Highly practical and portable telephoto zoom lens. The five zoom groups make the length only 4.8 in. (121.5mm). With rear focusing, the lens does not change length or rotate during focusing. Any filter effects therefore remain intact. It also makes autofocusing quick and quiet.
55 zoom groups make the lens length only 4.8 in. (121.5mm)
With rear focusing, and non-rotating front element so any filter effects remain intact
Quick and quiet USM AF
13 elements in 10 groups
Pros: Fast auto-focus, price/value, durable construction, outstanding i.q. from 100-200mm
Cons: lens creep, low light performance
I purchased this lens in January 2004 and have used it regularly to shoot thousands of photos. The build quality of this lens is a step above the entry-level 70-300mm lenses. Nearly eight years later, it remains in perfect operating condition and has never had a mechanical failure. I purchased it for the ultra fast and accurate ring-type USM. This feature has never disappointed me.
My only complaint with the design is lens creep (i.e. gravity pulls the zoom out to 300mm anytime the front of the lens is angled downward). This design flaw is mostly a nuisance, but seems inexcusable from a company like Canon.
Of course the lens is slow with a maximum aperture of f/4.5-5.6, but that is what you get in this price range. During bright daylight, this lens is usably good all the way out to 300mm and outstanding at shorter focal ranges (100-200mm); the colors are vibrant, excellent contrast, and sharp.
I will finally be replacing this lens in the coming months, not because it is old or falling apart, but because I’ve been shooting a lot of weddings lately and I need something capable of better low ambient light performance (i.e. something a lot more expensive). Otherwise, this is a lens that seems like it could keep clicking along for another eight years.
Cons: Slow auto-focus, Semi-sharp images, Poor build quality, poor construction
Borrowed this lens to take on a hike because it is light and easy to hand-hold. This lens seem ideally suited for taking available-light portraits with soft backgrounds but if you want tack-sharpness, you maybe disappointed. Construction felt flimsy and never felt sure image was in focus.
Pros: Super-sharp images, Superior build quality, Fast auto-focus
easy to use, light, extremely fast. Very sharp images. What more can be said. I purchased this lens yearssssssss ago and I'm still completely satisified with it.
Pros: Super-sharp images, Superior build quality, Fast auto-focus
I bought this lens several years from now and let me tell you that I'm very, very pleased with it's excellent image, rugged construction and ease of use, I recommend it with no reservations
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