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Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM 'L' Review

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The Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM 'L' lens is a heavy, well-built, and efficient telephoto zoom lens. It provides sharp images, efficient autofocus, and good image stabilization. However, it has some distortion and vignetting issues at certain settings. The overall image quality is satisfying and the build quality is excellent.

The Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM 'L' lens is a heavy, well-built, and efficient telephoto zoom lens. It provides sharp images, efficient autofocus, and good image stabilization. However, it has some distortion and vignetting issues at certain settings. The overall image quality is satisfying and the build quality is excellent.

Pros
  • Sharp images
  • Efficient autofocus
  • Good image stabilization
  • Excellent build quality
Cons
  • Vignetting and distortion issues
  • Not ideal for complex background bokeh
  • Relatively heavy

The lens delivers razor-sharp images, maintaining sharpness even at its widest aperture. Vignetting and distortion are present at certain settings but can be managed. The lens provides a nice and sharp close-up quality.

The Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM 'L' lens is a heavy, well-built, and efficient telephoto zoom lens. It offers a versatile focal range suitable for telephoto shots and wildlife photography. The maximum aperture of f/4-5.6 limits the brightness but efficient image stabilization compensates for it. The lens is made of metal, weather-sealed, and designed to survive harsh conditions. The USM autofocus motor is quick and quiet, providing good performance. On a 20-megapixel camera, the lens delivers razor-sharp images, maintaining sharpness even at its widest aperture. However, it can get slightly soft from F16 due to diffraction. When used on a 24-megapixel APS-C camera, the lens remains sharp with good contrast at various focal lengths and apertures. Vignetting and distortion are present at certain settings but can be managed. The lens provides a nice and sharp close-up quality. The bokeh is not perfect but overall, the image quality is satisfying. Professional photographers will find this lens to be a good investment for its performance and build quality.

Professional photographers will find this lens to be a good investment for its performance and build quality.

Source

This article is based on the review by

Christopher Frost

Christopher Frost

Christopher Frost is a YouTube channel dedicated to providing in-depth reviews and analyses of photography equipment, particularly lenses. Christopher Frost, the creator and host of the channel, is known for his thorough and detailed evaluations of various lenses from different manufacturers, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and others.  To learn more, please visit the channel here.

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