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 enlarge | Brand: Canon
Category: Photography
List Price: $6,500.00
Buy New: $3,727.88
You Save: $2772.12 (43%)
New (6) from $3,727.88
Rating:  12 reviews
Media: Electronics
Minimum Focal Length: 300
Shipping Weight (lbs): 15.3
Dimensions (in): 17 x 14 x 12
MPN: 2531A002
Model: 2531A002
UPC: 082966214134
EAN: 0082966214134
ASIN: B0000ALKBU
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
Tack-Sharp January 20, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
As good as it gets. Fast AF, image stabilization (that works), great color & contrast, and works well with the 2X extender making it a 600mm f5.6. It is expensive, but if you need a fast super telephoto with unbelievable image quality this is it.
Can be effectively handheld for short periods, but best used with a tripod or monopod.
If you check around you will find that this lens holds its resale value quite well, although most people that do part with this lens will later regret selling it.
There are only a few on-line vendors I trust when ordering something of this cost. In the 10 years I've ordered from Amazon they have always not only honored their return policy, but on one occasion when the manufacturer was slow to help with a defect Amazon agreed to a refund well after the 30 day return policy had expired.
If you are unsure, try renting first. As another poster mentioned, other lenses will pale in comparison.
an excellent lens December 14, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This lens is very fast, it can focus very rapidly and follow accurately flying birds, this is the main reason I bought this lens. It excels in every respect, it can be hand held, very sharp even when the aperture is wide open, image stabilization is excellent and it is very fast lens, fast focusing. It can be used to photograph butterflies, dragonflies as I tested it on my 1.6 crop factor camera and found that it can photograph a 15 by 10cm rectangle, thus I can say that it has a maximum magnification of 1:6.7.
This is an expensive lens, so if you think you will use it only occasionally, then I advice you not to buy it, otherwise it worth the price.
This is one wicked piece of glass. November 29, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
The biggest factor in making this purchase was the F/2.8. I had thought about the F/4 version but losing the AF with a 2x TC on my 20D was the deal breaker for the F/4. That and I knew I'd be always questioning myself later on down the road.
I just can't believe how sharp this lens is even wide open. The weight can take some getting used to and having a grip on your body helps out with the balance of it.
One word of warning though, if your a hobbyist and decide it's to expensive to buy, never rent one. If you do, chances are you may not be satisfied with any of the other offerings once you see the results from this lens.
It's small and inexpensive... April 14, 2007
12 out of 35 found this review helpful
...but the lens I bought just before this one was a 600mm f/4 IS L. Given that I'm the kind of gung-ho photographer who still handholds his 600mm, I can call this lens light too!
I consider f/2.8 to be the single most important factor in buying a lens. If a lens isn't f/2.8 it needs to have some special quality to make it seem worth buying. I bought the 600mm first because I was tired of how far away the lions were at the zoo. I have a 100-400 IS L, so I knew it needed to be longer than 400mm. Once I had the 600, though, the koalas were too close. The 300mm seemed to be the perfect lens to try next, since I could bump it up with the 1.4x teleconverter to get double duty out of it.
I honestly was expecting it to be larger and heavier than it is. All in all, I'd have to call this a very manageable lens. Far heavier and more expensive than the nearly-free 75-300mm, but well worth it.
The big problems with a lens like this is depth of field. Shorter slower lenses have more of it. It is a little frustrating how little DOF is available at f/2.8 and 2.5 meters. On the other hand, that is also a major selling point.
You just can't beat this for sharpness. By all accounts it is the sharpest and fastest auto-focusing lens that Canon makes. I can't prove or disprove that, but it is sharp and it is fast.
I finally made the leap March 14, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
I frequently shoot motorcycles on the street and track. Last racing season, I rented this lens several times and fell in love with it. It has fantastic sharpness and great reach--which can be augmented with the 1.4x teledapter or the occasional 2.0x. (Throw in a camera with a 1.6 crop, and you've got a looong lens.) The two mode IS and the relatively light weight make this a great lens for doing pan shots. For setups where steadiness is required, the central monopod/tripod mount helps maintain the camera's balance although having a heavy camera (1DmkIIN or a 20D with a battery grip) helps.
This lens was worth every penny.
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