Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM
- The CanonEF 300mm f/2.8LIS USM is a prime lens for Full Frame (FF) format, compatible with Canon EOS FF and APS-C cameras (and also mirrorless Canon EOS R / EOS M via adapter).
- This lens is available exclusively in the Canon EF mount.
- The lens is filterable with 52mm drop-in filters (to be placed in a dedicated housing in the back of the lens), there is the image stabilization and the focus takes place via Ultra Sonic AF Motor (Ring-USM).
- The lens is out of production (production period: 1999 - 2011).
- Price range*: $$$$
- Equivalences**: a 300mm f/2,8 mounted on a Full Frame camera will remain so, mounted on a Canon APS-C camera it will have a field of view, a Depth of Field and a "out of focus portion" of the image roughly equivalent to that of a 486mm f/4,5 lens on Full Frame.
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*Price range - legend: $: <400$ | $$: 400$ - 1000$ | $$$: 1000$ - 2000$ | $$$$: +2000$
**Equivalences - explanation: the concepts of "equivalent focal length" and "equivalent aperture" were born with the aim of allowing similar photos to be taken (in terms of framing and Depth of Field) with two cameras with sensors of different sizes without changing the distance from the subject (otherwise the perspective would also change) and placing the Full Frame format as a reference in the equivalence. The "equivalent focal length" helps the photographer to understand what field of view it will have (i.e. what the lens + camera combination can see and capture) and consequently what is the equivalent angle of view. The "equivalent aperture" helps the photographer to understand the equivalent Depth of Field (DoF) and how much "out of focus portion" the image will have. The equivalent "mm" are obtained by multiplying the focal length by the crop factor of the camera used [CANON APS-C: 1.62x] and in a similar way the equivalent "f/" aperture is calculated. It is important to remember that a lens NEVER changes its physical characteristics, a 300mm f/2.8 always remains a 300mm f/2.8, regardless of whether it is mounted on Full Frame, APS-C, Medium Format and so on. ONLY the field of view changes. Exposure is also independent of the sensor format, so regardless of the sensor format of the camera on which the lens is mounted (as long as the lens can be mounted on multiple formats), with the same aperture, the shutter speed and ISO will also be the same.
Specifications
COMPATIBLE MOUNT
Canon EF
Focal length | Angle of view
300mm | 8°
Format
FF
Maximum aperture | Minimum aperture
f/2.8 | f/32
Aperture
8 blades
Minimum focusing distance
2,5 m (8.2 ft)
Maximum magnification | Reproduction Ratio
0,13x | RR 1:7,7
Image stabilizer
Yes
Focus
AF Motor (Ring-USM)
Filter diameter
Ø52mm drop-in filter
Optical construction
17 elements in 13 groups
Type
Prime lens
Weather sealing
Yes
Lens hood
Supplied
Tripod ring
Yes
Extenders
Supported
Weight | Dimensions (diameter x length)
5.62 lb | Ø5.04″ x 9.92″
Other features
- Distance scale window
- 3 focus range limitations: 2.5m-∞ | 2.5m-6.4m | 6.4m-∞. The center option limits the focus range from 2.5m to 6.4m thus losing the focus at infinity (∞)
- Focus mode switch AF-MF
- Full-time manual focus: the lens can be manually focused even when in autofocus mode (AF)
- AF Stop Button (x4). The button is available in 4 different positions, every 90° along the circumference of the lens. Button's default function is the AF Lock, but it can be changed with another function based on the camera used
- Dedicated playback ring with the function to recall quickly the previously stored focus preset
- 1 preset of the focusing distance can be memorized (slide the selector "FOCUS PRESET" on "ON", perform the focus with the lens on the distance you want to store, press the "SET" button. In addition, the activation of a beeper is also possible)
- I-O (i.e. ON-OFF) optical stabilizer switch
- 2 Image Stabilization (IS) Mode Selections (1:Standard | 2:Panning)
MTF chart
The MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) chart is useful for having an objective representation of the contrast and resolution of a lens from the center to the edges compared to an ideal system. Click on the link to view it:
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(remember that the MTF curves are calculated at full aperture, by closing the aperture basically all lenses are fine)
Video-reviews and Reviews
For obvious reasons this is just a selection of the main and most significant video reviews and reviews available online for the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM.
If you are interested in this lens, I invite you to find out more by reading the reviews in full / watching the video reviews on the websites / YouTube channels of the respective creators linked here:
Review 1
(Accurate and complete review of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM, with numerous product photos and with the possibility of comparison with other similar lenses)
Review 2
(Well-structured and technical analysis, with samples, of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM that examines many aspects: sharpness; chromatic aberration; vignetting; distortion;...)
Review 3
(Well-structured analysis, with a lot of amazing samples, of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM that examines many aspects: image quality; bokeh; vignetting;...)
Review 4
(Well-structured analysis with samples, even at full resolution, of the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM)
Notes:
- Always view / read reviews with a critical attitude, remembering that the various evaluations must be parameterized with each other by the date the lens was tested and with which camera the lens was reviewed. A 20-year-old lens considered excellent on today's dense sensors will probably still be very good, but it is equally likely that in terms of contrast and resolution it has now been surpassed by more modern lenses.
- Reviews, although really useful for getting a general idea of a lens without ever having tried it directly, are not an exact science. If you just look at the numbers and the negatives there are some lenses that with all their flaws appear to be pure rubbish. Some are actually really poor, but for others there may be precise design choices behind them to obtain a certain rendering of the blur or performance / size ratio otherwise impossible to have if the lens were perfectly corrected for vignetting, distortion, Chromatic Aberration, Spherical Aberration, astigmatism and so on.
- The good intention is to keep all the links working, but if that is not the case I thank those who will report the broken ones. Everything on the web is by its nature not lasting. Modifications and deletions of contents are not rare and especially for the older lenses, a lot of history is being lost. Thanks for the collaboration! :)
PROS and CONS
Brief summary of the main PROS (✅) and the related CONS (❌) for the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM highlighted in the various video-reviews and online reviews:
✅ PROS
Really excellent overall image quality as well as build, with a quick and quiet autofocus motor and an incredible bokeh
❌ CONS
Some problems against bright light (flare and ghosting), demanding dimensions, weight and price and the second generation image stabilizer is a little obsolete to today