Canon EF 28-300 f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

Review of Canon 28-300 f/3.5 -5.6 L IS USM We decided to review this lens as it covers a wide range of focal lengths covering wide angle to short Telephoto and make a direct comparsion to the 100-400 mm which is very popular amongst bird photographers. On first impressions the lens was a little heavier than the 100-400 but optically very good throughout the range. The lens is an ideal companion to any system and when used with a 7D the effective focal length is 480 mm giving a magnification of nearly 11 times. This image of a cultivated raspberry was taken in poor light with no preparation (or knowledge of which cultivated raspberry it is!), using the 7D. It anabled a good close-up shot without the hastle of carrying a macro lens. However for insects etc a macro lens would still be advisable. This lens is just a bit heavier than the 100-400mm IS which makes it a little more awkward for flight photography. However the focal range of the lens benefits the user as it may not be so necessary to change lenses so often, or infact, carry so many around. The clarity of the lens is superb getting excellent results and would be a good general use lens, if a bit pricey. We only had one little problem. It was necessary to check the lens funtion as it occassionally swapped from automatic focus to manual without noticing as the particular model we had was a little sensitive. A minor issue compared with the excellence of the lens.

The three images below show three scenes

of Norwich all taken with the 28-300mm lens

in the early morning light.

The two images show the range of lens from wide angle to telephoto of pictures taken in Norwich

Features

11x zoom L-series quality Image Stabilizer Minimum focusing distance 0.7m Full-time manual focus Dust-proof, drip-proof construction Circular aperture diaphragm E-TTL II distance metering Lens coatings optimised for digital cameras

With an ultra-high approx. 11x zoom range covering everything from wide-angle to super-telephoto, Canon's latest professional series 'white lens' is designed for professional photographers looking to limit lens changes and overall kit weight. With Image Stabilization (IS) and high speed, silent auto focus, this superbly specified lens delivers what others can only imagine. Image Stabilization Canon's renowned IS technology compensates for approximately three stops with no perceptible increase in image blur. This vastly increases the range of circumstances in which hand-held photography is possible, limiting the need to carry a tripod. Major movement in a specific direction is detected as conscious panning and correction is halted in the relevant direction, thereby preventing shake-return. Ultra Sonic Motor The ultrasonic motor (USM) converts ultrasonic vibrational energy into rotational force to deliver high-speed, high-precision, super efficient and virtually noiseless auto focusing, with good holding torque for rapid response, accurate stopping. The lens has full-time manual override. The 0.7m minimum focusing distance throughout the entire zoom range also makes it ideal for close-up magnifications. Perfect for digital Lens shape and coatings have been optimised to suppress ghosting and flaring, making the lens ideal for use with digital cameras that can be susceptible to reflections off the recording sensor. When fitted to digital cameras with an APS-C size sensor such as the EOS 10D, the lens has an equivalent focal length range of 45-480mm. Precision optics for high image quality Beautiful contrast, low distortion and high corner-to-corner resolution is evident throughout the zoom range. An EMD (electromagnetic diaphragm) controls aperture for fast, quiet, highly precise control. A circular aperture diaphragm affords pleasing background blur, from full aperture to two stops down. Environmental protection The EF 28-300mm features a rugged dust-proof and drip-proof construction, designed for professionals working under a wide range of harsh conditions. Working with EOS The drive pattern is tailored to match the latest EOS range, extracting maximum benefit from the lens’ speed advantage. Distance information offers higher precision focus-linked E-TTL II flash photography metering.