Hi,

Im looking at getting a Canon EF 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM, I intend to use for the odd days out such as an Airshow or two.

Since Im such a novice I'd appreciated your valued opinion :)

Canon EF 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM (http://www.pictureline.com/products/521/Canon_EF_100-300mm_f4.5-5.6_USM/)

Cost is about right, anything else is probably too much.

Not really long enough for Air shows, but you should get away with it. Anything longer will start to get expensive.

Here is an alternative lens, Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6 APO DG Macro. Generally gets a better rating than the canon. I have this lens myself and am very pleased with it for the money.

I know what you mean 69WRX, I borrowed a friends 70-300 canon last year and could have done with more. Anything bigger seems to be mega money :(

That Sigma 70-300 F4-5.6 APO DG Macro is a nice price too!

Hi,

Im looking at getting a Canon EF 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM, I intend to use for the odd days out such as an Airshow or two.

Since Im such a novice I'd appreciated your valued opinion :)

Canon EF 100-300mm f4.5-5.6 USM (http://www.pictureline.com/products/521/Canon_EF_100-300mm_f4.5-5.6_USM/)

Cost is about right, anything else is probably too much.

Hi mate.

I had one of these for a few years and can give you the run down.

Its one of a handful of lenses that Canon makes that fall in between basic "EF" )like this (http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Zoom_Lenses/EF_75300mm_f456III/index.asp?ComponentID=25947&SourcePageID=26341#1) ) and "L" build quality.

Mix of metal and plastic, unlike the cheaper lenses which are all plastic aside from the lens mount.

Full time manual focusing available when in AF mode due to the ring type USM focus motor pretty much the same as the L series lenses.

Focus speed decent and accurate.

The barrel extends when zooming, but will extend by itself to full zoom if pointed downwards - bit of a pain, to be honest, but it doesn't rotate with focusing/zooming so works well with polarising filters.

What lets it down a bit is the image quality - its reasonable but not great. Was fine on my old film body, but its shortcomings more apparent when I went digital.

Its also pretty "slow" and without IS.

I sold mine and replaced it with a 70-200F4L which was better in every respect, but shorter and more expensive.

If it was my money, I would bite the bullet and buy the Canon 70-300F4-5.6IS USM (http://www.canon.co.uk/For_Home/Product_Finder/Cameras/EF_Lenses/Zoom_Lenses/EF75_300mm_f4_56_IS_USM/index.asp?ComponentID=42959&SourcePageID=26341#1) which although based upon the cheaper spec of 70-300 lens and doesn't have the FTM focusing and has a rotating front element, is the most recent design, has IS and from all the examples I've seen has almost if not the same image quality of the "L" lenses.

If you'd ask me, Canon EF 100-300mm is a good choice already.


____________
Harvey
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