TFrog.com Lens Test

Another Real-World Lens Test

The 70-300 f/4-5.6 IS was the first lens that I bought, after the 18-55mm kit lens that came with my Rebel XT. Coming directly from the Canon S1 with its 10X optical zoom, I suppose that it was only natural to want extended reach through the glass. (Also wishing for a bit more clarity than that kit lens, I added the 50mm f/1.8 to the order, and have been extremely pleased with that under-$100 performer.)

In relative terms, the 300mm telephoto zoom of this lens is a factor of roughly 8 times over the naked eye, but the Rebel XT (and now EOS 50D), with its crop sensor, delivers the apparent zoom of a 480mm lens. This was what I wanted, but this particular lens proved to be less than spectacular.

I have, over the years, rented several of the L series of Canon lenses (two different 70-200 models, a 400 prime, and the 100-400 telephoto zoom), and each successive rental only served to highlight the weaknesses of this 70-300mm.

Good reach, but...

Images are somewhat soft from this lens, and can stand a good deal of Photoshop's unsharp mask to make them more acceptable. Results are consistent, if unspectacular. The image stabilization is very good, allowing for longer shutter settings or lower light shooting.

The lens protrudes as the zoom is extended.
The photo above shows the lens at 70mm, and here it is at its full 300mm length:

I would say this - if you, like me, want a "good" telephoto zoom lens and cannot wait until you've saved sufficient pennies for the L glass, then buy this lens. You won't be disappointed, until you have access to the superior line of lenses. But consider - the current street price of this lens is $529.00 (Oct 2010). The entry level 70-200 f/4 L lens is only $120.00 more. If you can live without that extra 100mm reach and image stabilization, but want much better clarity, keep saving.

After having owned this lens for several years, I am only now getting around to putting up my Real-World Lens Test page. I promise many, many more photos to come... Here are three photos of my bird feeder, from a distance of about 10 feet — each image links to a 1280 X 800 crop:

Carolina Chickadee
f/6.3 - 1/400 - ISO200
focal length 250mm

Tufted Titmouse
f/6.3 - 1/400 - ISO200
focal length 250mm

Tufted Titmouse (2)
f/6.3 - 1/400 - ISO200
focal length 250mm

Here's a typical use for this lens - an osprey perches high atop a tree, a distance of some 100 feet from my position. Click image below for a 1440 X 900 crop, untouched, straight from the camera.

Osprey - EOS 50D - f/18 - 1/80 - ISO400 - focal length 260mm

Osprey was back on October 23, 2010 - click thumbs below for 1440 X 900 versions
(adjusted for sharpness and color saturation)

Osprey 3696
f/6.3 - 1/250 - ISO200
focal length 240mm

Osprey 3707
f/6.3 - 1/250 - ISO200
focal length 250mm

Osprey 3710
f/6.3 - 1/250 - ISO200
focal length 250mm

Eagle Sightings

Rarely do I have the right lens at the right moment. An eagle at about 100 feet above the back yard makes we wish I had an L series at hand. Thumbnails link to 1440x900 images.

Eagle 7506
f/5.6 — 1/640 — ISO200
focal length 235mm

Eagle 7512
f5.6 - 1/640 - ISO200
focal length 235mm

Three more unretouched crops, so you can see the results straight from the camera:

Cardinal
f/5.6 - 1/320 - ISO200
focal length 270mm

John Deere (full 3MB)
f/11 - 1/125 - ISO200
focal length 70mm

Osprey
f/7.1 - 1/500 - ISO200
focal length 300mm

More bird shots are available on my EOS 50D page

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I'd like to hear from my visitors as to whether this sort of amateur lens test is worthwhile. We've all seen what the professional photographers can do, but rarely do the rest of us measure up to that standard. In considering whether or not to throw good money at a lens, I thought it would be interesting to see what the average Joe gets from it. Heck, anybody's results should be as good or better than what I've shown here. Drop me a line and let me know what you think. I plan on several more of these Lens Tests as time goes by... If there's a Canon lens you'd especially like to see, let me know.