceptable optical performance wide open good build quality

pincushion distortion at 300mm setting rotating front element although it''''s an USM lens, it does not have full time manual focus (FTM)

After reading mixed reviews (some great, some horrible) on this lens, I decided to take a chance and order it from CWO with the hope that I would luck out and get a good sample. Upon receiving the lens, I had the opportunity to compare it to a Canon 100-300/f5.6 "L" zoom. The 2 lenses were tested using Elite Chrome 100 loaded in an EOS 10s, which was mounted on a sturdy tripod. I evaluated the slides with an 8x loupe, by projection, and by 2700 DPI scans. To say the least, I was surprised by the results. I was expecting the 100-300 L lens to blow away the 75-300 IS at 300mm. This was simply not the case, at least at f8. At best, the 100-300 "L" was only marginally better in terms of sharpness at 300mm at f8. The very, very slight difference in the performance of these lenses could only be detected upon very close inspection of projected slides and 100% viewing of the 2700 DPI scans using PhotoShop. It could not be detected with an 8x loupe. The difference in performance between the 2 lenses was more notable at f5.6 but IMO, the 75-300 IS still produced quite acceptable images at this aperture. All in all, a very impressive performance for this particular sample of the 75-300 IS. At the 300mm focal length, the 75-300 IS zoom exhibits quite noticeable pincushion distortion. However, my use for this lens is primarily nature/landscape photography, so this is not much of an issue for me. After reading many reviews, I have to wonder whether I just lucked out and got a gem of a sample for the 75-300 IS. Alternatively, from looking at reviews at this site, it seems possible that more recent samples of the 75-300 IS are improved over earlier samples of this lens. I believe that my sample is likely to be a recently manufactured lens, as the 75-300 IS had been backordered at CWO for more than a week before I ordered mine. Anyway, Canon''''s IS system is a truly amazing technology and it''''s neat to see it in action at 300mm (it''''s more difficult to perceive the IS function with my 28-135 IS, even at 135mm). While I have fairly steady hands, far more of my shots than not would be at least somewhat blurred if using a 1/90s shutter speed with a handheld 300mm lens. With IS activated, 300mm shots made using the 75-300 IS at 1/90s were in every case as sharp as those made with the camera mounted on a tripod and IS turned off. If you buy a 75-300 IS

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon 100-300 "L" Tamron 70-300 "LD" Canon 28-135 IS

Light, compact, 58mm filters, USM and IS function well together, this technology really works. Reasonably priced. No zoom creep in the lens I have been using.

Front element and manual focus ring both rotate when AF is activated. You ned to keep the fingers of your left hand away from the focus ring when using AF. No full time manual focus. Some distortion noticeable at the short and long end.

This is an excellent general purpose zoom telephoto lens for amateur use. It is best used hand held where the IS works exactly as claimed by Canon. The optical quality is not in the same league as Canon''s L series lenses, but neither is the price. The main cause of unsharpness in hand held telephoto photos is camera/lens shake and this is controlled beautifully by the IS. You can easily see the image stabilise in the viewfinder when IS is activated. I recently used one of these in Antarctica with no problems at all and made numerous perfectly sharp pics at 300 mm handheld from a moving boat. These are good enough for enlargement to 12 x 16 inch size.

Customer Service

Not required for this lens but usually excellent from Canon Australia

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 100 - 300 4.5 - 5.6.

IS does buy you some shutter speed

Optical quality (usable, but not great) Non-locking barrel: this is EXTREMELY annoying when you are using it on hiking since the barrel will extend by itself because of gravity all the way out when hanging from your shoulder, making it very troublesome to carry around. I hate it when it does that and often have to use two hands to hold it.

This is a mediocore lens compared to my other lenses (50 f1.8, 28-80, and Zeiss G45f/2 for Contax G series). The contrast is noticeably lower than all of them. I am gonna switch to all primes + teleconverter setup.

Customer Service

None used

Similar Products Used:

None

lightweight, IS, affordable, good optics (a little soft at 300mm, but not bad at all)

slow AF no FTM front element rotates construction not great zoom creep

Many people have harsh comments about this lens, I simply don''t understand why. Sure the construction is not great, the AF is not super fast, the front element rotates and it (allegedly) gets soft toward the long end (find me one 70/75/100-300 lens that doesn''t get soft toward 300mm!). While all the above comments are true, people have to realize, this is the only lens that gets to 300mm, has IS and still sells for around $400. Other telephoto lenses with IS sells for at least 3 times the money. This lens can definitely hold its ground between 75mm to 200mm. It does get soft toward the long end, but in my test, I found that resolution is not the problem, what suffers is contrast and color saturation -- the pictures look kinda dull and flat. However, if you use it in sunny days, it can be less of a problem. I even used a Kenko Pro 300 1.4x teleconverter with this lens at 300mm with totally acceptable results (don''t compare the results from those with a 400mm DO IS lens, that''s not what they are meant to be!). The lens construction leaves much to be desired, as you zoom toward 300mm, the plastic lens barrels extends out and it looks very fragile (it wobbles a little bit too). I certainly wish Canon had used the 100-300mm USM lens as the basis for this lens (which has ring USM and full time manual focus). But considering Canon''s only other telephoto zoom lens IS (the 100-400mm L) is 3 times more expensive and heavier, I say this one is a keeper. Together with the 28-135 IS, you have a combo that covers from 28mm to 300mm with IS, an ideal travel combo.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

EF 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS Sigma 70-300 f/4-5.6 APO Macro

It''s very light compared to other zooms and primes in this focal range! IS works well. Very good optics. Priced to fit most budgets.

none

I have the 100-400 L IS but ran across the 75-300 IS at a camera store as used. I was impressed with it''s weight which is very light compared to the 100-400. I decided to get it because the price was simply too good to pass up and it was in LN condition. I''ve read all the reviews of the non USM version of this lens and one of the weakness given for that lens was no full time MF. The USM version does have MF option. Another complaint was soft focus, low contrast. Can''t speak for the non USM, but I am very pleased with the sharpness and contrast. Certainly I can''t tell you the quality is the same as my 100-400L, but to be perfectly honest, I think it''s close. Definitely close enough to satisfy most.

Customer Service

not yet

Similar Products Used:

100-400 IS, 70-200 L, 28-135 IS

Looks neat, decent build quality, Canon name.

Poor image resolution and weak contrast - you know - the things you buy a good lens to avoid.

I bought this to replace the Canon non-IS 75-300mm expecting it to give better quality results - and it was even worse. Whether or not used with a tripod, with IS on or off, and used with a hood, it was soft and lacked colour saturation, especially at its top end. It came with me to Crete a year back and even with the lens stopped down in strong Med sunshine it gave mediocre results. I now understand the penalty you pay for IS - sure it is good in itself, but it means more elements and therefore more potential for flare and mis-alignments - and you pay more £££ for it. I have since traded this, a 28-105mm (the least bad of Canon consumer zooms) and a 22-55mm (one of the worst) for some L primes and a 70-200 f4L zoom, and (at last) am now able to get decent enlargements from my Eos system. Conclusion? despite the price this is yet another poor Canon consumer zoom - put your money towards a Canon prime or a secondhand 70-200L zoom instead - decent quality doesn''t cost a whole lot more.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

22-55, 28-80, 28-105, 75-300mm Canon customer zooms - and the much better 70-200 f4L with 1.4x converter (way to go) Several Canon primes and a couple of Sigmas. Also Leica R8 outfit including their

None

Poor image quality. Very soft even on a tripod without IS enabled

Dissapointing lens.

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

28-135IS 50mm f1.4

none

everything

I hate it. it sucks

Similar Products Used:

ef 70-200 f/4L

IS, sharp (despite other reviews that you may read!)

possibly slow AF in the longer focal range (this depends on the quality of light shot in)

The first time I went to feild test this lens I was amazed. The IS really works well. I got sharp, handeld photographs at the 300mm end at 1/30 second. I was worried a bit about overall sharpness based on other reviews I have read here. After testing the lens using several different slide films, all I can say is I worried for nothing. Overall sharpness is just fine. While I am sure one could pony up a lot more money for an L lens and perhaps tell the difference in sharpness (notice I say perhaps), one would have to weigh carrying a 5 lb. lens and a tripod around versus losing the (supposed) minute amount of shapness. This is a no brainer. Save the cash of buying an L lens and gain the advantages that the IS lens has to offer! You will not be disappointed!

Customer Service

I have emailed them twice with simple questions, they responded within 24 hours with great and helpful answers!

Similar Products Used:

Canon 100-300 L 5.6, Tamron 70-300 LD IF, Sigma 135-400 APO RF HSM