Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM Lens | 
 enlarge | Brand: Canon
Category: Photography
List Price: $3,700.00
Buy New: $2,055.99
You Save: $1644.01 (44%)
New (12) Used (1) Refurbished (1) from $1,799.99
Rating:  15 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Optical Zoom: 10.7
Maximum Focal Length: 300
Minimum Focal Length: 28
Shipping Weight (lbs): 5.5
Dimensions (in): 11 x 6 x 5
MPN: EOS-D1 Lens 2
Model: EOS-D1 Lens 2
UPC: 013803037197
EAN: 0013803037197
ASIN: B0001G6U48
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Handy, compact zoom lens for versatile and easy subject selection while travelling | | • | Incorporates Canon's Image Stabilization (IS) technology | | • | Powerful ring-type USM drive provides silent, high-speed autofocusing | | • | Optimized to suppress ghosting and flaring, ideal for use with digital cameras | | • | Rugged dust-proof and drip-proof construction, designed for professional photographers working in harsh environments |
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Product Description
A compact and wide-range zoom lens that's designed for the Canon EF Mount / Easy to carry and use / Uses 77mm Filters Zoom System - Push-pull type Filter Size - 77mm Max. Diameter x Length 3.6 x 7.2 inches ( 92 x 184mm) Weight - 3.7 lb.
Amazon.com Product Description
Canon raises the stakes for professional photography with its EF 28-300mm USM ultra-high magnification zoom lens with image stabilization. This handy, compact zoom lens offers versatility, easy subject selection, and the highest optical performance in its class. The 11x zoom range covering everything from wide-angle to telephoto, and you can focus in on subjects as close as 2.3 feet. A powerful ring-type USM drive provides silent. Featuring a dust- and moisture-proof "white lens," it is designed to appeal to professional EOS photographers looking to reduce lens changes and the number of lenses they need to carry. Image Stabilization
The lens incorporates Canon's Image Stabilization (IS) technology, compensating for approximately three stops without any perceptible increase in image blur when shooting static subjects or panning. This increases the range of circumstances in which hand-held photography is possible, limiting the need to carry a tripod. Fast Auto-Focus
The inner focusing ring-type ultrasonic motor (USM) converts ultrasonic vibrational energy into rotational force to deliver high-speed, high-precision, super efficient and virtually noiseless auto focusing, with good holding torque for rapid response, accurate stopping. Full-time manual override without damage to the autofocus mechanism is featured. Minimum focusing distance is just 0.7m throughout the entire zoom range. Ready for Digital Photography
The lens shape and coatings have been optimized to suppress ghosting and flaring, making this lens ideal for use with digital cameras that are more susceptible to reflections off the recording media than are film cameras. Precision Optics
This lens features 22 elements in 16 groups for low distortion, high corner-to-corner resolution throughout the entire zoom range. As with all EF lenses, aperture is controlled with an EMD (electromagnetic diaphragm) for fast, quiet, highly precise control and incorporates a circular aperture diaphragm for beautifully pleasing background blur, from full aperture to two stops down. The use of 3 Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) glass elements effectively curtails the residual chromatic aberrations that can plague lesser quality long lenses, while aspherical elements correct various kinds of aberration that occur during zooming to give the lens the unsurpassed clarity and resolving power that are the hallmark of professional L-series lenses. Environmental protection
The EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM features a rugged dust-proof and drip-proof construction, designed for professional photographers working in harsh environments under a wide range of operating temperatures and humidities.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 adorama December 21, 2008
0 out of 5 found this review helpful
Don't make the mistake of buying this from Adorama, unless you can wait n wait for them. I am still waiting for a camera I ordered from them, they haven't responded to emails and the camera is alread 5-7 days later than anticipated arrival date.... they may be cheap but I think I now know the reason.........
 Most flexible range, lives up to L designation! October 22, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Since this is a somewhat slow lens, I was a little dubious about purchasing it, as it didn't seem to provide as much as many other Canon L lenses, yet is priced so high. However, I have found this lens to be extremely sharp, regardless of f/stop, and focal length.
NOTE: I use a certain range of f/stops, from whatever is wide open on a given lens up to MAYBE f/11 on rare occasions, and more rarely f/16, so this is the portion of the range to which I refer. As an additional note, numerous years of experience, and much reading, have made it clear that stopping down beyond that point is not beneficial to image quality. Furthermore, I am partial to subject isolation, especially in working with high end cameras/lenses.
This lens makes a great all-purpose lens, especially when you don't want to have to make a lens change. For example, in a Wedding that I recently shot, the locale was on a beach. I have done A LOT of bikini model photography on beaches in the MD/VA/DC area, South Carolina, Miami, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and elsewhere, and so I knew from experience that you don't want to take off the lens when there's a lot of sand and wind around. No matter how careful youy might THINK you are being. The 28-300mm fit the bill in every way you could hope for. It was early evening/late afternoon at the end of summer, so the light was perfect. And a very wide aperture would've been tricky anyway - so what this lens provides was definitely good enough. The only question was if it was going to be good enough quality-wise, sharpness, color contrast. I am happy to say that the results were stunning. Having reviewed all of the pictures that were taken at this Wedding, I was pleasantly surprised at HOW sharp and contrasty they were (bear in mind, I have been using a lot of primes - the Canon 50mm f/1.2, 85mm f/1.2 and the 135mm f/2.0). I also own the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS, and I believe the results were on par with that particular lens. Which is why I believe it carry's the price tag that it does.
Many people have found the push/pull zoom to be undesirable. I think it is a matter of getting used to, and it really doesn't take long. My earliest film 35mm camera from years ago (when I was about 12 yrs old I got it), a Ricoh camera (re-branded with the Sears name on it) had one lens that was an 80-210mm that was push/pull manual focus. It's funny how you forget over the years because that thing is far more awkward to try to use, and yet I still needed to "re-learn." What is nice about the Canon 28-300mm push/pull is the locking ring. You have to really understand it correctly to use it correctly. Once you do, the benefits are well worthwhile. You will find yourself easily loosening and tightening the tension as needed. This is key because the tighter setting will nearly lock the zoom in place when you don't want it extending, and once loosened all the way, the push/pull zooming is as rapid as you'll get. Combined with Autofocus and good shooting skills, you can get some amazing performance.
Many people will look at the Sigma or Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 and see, based on cursory spec review, little difference in the lenses, and huge price differences. Make no mistake, these are a COMPLETELY different class of lens, and the price difference is totally warranted. To understand this, you may need to go to a camera store and try each one out. This will make the difference obvious. But let me try to enumerate a couple of things here. First, these cheaper lenses are NOT 300mm on the outside length. I have done MANY test shots with the Tamron and Sigma 28-300mm lenses, and in NO case could either of those zoom in as close as the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. What?? He wrote the wrong lens down right there. No I did not. Yes, I meant what I wrote - the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS. I also own the Canon 200mm f/2.8L prime lens, which is the same focal length at 200mm. The aforementioned 28-300mm Tamron and Sigma lenses are very close at "300mm" to each of those lenses, just a little short. I have done this same comparison with the Tamron 18-200mm, which is proportionately shorter to their 28-300mm. I purchased and then returned a Canon 28-200mm (a very flimsily built lens for a Canon of any kind, although better than those shoddy 18-55's they were putting in the kits - not sure about the latest 18-55's, I refer to the ones from 2-4 years ago). So, the point is, it's not going to be a true 300mm. This Canon L lens IS a true 300mm, and a true 28mm, and everything in between. Also, if you need to, go read up on stops of light. It doesn't SOUND like much, but jumping from f/5.6 to f/6.3, is a huge amount. The numeric representation is very deceptive. What it really comes down to is the fact that you need a big piece of glass to get more light in there, and more glass for longer focal length, there's just no way of getting around that fact. Regardless of what numbers are used to market a lens, look at the length of a lens (extended if need be, as with this lens) and then look at the circumfrence of the glass at the end. This will alert you to a noticeable difference, if there is one, as in the case of the the two non-Canon brands versus this lens. Similarly, Autofocus performance is ALWAYS noticeably better on Canon lenses, ESPECUIALLY L series lenses, than on non-Canon manufacturers lenses with Canon mounts.
Bottom Line, you get what you pay for. And, in the case of this lens, that holds true above other items that might appear to be similar. This is a top notch lens, and the ideal walk around lens if you don't want to change lenses.
Nikon 28-300mm F 3.5- 5.6L IS USM lens July 17, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
All in one lens.
I do not need to change lenses very often. This one is the one I need.
It's a little bit heavy, though!
Excellent Canon product.
 optimal event photography lens June 18, 2008
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
i shoot mostly family events, specifically candids, so this lens is ideal for me.
---[ CONS ]---
[1] weight
your arm will probably hurt after shooting for a few hours, especially with its push/pull it gets long so your arm is extended holding all that weight. there hasnt been a person yet I let try the lens that didnt immediately say "wow, thats heavy". i read that in the reviews and thought "na, I can handle it". nope. i have to admit I had to take breaks. not for the timid. (maybe itll toughen me up)
[2] cost
$2k+ for a non "fast" lens? come on canon - make us a 28-300mm f/2.8L! :-)
[3] push/pull
Im not a big fan but am getting used to it. my guess is its not the more popular twist style cuz the range is just too long - itd probably take two twists to go thru the whole range. push/pull does allow you to get the zoom VERY quickly. again, great for candids.
[4] length
fully extended its awkward to hold at times. especially if you attempt to fine tune the range.
[5] slow low-light AF
it hunts in doors, especially at the higher zoom. but to be fair its gotta cover alot of range and its quick enuff in the 28-70 range.
[6] fast range fall off
Id say 50% of the physical range is 28-90 and the last 50% is 90-300. it falls off especially fast from 200-300. I find it hard to get anything in between. it kinda slams to the 300 and its a bit of a trick to pull it back a little. 300 is so much zoom I find myself often in too close and then needing to fiddle to back off a little, loosing a second or so which might loose the shot.
[7] min focal distance is a tad too long
I find myself having to physically back away from people when shooting 28mm. I guess Im spoiled by the 24-70 - i enjoy some of the face-distorting shots it can do so closely and the 28-300 cant.
---[ NEUTRAL ]---
[1] inconspicuousness
the lens is white and huge so just about everyone will notice you. the pro is people will take you seriously and it can be fun to talk shop. the con is that its harder to blend in so it makes getting some of those more candid shots more difficult.
---[ PROS ]---
[1] image quality
is as good as my 24-70mm f/2.8L. sharpness, color, contrast, etc. its definitely an L-series.
[2] range
IMHO the best feature is Im ready to shoot anything and I dont have to change lenses. its the do anything lens.
[3] fast AF
AF is L-series fast outdoors with sufficent light.
[4] IS
the IS on this lens is absolutely amazing. at 300mm its like someone grabbed the lens to help me stablize it. indoors its actually amazing as well. at 70mm with my f/2.8L i might have had 1/60 shutter and I may only get 1/20 with my 28-300 BUT with the IS the shot isnt blurry (with a steady hand). ironically Im seeing less blurry shots indoors than with my 24-70 which doesnt have IS.
[5] bokeh
the blurred backdrop at 300mm is stunning. its very pro looking.
[6] fun
this lens is just fun to shoot. maybe its just cuz its new but Im finding myself shooting twice as many shots cuz with the range theres just more to shoot now. Im finding I can be much more creative now.
[7] tightening ring
...is a nice touch. very useful.
[8] rugged
the upside of its weight is its built like a tank so I neednt worry about banging this $2k+ tool against something or scratching it.
[9] switch placement
btw, I dont find the placement of the switches to be a problem like some other reviews. I think they have to be close cuz you cant put them on the barrel since it moves - unlike the 70-200.
[10] natural candids
an awesome serendipity is that 300mm is enuff range that Im seeing very natural looking candids cuz Im far enuff away from people that Im not in their space so they relax. with my 24-70 Id have to get close enuff that itd change their expression slightly. even if Im zoomed way in at 300mm and my subject sees me Im still physically far enuff away that they dont feel threatened (but if they only knew!) :-) this creates PRICELESS shots in my opinion. It definitely has that paparazzi quality. its this last quality that makes the cons worth it to me.
bottomline: I can deal with the cons for the pros. you get what you pay for. nice work canon! :-)
.dsj.
Best buy May 22, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
It's a damn heavy one, but it's worth every gram of weight. Nearly noiseless focus. Superb picture quality, and on a camera with a full size sensor it's the single lens, you will take everywere.
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