Canon EF 70-300 f4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

[JDArt]

Has anyone used this lens? The range is tempting, but I'd like to see samples from it and hear opinions.

[Jose]

If you refer to Reply 39 in the " Capturing Kinetic Energy" contest you can see an example. It is a tempting lens because of the size and range and I fell for it. A good lens as long as the subjects are backlighted; others situations can be saved by Photoshop.
It has become an "stay at home lens" since I also have the 100-400 mm IS that is superior in performance. Try it before you commit!

Jose

[JDArt]

Thanks. If it's a "stay at home" lens, I would assume, then, that it's a failure for what it was intended to be--a highly portable lens with a good range?

[Kevin Barrett]

Originally Posted by JDArt

Thanks. If it's a "stay at home" lens, I would assume, then, that it's a failure for what it was intended to be--a highly portable lens with a good range?

The Fred Miranda reviewers are mixed on it. I think it could be a good travel lens
but the unusual bokeh and overall "soft" impression it leaves me with puts it at the
bottom of my list. A second generation DO would probably be much better.
I think the concept is solid.

Kevin

[TomC]

I should have the DO today and will try to post some pics later. I also have the 100-400L but wanted the portability of the DO.

[TomC]

So far I love it. First pic at 70mm the second 300mm.

[JDArt]

Very nice. I'd love to try this lens out.

[dc2]

Originally Posted by JDArt

Very nice. I'd love to try this lens out.

Me too I bet that it don't come cheap though

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by JDArt

Has anyone used this lens? The range is tempting, but I'd like to see samples from it and hear opinions.

I have no samples online, but did test-shoot it recently together w/the new 70-300F4-F5.6IS (non DO) and the old 75-300F4-F5.6IS.

IMHO the DO is only usefull if weight and size are really an issue, and you are prepared to shell out $$$/€€€ more for that specific feature (portability).

The optical quality of the DO is far better than the old 75-300F4-F5.6IS, which is known to be soft from ~200mm to ~300mm below F8, but not that much better than the new 70-300F4-F5.6IS, which sharpness is really improved in the ~200mm-~300mm range, and has far nicer contrast and colour over the whole range than the old IS one, due to new(er) coatings.

As a plus or minus, depending on your likes, you also get a little 'dreamy' bokeh, when you shoot the DO wide(r) open.

I myself am not particular fond of the DO-dreaminess, YMMV.

I have used the old 75-300IS on my *then* 10D extensively, but judged it too poor in the 200-300 range, so upgraded to a 70-200F4L + 1.4xII, which renders far better quality pictures. As the F4 (F5.6 plus the 1.4xII) was too dark for my (portrait indoors) needs especially in the 70-100 region, I later upgraded to 70-200F2.8 L IS.

I tried the 2xII extender on that one, but found that combination too soft (and too slow focussing), so ended up with a 100-400L IS for the long range, another plus to me is that the 100-400 remains usefull with a (taped) 1.4xII extender.

FWIW, note that neither of the 3 70-75-300's takes the 1.4xII extender.

...*my* opinion, *my* €0.02 worth...

Kindest regards,

Max@Home

[N467RX]

I think the only way to use a 1.4 converter with the 75-300 is using a 3rd party one.

IMHO, for that amount of money you can get either a 100-400L or a 70-200L with a converter.

[rpcrowe]

Obviously when you consider the DO lens, you might also be considering the new 70-200mm f/4-5.6 IS lens.

I have heard a lot of nice things aboutthis lens and a lot of not so nice things.* With the exception of the ful page ad in Outdoor Photography magazine showing pictures of INdia; I have not actually seen any pictures posted that blow my socks off.

My Numero Uno problem with the new IS lens is that the front element rotates while focusing.* I mistakenly thought that type of focusing was restricted to older and or cheaper lenses; not one of the newest lenses in Canon's line.*

My problem with a rotating front element is that I tend to use a polarizer most of the time outdoors and obviously outdoors is where* I would be using this lens.* *A rotating front element makes it very inconvenient to use a polarizer since the polarizer will rotate as the focus changes.* This might not propose a problem to someone who doesn't generally use a polarizer but, it is a pain in the butt for me.* I sold a Canon 70-210mm f/4 manual focus lens soon after I acquired it because of the rotating front element.

I'd like a long lens with IS to replace my 70-200mm f/4L because I am getting a little old to be hand holding such a long lens without IS capability.* I am not, however, ready to give up the good quality of my 70-200mm f/4L.* I don't know if I want to carry the extra weight of the 70-200mm f/2.8L or the 100-400mm L lens* (both are approximately twice as heavy as the 70-200mm f/4L) but, it seems as if these two lenses are the only options for a REALLY SHARP zoom with IS capability.*