TFrog.com Lens Test

Another Real-World Lens Test

The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM has been only an occasional performer for me, and I often thought that I should have saved my pennies for one of Canon's L series 70-200 lenses, instead. But I wanted that extra 100mm reach, and settled on that mid-range telephoto zoom. Now Canon has come out with a 70-300 in the L series.

Anyone want to buy my old one?

I borrowed (read: rented) the new 70-300L for a two-week period in June, and my initial reactions are:
• Autofocus is crazy sick fast
• Clarity is on a par with the 70-200's that I've used
• This is a very contrasty lens
• Certainly heavier than my 70-300, but I'll get used to it.

Here's the new 70-300L on my EOS 50D, in the retracted (70mm) position. In the background are my own 70-300 and my 100mm macro. The L series is meatier, heftier, and more solidly built. Even with large hands, it's a handful. The focus adjustment is the inner black band, the focal length is the outer black band, with just enough room in between to rest the lens on a finger. I see that the optional tripod ring ($189) does not come with the lens, so understand that all photos here are taken hand-held.

With the lens zoomed out to its 300mm extreme, it protrudes about another 2 1/2", or roughly the same length as my own 70-300. See Canon's own page for specifications and details on this lens, which I will not go into here. Find more info and user reviews in the dpreview.com database here.

Side-by-side comparison of the L series and my own 70-300. Yes, wider (not longer), meatier, and definitely heavier.

Enough. Let's get to shootin'.

Moments after taking delivery of the lens, I stepped outside and shot this hydrant on the left. Click the image for the full out-of-the-camera-untouched photo (6MB), showing clarity and detail.
f/14, ISO100, 300mm, 1/125

The image on the right has some good textures (pillow, seat, stone blocks) for comparison. Again, click the image for the original, untouched photo (7MB).
f/7.1, ISO400, 120mm, 1/125

Here are a couple of samples of the telephoto zoom. The shed is about 70 feet away.

L: 70mm, f/7.1, 1/100, ISO400

R: 277mm, f/7.1, 1/100, ISO400

These trees are 80 feet away.

L: 70mm, f/9, 1/100, ISO400

R: 300mm, f/9, 1/100, ISO400

Obviously, no one would mistake this for a macro lens. Minimum focus distance is about 5 feet away. Still, it is capable of taking close-ups (in a pinch). Click the image below for full out-of-the-camera photo (5MB). A few more samples of telephoto-as-macro are in the slide show below.

Select images from the 70-300L in slide show below (enjoy!)
(some enhancements applied in Photoshop):


Okay, bottom line — As you would expect, this new L series 70-300 telephoto zoom is far better than my mid-level version, in every aspect. From the very fast and precise autofocus to the clarity of output, this lens would seem to be a no-brainer. In fact, Canon has made my decision more difficult with this new entry. The choice for telephoto zoom now comes down to three contenders: 70-200L f/4 IS (with 2X extender) ($1,800 total; almost twice that for the f/2.8 model) 70-300L f/4 IS ($1,500) 100-400L f/4.5 IS ($1,600) To date, I've always thought of the 100-400L as the most fun I've had with telephoto zoom. Decisions, decisions... If you're on the fence about the new 70-300L, I'd say "buy it." This lens will not disappoint and is a wonderful new entry in the price range.

If you're here because you're thinking of spending a lot of money on a new lens, the best advice that I can give is Rent One. For a relative pittance, you get to try out an expensive lens for a week, two weeks, a month, whatever, so that you can judge for yourself whether it's worth buying. This 70-300L was courtesy of LensRentals.com, whose service and follow-through were excellent. I can also highly recommend RentGlass.com, and I've used both companies more than once. Check them out.

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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.

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