Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're looking at this lens, you're ready to spend some serious dollars. Is it worth it? Short answer, yes, but I'll elaborate.
I've shot with a variety of Nikon and Canon lenses for about 25 years. The 300 f/2.8L IS is without a doubt the sharpest lens I've ever had, and it is unbelievably consistent across every aperture. With the 1.4X Canon extender - other its becoming an f/4 lens - I could not see any appreciable change in its performance. Unbelievable.
I got my introduction to image stabilization on the 70-200 f/2.8L IS, and it is even more useful on the 300. I handheld consistently crisp shots at 1/60 and sometimes at 1/30. With my old Nikon 300 mm, anything below 1/250 was out of the question and 1/500 was a good idea. The whirring of the IS is a bit louder on the 300 than the 70-200.
When shooting action in AI Servo mode, the autofocus was as fast as on my shorter prime lenses.
In some forums, people swear by third party long lenses that they say produce as good an image at less than half the cost. All I can say is that their experience probably reflects the limitations of their skills rather than the comparability of the lenses.
With the 1.4X extender and my 1D Mark IIN's 1.3X FOVCF, this becomes a 546 mm lens. On a 1.6X FOVCF camera it's a whopping 672 mm.
Here are some other Canon alternatives and why you might want to go with them instead of the 300 f/2.8L IS:
- Canon 300 f/4L IS - less than half the price; it is lighter and has a built-in lens hood that doesn't require assembly; you lose a stop, and while a very sharp lens, not in same class at the f/2.8. good choice if you don't have the money for the f/2.8 or want to spread it among other lenses.
- Canon 400 f/2.8L IS - a longer reach without losing a stop but the price and weight increase significantly; not really hand-holdable; lens of choice for outdoor sports action.
- Canon 500 f/4L IS - if you want to shoot birds, you'll need the extra reach. It's cheaper than the 400 2.8 but a couple thousand more than the 300. Sharpness is comparable to the 300.
- Zoom lenses (70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS; 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS) Cheaper, lighter and more flexible but a serious compromise on image quality vs. 300 f/2.8L IS.
Best argument against the 300 f/2.8L is that you won't shoot often enough at that focal length or you want to buy more lenses for the money.
I'm saving my pennies now to add the 500 f/4L IS for bird and other wildlife distance shooting. It will take a few years.

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The high-performance L-series EF 300mm super-telephoto lens is a terrific choice for sports photographers and other long-distance users. Sports action requires a fast shutter speed and a long focal length. This lens easily complies thanks to its large maximum aperture--which supports a faster shutter speed--and its 300mm length. The lens also boasts a built-in, dual-mode Image Stabilizer (IS) function. This creates an equivalent shutter speed of up to four stops faster than the same size lens without an image stabilizer, letting you capture long distance hand-held shots far more assuredly. And thanks to the fluorite element and pair of UD-glass elements, the lens effectively corrects the chromatic aberrations that are prone to occur with telephoto lenses. Other features include the world's fastest autofocus (AF) speed with an improved Ring Ultrasonic Motor (USM) and new algorithms; a rugged, lightweight magnesium alloy lens barrel; and a detachable tripod collar that removes smoothly and locks securely. All Canon lenses carry a one-year warranty.
Specifications
Focal length: 300mm
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Lens construction: 17 elements in 13 groups
Diagonal angle of view: 8 degrees at 15 feet
Focus adjustment: Inner focusing system with USM
Closest focusing distance: 8.2 feet
Filter size: 52mm drop-in
Dimensions: 5 inches in diameter and 9.9 inches long
Weight: 90 ounces
Warranty: 1 year

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Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)THE BOTTOM LINE:
I needed to replace the lens on my Canon Rebel XT D-SLR. The EF-S on first glance seemed like the perfect replacement since Canon produced the EF-S series specifically for the compressed sensor D-SLR line. After weighing the pros and cons of the two, I chose this EF lens largely on the basis of price. It was the right choice, and I haven't found any loss of features or quality.
Multiplying the range by 1.6 for a 35mm equivalence (if you have a Rebel XT, 20D or 30D), this model is really just a slightly wide angle to stronger telephoto zoom. (about 45mm-170mm if it was a 35mm film camera) If this range suits you, then this lens is an excellent value over a EF-S wide-angle/telephoto zoom. You'll keep all of the features, save money and have a faster lens.
The EF series meshes well with the current line of Canon digital SLRs. In addition, unlike the EF-S series, they are compatible with all of the Canon EOS products including higher-end cameras like the Mark II.
SPECIFIC OBSERVATIONS FROM WEEKS OF USE:
My first concern before purchasing this lens was the MINIMUM FOCUS DISTANCE of 0.5 meters, or approximately 18 inches. I do a lot of macro work transferring images into digital, so I was a tad worried. However, after getting the lens and zooming in, I realized that the focusing distance wasn't really an issue after all. In most cases, I could manage to stand six or so inches further away and still get a highly magnified shot. So that you can see that the macro function works well, I've uploaded an image of a small hamster photographed at 102mm.
My second concern was lens QUALITY AND SHARPNESS, particularly in the wide-angle setting near the edges of the photo. This lens exceeded my expectations. So that you can see the quality of this lens, I've uploaded an uncropped picture of the SF Bay Bridge taken at the 28mm wide-angle setting. You'll see that the photo is sharp all the way through the edges of the frame. (it is a web-sized jpeg, so you should take that into consideration and use it mainly to see the sharpness of the photo, particularly near the outside edges)
I did get an unexpected bonus with this lens. The MANUAL FOCUS ring is in the front. I love it. Disabling the auto-focus is a snap, and the position and feel of the manual focus is perfect for sports or social activities where the subject is often not the closest object. The ring itself is ridged and made of rubber, making handling a breeze.
While I hadn't expected to replace my stock lens so soon, I think it ended up for the best. This lens is actually superior to the one that came with the XT. I lost some wide-angle function but gained much more telephoto. The price is excellent and the quality of the lens is high.

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The Canon EF 28-105mm standard zoom lens retains the optical capability of Canon's previous EF 28-105mm USM lens but with a refined exterior design. The lens is distinguished by a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM) drive that provides silent, high-speed autofocusing, along with full-time manual focusing. The 1.6-foot close-focusing distance, meanwhile, lets you take great close-up portraits and nature shots. A good match for the Canon EOS A2/A2e or ELAN 7 series cameras with built-in flashes, the EF 28-105mm lens is an excellent zoom lens for everyday use. The lens carries a one-year warranty.

Focal length: 28-105mm
Maximum aperture: 1:3.5-4.5
Lens construction: 15 elements in 12 groups
Diagonal angle of view: 75 to 23 degrees (at 30 feet)
Focus adjustment: Inner focusing system with USM
Closest focusing distance: 1.6 feet
Zoom system: Rotating type
Filter size: 58mm
Dimensions: 2.8 inches in diameter, 3 inches long
Weight: 13.2 ounces

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Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens for Canon DSLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I received my Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM lens today (12/28/06). It feels heavier by far than the 18-55mm kit lens, but lighter than I expected. Feels good (well-balanced) cradling the lens in the left hand near the base of the lens when mounted to my Canon Digital Rebel XT. I put the lens on the camera right away in a manner that would limit the opportunity for dust to intrude on the back of the lens or into the camera, since I've read about this lens not being sealed as well as "L" series Canon lenses. I may never take it off. 8-)
This lens focuses fast and sure--even in low light, no hunting around to lock onto a subject. Pictures taken with the camera hand-held at 1/10 to 1/15 sec shutter speeds inside with no flash were tack-sharp (Thanks to the IS). With F2.8 and IS, this lens opens up a whole new world of natural low-light photography. Not only are more inside shots possible, you also have the versatility to create gorgeous bokeh. You create these bokeh effects generally zoomed to 55mm (where the kit lens' max aperture is F5.6). Since the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 has a constant F2.8 max aperature, you don't have to worry about the depth of field increasing as you zoom. It is so confidence-inspiring to walk around and set your aperture where you want it to give you the depth of field you want, and not really worry about the shutter speed being too slow. Some of my outside dusk (low-light) shots at 1/6 sec shutter and F22 came out sharp (Thanks again to IS). I almost got vertigo when I first looked at my pics uploaded to my PC--they were so realistic. Images really pop!
The decision to go with this lens instead of some of the "L" grade lenses involved the following criteria:
1. Focal Length Range. I wanted at least the range of the 18-55mm kit lens.
2. Max Aperture. I wanted f/2.8, since f/4 is too confining for low-light situations. Also, f/4 doesn't give you the depth of field limiting ability of f/2.8. Trade-off is size and weight (and price).
3. Constant Max Aperture. I wanted a constant max aperture throughout the zoom range. I don't want to set the aperture and have the camera stop it down due to the max aperture decreasing as you zoom in (as is the case with the kit lens).
4. USM. I wanted the Ultrasonic Motor (USM) feature, since this is known to be the fastest and quietest autofocus technology.
5. IS. I wanted Image Stabilization (IS), since this effectively makes your lens faster, because you can shoot in lower light at lower shutter speeds without fear of blur (provided the subject is still). Also, zoomed-into 55mm, camera shake can be more of a problem than at shorter focal lengths. IS has got you covered there as well. This lens only has one IS mode (no mode for panning).
6. Full Format or Crop-optimized. It is true that going with a full format lens would mean that you could use it on any DSLR (35mm film, APS-C DSLR, and Full Format DSLRs such as the 5D and 1Ds Mark II). However, full format lenses are not optimized for the 1.6x crop of the Canon DSLRs Rebel through 30D. The crop-optimized lenses (designated by the "EF-S" in the model name) are tailored to the smaller image sensors of the APS-C camera bodies. The lens elements and coatings are designed to minimize the ghosting and flare that can come from reflections off of the image sensors in digital cameras. Also, the crop-optimized lenses tend to be smaller, lighter and less expensive than otherwise identical full format lenses. I considered the EF 17-40mm f/4L, the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L and the EF 24-105mm f/4L. But, none of these had the focal length range I wanted, and two of them weren't fast enough (f/4), and the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L was very heavy (2.1 lbs). I determined there was no need to sacrifice performance now for some possible benefit later on if I purchase a full format camera. If I ever do, I would hope there would be full format lenses that have been designed to limit chromatic aberrations and introduce other digital optimizations currently provided by the crop-optimized APS-C format-only lenses. Besides, you can always continue to use your old camera and lens as a back-up, or you can sell them to help purchase the new ones.
7. Grade ("L" series or Advanced Amature). Of course, if all else is equal, take the "L" lens with the red stripe. But, all else is not equal. I'd rather have an optically superior lens that is well-built (although not as well as an "L" series) that meets all my other criteria, and just be careful to keep the dust out. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 is expensive (I paid $[...] on [...]). But, I'm sure if there were an "L" series version of this lens, it would be even more expensive.
Conclusion: This is one great lens! There's nothing else out there for 1.6x crop digital cameras that gives you the sweet spot of zoom range, low light capability, depth of field control, image stabilization, fast and quiet auto-focus, and superior image quality rivaling prime lenses. And to put the considerable weight (22.8 oz.) into perspective, it is still 3.8 oz. lighter than the very good digital-only Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8, and the Nikon does not even have image stabilization (and costs more to boot). Game, set and match!
UPDATE 2/3/07: I've taken 1000+ pictures. I'm impressed with battery life given that I thought IS would use a lot of power. But, since flash is nearly never needed (due to f/2.8 and IS), battery life has seemingly been extended. I didn't realize how much I would grow to expect a stable image through the viewfinder until I looked through a viewfinder with a lens without IS and saw the image shaking. Note that cameras with built-in image sensors (such as Sony Alpha) don't stabilize the viewfinder. The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM autofocus locks-on amazingly fast even in low light. No apparent optical weak spots at any focal length or aperture. Lens hood (optional) eliminated most, but not all, flares from bright sun. I think this is the best, most versatile walk-around lens you can get. I wish Canon would make an EF-S 55-200mm f/2.8 IS USM lens to pair it with so I could zoom in closer on distant wildlife, etc.

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Designed to meet consumer demands for a fast EF-S zoom lens, the EF-S 17-55mm offers image quality on par with Canon's highly regarded L-series lenses. The lens features a large circular aperture that produces a shallow depth of field, creating background blur that draws special attention to the photographic subject. The lens construction, meanwhile, includes UD and aspherical elements that deliver impressive image quality throughout the entire zoom range. And thanks to the Image Stabilizer lens groups--which shift to compensate for camera shake--the image appears crisp and clear on the image plane, eve in dim light. Finally, the lens offers a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM), inner focusing, and new AF algorithms to help achieve autofocus quickly and quietly, along with full-time mechanical manual focusing that makes it possible to manually adjust the focus even in AF mode. As with all Canon lenses, this lens carries a one-year warranty.

Focal length: 17-55mm
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Lens construction: 19 elements in 12 groups
Diagonal angle of view: 78 degrees (at 30 feet) to 27 degrees (at 50 feet)
Focus adjustment: AF with full-time manual
Closest focusing distance: 1.15 feet
Zoom system: 5-group helical zoom (front group moves 27mm)
Filter size: 77mm
Dimensions: 3.3 inches in diameter, 4.4 inches long
Weight: 22.8 ounces

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Sigma 10mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM Fisheye Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)First off, bear in mind that I purchased this Sigma fisheye to replace Nikon's 10.5mm f/2.8 fisheye. While I was happy with the Nikon's optical performance, I was disappointed with the AF design. Nikon's lens relies on the AF motor in the camera, which makes for noisy AF. In addition, this design precludes full-time manual focus touch-up. And finally, the lack of an in-lens focus motor precludes AF on the existing D40/D40x and new D60, as well as future Nikon DSLRs lacking an in-camera focus motor.
In any event, when Sigma announced their fisheye lens a few months ago, I decided that I would purchase one. And I am very happy with it! The HSM provides autofocus performance as fast as the Nikon (at least on my Nikon D300 DSLR), while being eerily quiet.
As for the optical quality, it appears to be virtually identical to Nikon's, which is to say excellent. Both lenses are slightly soft wide-open (i.e. at f/2.8), but sharpen considerably when close down one f-stop. Indeed, both lenses are almost as sharp at f/4 as they are at f/5.6.
Besides the built-in autofocus motor, another difference between Nikon and Sigma's fisheye lenses is the field-of-view (FOV). Sigma's lens is 0.5mm wider, and provides a small -- but definitely noticeable -- increase in the angle of view.
So, it all comes down to this:
* Do you currently own a D40/D40x/D60, or plan to purchase one?
* Do you prefer super-quiet AF to the noisy mechanical variety?
* Do you prefer a better-built lens?
The one advantage that Nikon's lens has is size/weight. While arguably not as durable and well-built as the Sigma, it is lighter and more compact. If this is important to you, then you may prefer the Nikon. (See the comparison photos I posted to see what I mean.)
As for Cons, there is one. Sigma's lens is, unfortunately, not weather-sealed. I was hoping that Sigma would at least utilize a gasket around the lens mount, but that is not the case. As such, I recommend against using this lens in rain/drizzle -- or in a super-humid environment. (It is important to note that Nikon's fisheye lens is not weather-sealed either, and also lacks a lens mount gasket.)
Apart from the one aforementioned complaint, I highly recommend the Sigma 10mm fisheye lens. It provides all of the performance/quality of Nikon's fisheye lens, while providing fast and quiet autofocus to owners of ALL Nikon DSLR's, including the D40/D40x/D60. You will not be disappointed!

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Designed for use with Canon digital SLR cameras equipped with APS-C size image sensors, the Sigma 10mm f/2.8 fisheye lens offers a uniquely exaggerated and distorted close-up perspective that's perfect for arty, off-kilter shots. This Canon version offers an impressive 167-degree diagonal angle of view, along with a minimum focusing distance of 5.3 inches and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.3. As a result, subjects can sit as close as 0.7 inches from the lens's front element, making the lens ideal for extreme close-up shots and photos with a large depth of field. The lens also includes a Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) that provides fast and quiet autofocusing, with a full-time manual focus override via a simple twist of the focus ring. And thanks to the lens's integral hood and super multilayer coating, you can easily block out extraneous light while minimizing flare and ghosting. Supplied with a gelatin filter holder at the rear, the 10mm lens carries Sigma's one-year warranty.
Specifications
Focal length: 10mm
Maximum aperture: f/2.8
Lens construction: 12 elements in 7 groups
Angle of view: 167 degrees
Number of diaphragm blades: 7
Minimum aperture: f/22
Minimum focusing distance: 5.3 inches
Maximum magnification: 1:3.3
Filter type: Insertion-type gelatin filter
Mount: Canon
Dimensions: 3 inches in diameter and 3.3 inches long
Weight: 16.8 ounces
Warranty: 1 year

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