Opinions on a lens

Here is the Digital Picture’s review:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-70-300mm-f-4.5-5.6-DO-IS-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

Here is the ISO 12233 charts on this lens sharpness and you can choose whatever comparator you would want with this lens. Check out the EF 70-200mm f/4L IS

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=243&desc=Canon-EF-70-300mm-f/4.5-5.6-DO-IS-USM-Lens-Sample-Crops

In the USD 1100 price range (I am assuming the same difference exists in BP) the new EF 70-200 f/4L IS beats the pants off the DO in sharpness. You will get close the 300mm (280mm) at f/5.6 with a 1.4x TC II (another $285). Or if you believe that its an FLM and not an FOVC then you are getting 448mm with a 1.6x crop.
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Hi John

I’m just going by what Canon told me. I rang their UK support line, spoke to one of their operatives and asked what would happen if I bought an imported (in this instance one that originated from America) 100 – 400mm L series lense and it developed a fault. His reply was that I’d need to send it to Canon US to be fixed. Sounds a bit crazy, I must admit, but perhaps it’s just another element of rip-off Britain, lol. Mind you, English wasn’t his first language and he did sound like he was trying to find an answer using a pre-defined ‘script’.
I really want this lense but it’s a big investment and just don’t want to get my fingers burnt. Do we know if this chap off Ebay sells imported stuff? His prices seem very good!

Thanks

Bob

Have to disagree with you guys on this one….I bought a 20D and 100-400L from www.digitalrev.com The camera and lens came from Hong Kong, I saved over £600 at the time compared to UK prices. Both developed very minor problems and required warranty work. Canon UK were very vague as to warranty conditions, I took both to my local Canon Approved Authorised Repairer in Glasgow. Put both items in the box and produced my receipt from the shop in Hong Kong. The shop was more than happy to carry out the repairs and said they have done it many times in the past and always get repaid from Canon UK Warranty.

Scotty, have a look at the site, sometimes you will save a fortune compared to UK prices, although they don’t look the cheapest at present 🙁

Jessops price £1150, Kerso £870 inc delivery………

I think the guy you spoke to is incorrect, but thats just what other forums say.

Have a read over on POTN, he is a member there, and will even phone you for a chat.

Got my 100-400 from him nearly 3 years ago, and I still remember my bottom muscles going into spasm when sending a stranger over £800…..:eek:

Not sure what the circumstances would be if you showed them receipts proving it’s bought from the UK, but yet imported from America? It’s worth getting in contact with Kerso just to ask him.

But wouldn’t Canon check out the serial number and work out where it’s from?

Yes some of his stuff is imported from America which is why it’s so cheap. As far as you’re concerned, you’ve bought it from a shop in Scotland and thats what you tell Canon. 😉

Hi John

I’m just going by what Canon told me. I rang their UK support line, spoke to one of their operatives and asked what would happen if I bought an imported (in this instance one that originated from America) 100 – 400mm L series lense and it developed a fault. His reply was that I’d need to send it to Canon US to be fixed. Sounds a bit crazy, I must admit, but perhaps it’s just another element of rip-off Britain, lol. Mind you, English wasn’t his first language and he did sound like he was trying to find an answer using a pre-defined ‘script’.
I really want this lense but it’s a big investment and just don’t want to get my fingers burnt. Do we know if this chap off Ebay sells imported stuff? His prices seem very good!

Thanks

Bob

Hi Tartan

I was looking at a Canon 100-400mm on ebay which was at ‘buy it now’ for just under £800 which is about £200 cheaper than I can find anywhere else in UK. However, I suspect that this particular sellers Canon stock is imported from USA. Fine, until something goes wrong and you need to ship it back to Canon. Canon UK won’t touch it…you’ll need to send it to Canon USA which I assume will be a time consuming and costly affair. You might want to check that the items you’re bidding on is actually UK kit, or imported.

Bob

Camera bodies are region specific for guarentee, lenses have a worldwide warrenty.

Kerso on fleabay recommended….trustworthy guy. Used him twice myself.
He supplies huge amounts of equipment to POTN forum…:eek:

Hi Tartan

I was looking at a Canon 100-400mm on ebay which was at ‘buy it now’ for just under £800 which is about £200 cheaper than I can find anywhere else in UK. However, I suspect that this particular sellers Canon stock is imported from USA. Fine, until something goes wrong and you need to ship it back to Canon. Canon UK won’t touch it…you’ll need to send it to Canon USA which I assume will be a time consuming and costly affair. You might want to check that the items you’re bidding on is actually UK kit, or imported.

Bob

Hi Bob,

Is the 100-400 priced at £850 and it’s from Fife, Scotland. If so, buy it now! I bought mine from Ebay last August from him. He’s a great seller with super communication. Had a few sleepless nights though.

Heres the link for anyone interested:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAND-NEW-CANON-100-400MM-IS-LENS-IN-SCOTLAND_W0QQitemZ130146450694QQihZ003QQcategoryZ30070QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

I used the Canon 75-300 non-IS lens for the last 10 years.

All of my photography is done hand-held, as I find a tripod too restrictive to use and carry everywhere. I have a pretty steady hand, but decided that Image Stabilisation would increase the number of “keepers”. A secondary requirement was a lens that was easy to carry when walking long distances and easy to hold when taking a photo. Cost was my other consideration. I live in Australia, so heat haze is a problem in hotter months, and can make a longer focal length useless to me.

I looked at three lenses for my aviation photography:

In the end, I bought the Canon 70-300mm IS (not-DO).

Sigma 50-500mm (“Bigma”) – has no IS, is also a large, heavy lens, and most owners say that it is not great in dull lighting conditions. On the plus side, it has excellent zoom range and gives quite sharp photos, provided you have a steady hand.

Canon 100-400L IS – also a large, heavy lens, but not as bad as the Bigma in this regard. Expensive. On the plus side it has IS, but this lens has not been updated by Canon, so the IS and glass technology is not cutting edge. It is still very popular amongst aviation photographers.

Canon 70-300mm IS – I chose this as it has the latest IS, has good reviews on photography websites for its sharpness, and is very easy to carry around and hold. It is also cheaper than the Sigma 50-500, and especially the Canon 100-400L. The photography websites recommend the non-DO version, as although the DO version is more compact, it is more expensive, and produces photos that are only equivalent to (or worse than) the non-DO version.

I have found the IS to be very useful when taking static photos at a distance or in low-light, and especially for aircraft in flight. I have many more keepers now than I used to. It fits easily in my camera bag with my other lens and gear, and is not heavy or cumbersome to handle. It also doesn’t attract as much unwelcome attention as a huge lens would. I also saved enough money that I was able to replace my 18-55mm kit lens with a 17-55mm IS F2.8 – very sharp and great for low light conditions (eg. hangar photos).

It’s a very individual decision, which you have to make based on your current and intended future usage of the lens. The above is my personal opinion, based on the way I use my lens. Your situation may be entirely different, requiring a different lens as a solution.

However, some good sites for lens reviews are:

http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/index.html

http://www.fredmiranda.com/reviews/

This one has links to reviews at various websites, categorised by lens type:
http://www.massimocristaldi.com/wordpress/?p=65

Thanks everyone for the great replies.
Unfortunately i got outbid for the lens ,which finished at £491, a bargain IMO.
Oh well, think i am now going to plump for one of the many 100-400 L series knocking about, am off on a shooting trip round Asia in a couple of weeks, and want to come back with a much higher proprtion of “keepers” than i will get with my old 75-300mm.
Cheers again all.

Sorry time has run out.
Anyway I have one ‘DO’ and my main subjects are aircraft, I am also a wheelchair user.
I find the lens light weight and easy to use, and the results good, I travel quite a bit so for my situation it is a great lens.
Simon:cool:

Sorry no experience with the with the ‘DO’ version of the 70mm – 300mm ‘IS’ Canon lens, however I do use the other two mentioned, so if you do not mind I will make a couple of general comments based on my own experience.

From the perspective of taking ground too air pictures of aircraft, the best lens for the job is really down to the location in combination with size of the subject . To explain I will us two examples:

(a) Going to an airfield such as ’Old Warden’, I have found the 70 -300mm Zoom to be a satisfactory performer.

(b) If we then go to an airfield such as Duxford, the aforementioned Zoom will be much more limiting. The 100 – 400mm will come into its own with its greater focal length.

Having made the above comments, you will always have situations when you will find yourself wishing for a longer focal length lens. When it comes down to it, you have no such thing as the perfect lens!

I have no doubt that the ‘DO’ version of the Classic 70 – 300mm will be good performer, it would need to be at the price, is it the lens for you? Only you can answer that one, certainly I would be happy own one if I had a few spare pounds!

Regards

Eric

Hi Tartan

I was looking at a Canon 100-400mm on ebay which was at ‘buy it now’ for just under £800 which is about £200 cheaper than I can find anywhere else in UK. However, I suspect that this particular sellers Canon stock is imported from USA. Fine, until something goes wrong and you need to ship it back to Canon. Canon UK won’t touch it…you’ll need to send it to Canon USA which I assume will be a time consuming and costly affair. You might want to check that the items you’re bidding on is actually UK kit, or imported.

Bob

Cheers Alex
I think it’s the size thats holding me back (for no real reason:confused: ) it is currently sitting at just over £200 which seems really good for an IS DO lens (although it’s price will rocket in the last 5 minutes of auction!!:mad: ) I am also looking at a 100-400mm IS USM L series lens that is currently sitting at £435 finishing tomorrow, though these Lenses seem to go for around the £750 mark a wee bit steep for me.
Thanks for the input.

I don’t own one, but played around with it in a few shops. It’s a great little lens and is very light weight. Got some very sharp results of cars passing the shop window, but ended up going for the 100-400 as the extra 100 telephoto was needed.

HTH,

Alex