This lens had barely hit the “streets” when I first tried to buy it. Advance publicity had made it such a hot item that it was unavailable for weeks. By that time cooler, more sensible minds had convinced me I shouldn't purchase it. I bought a much cheaper 75-300mm lens and gave it barely a thought for the next couple of years.
UNTIL…I found myself once more shooting at a school talent show where flash would be intrusive and though I was using fast film my shutter speed was still 1/30 or 1/60! The distance was too great for my faster 100mm or 50mm lenses. Grinding my teeth, cursing I remembered the numerous times this problem had reared its ugly head. Dog shows, school events, museums. Quite suddenly I realized that people advising me against this lens were speaking to their photo needs and experiences…not mine.
A review of the specs showed all to be in order. It used the same filters as the 75-300mm lens I first bought. The closest focusing distance was identical. It was several ounces heavier but easily handheld. A call to the used photo dealer told me I'd recover about half of the purchasing price on my old 75-300mm lens. I decided for it and am happy that I did.
In the right circumstances the lens is a godsend. Image stabilization really works as well as Canon claims it does! Sharp images at slow shutter speeds become a fact of life. Naturally, the immutable laws of physics remain. The IS feature protects the image from hand/camera shake and NOT subject movement. So it cannot yield a sharp image of a moving object at a slow shutter speed.
Low light shooting is now far less frustrating with much better results. This lens has repeatedly demonstrated to me that the best bargains in life aren't always cheap. My next goal is to save for the 28-135 IS lens.
I have always been fascinated shooting wildlife (animal and human) in their natural habitat (My favorite: a trip to Kruger National Park, South Africa). This sometimes requires an extremely steady hand and/or a really fast shutter speed. To obtain extremely fast shutter, one needs a lens with 2.8mm aperture or larger in conjunction with a fast motor. These professional grade lenses typically run $2000-$10000. That was not an option given my income.
Reason for purchase:
I originally purchased the 75-300mm USM lens but found some of my pictures that were to be my best came out blurred. I tell my friends that I meant to do that and it is “art”.
Then, about 2 years ago, I scanned the pages of the Canon catalog, and lo and behold I saw the 75-300mm IS. I called around town and found a company that had it in stock. After about an hour handling and shooting pictures with the lens at the store, I found the pictures were crisp and clear except for one where I jolted the lens before the shutter closed. With the lens, I found I could shoot at about 1-2 f-stops higher than necessary with the appropriate shutter speed compensation. I do not know what I would do without this lens. I found it works great with the canon 2x zoom attachment to get 600mm zoom. I couldn't successfully achieve free handling this setup and realizing decent pictures without this lens.
This is now my main lens since I can take portraits and shoot distant shots with the same lens without hassle.
Advantages/Disadvantages: In terms of features, one nice point is the ability to turn off the Image Stabilizer by moving a button on the lens. The image stabilizer is a set of lenses oriented like a gyroscope. As you push the button on the camera half way down(focus mode), you can hear the “gyroscope” move/balance and when the picture is taken, you see these inner lenses align inside the lens (scary at first but you get used to it). You also have the ability to manually focus the lens. Great portrait camera at 80mm and f/4.0. Not one bit of trouble with the IS system.
Drawbacks: quite heavier than the regular 75-300 lens. When hanging from my body, the lens always zooms out on its own due to the weight of the inner lens body. When the image stabilizer is ON, the number of shots per second diminishes on my EOS Elan.
As one can see, the pros outweigh (no pun intended) the cons. This lens is definitely worth the extra $300.
If you haven�t heard, I like to take pictures. Let me rephrase that. I�m hopelessly, utterly, pathetically obsessed with photography. The addiction began when I was just a small child, who stole my parents� camera and went hog-wild at the zoo. My love of photography continued throughout my life, bringing me to the point where I have so many cameras, lenses, filters, tripods and bags that I need a warehouse to store them. And that�s only a slight exaggeration.
Of all these pieces of camera equipment, which are now littered throughout my home and auto, I own one prize possession. The Canon EF 75-300 mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM Image Stabilizer Zoom Lens is the one item that travels with me everywhere I go. Not only is this a finely manufactured telephoto zoom lens, but it is so versatile, so simple, so completely perfect, that it renders me an ace photographer, even in the harshest conditions.
To demonstrate its versatility, let me elaborate on some of its uses:
Portraiture & Close-Up Photography Many amateur photographers don�t realize the importance, quality, and overall artistic quality that stems from using a telephoto zoom lens during portrait photography. When we think of zoom lenses, we think of sporting events or sightseeing or private detectives. It may seem incomprehensible, then, that we�d want to use a zoom lens on a subject that is already up close and personal. But, alas, it captures the most miniscule expressions on our subject�s faces, and it blurs any background so that the face is the center of attention.
When I engage in the act of portrait photography, it is under harsh conditions. My subjects aren�t sitting on a stool with a white sheet backdrop, and I don�t have giant headlamps hanging overhead. Rather, I�m usually taking pictures of my toddler and his friends, who are playing in the backyard or on the beach or at the playground.
What makes this lens stand out in portrait photography is its creative use of automatic focus as well as its ability to stabilize the shot. For instance, it�s rather difficult to manually focus on my son and his pals, as they are constantly fidgeting, twisting and turning, and even running away. The automatic focus feature on this lens is incredibly fast and accurate. As soon as I see a gorgeous shot lined up in my viewfinder, I use the auto focus feature and SNAP. It has rarely failed me, and I�d say that close to 100% of my pictures develop crystal clear. Occasionally, I miss the shot and I get a blurry picture, but it�s my fault alone, and I take total blame for it. This is the price we pay for getting that perfect picture.
Furthermore, this lens has an automatic stabilizer, which means that if I�m the least bit shaky handed, it compensates for my downfalls. Unfortunately, though, it doesn�t stop my son from running around like a banshee, and while it stabilizes my inconsistencies, it does not stabilize the subject. In other words, the lens will help you keep a steady hand, but it won�t guarantee crystal clear pictures every time.
Sporting Events & Long Distance Shots As far as telephoto zoom lenses go, this is almost as good as it gets. Despite your distance from your subject, you will get crystal clear close-ups, which appear as though you were standing right there. Does that sound a bit exaggerated? I assure you, it�s not. Over and over again, I find this quality amazing, and I have never been disappointed with its output.
With that said, sporting events leave much room for error. Because of the speed of the subject, you may come away with slightly blurred pictures, which isn�t always a bad quality. Here�s where photographic experience and education make all the difference in the world. If you know what you�re doing, this lens will shine. However, even if you tend to make mistakes from time to time, this is a lens that compensates, once again. Its automatic focus speed is the fastest you�ll find in a standard telephoto zoom lens, and the image stabilizer will come through in a pinch.
Superior Durability Like almost all Canon products, this lens is built to last. For a cost of around $400, that�s an important quality. This lens has traveled with me in both excruciatingly hot and unbearably cold conditions; it�s been exposed to salt water; it�s been dropped and battered; it�s even gotten into the hands of my two-year-old. The lens has taken hundreds of pictures, and you know what? It still looks and acts like new.
Professional Quality The Canon Image Stabilizer Zoom Lens can be found in a majority of professional photographers� camera bags. This is the lens that comes out in a pinch. When all else fails, when conditions are unbearable, they break out their Canon Zoom Lens and hope for the best. Because when no other lens can do the trick, a true photographer relies on this trusty companion, which will get him through almost any situation. Of course, no zoom lens should be your primary lens (although, admittedly, mine probably is). In close quarters, a standard lens will be more versatile. This particular lens, especially, won�t focus on subjects that are too close, and therefore, you�ll lose a few shots. It is best for planned portraiture or sporting events. Gramma�s 80th birthday bash is better left to your point-n-shoot.
One Size Fits All This lens will fit on almost all modern SLR cameras, and nearly all zoom lens filters and caps will screw snugly into place. Of course, it is recommended that you use it with a Canon SLR, as it does the best job with the compatible EOS models. Before you run out and purchase this monster, though, I suggest you check your camera manufacturer�s products specifications, and bring your camera with you to a reputable shop for a �fitting.� Do remember that this is a rather hefty purchase, and the lens should last a long time. With that in mind, you may want to try it out in a camera store or on a friend�s camera before diving head first into the world of telephoto zoom lenses. Likewise, if you are new to photography, there are some cheaper lenses that might help you get your feet wet. Canon, in fact, makes several models that are nearly as good as this one, minus the stabilizer feature.
When the Shot Matters If you are a serious photographer, regardless of whether you consider yourself professional or amateur, this is an excellent addition to any camera bag. It is far superior to many comparable zoom lenses, and it will get your creative juices flowing. While it may be considered expensive by some, you can�t put a price tag on that perfect shot. Or can you? After a few rolls of film, you�ll feel like a pro, and before you know it, friends and relatives will be asking you to take pictures of everything from their cousin�s wedding to their son�s soccer game to their baby�s first portraits. Yes, folks, it�s that good.