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

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 6 x 5 inches ; 3.7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0001G6U48
• Item model number: EOS-D1 Lens 2
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Canon raises the stakes for professional photography with its EF 28-300mm USM ultra-high magnification zoom lens with image stabilization. This handy, compact zoom lens offers versatility, easy subject selection, and the highest optical performance in its class. The 11x zoom range covering everything from wide-angle to telephoto, and you can focus in on subjects as close as 2.3 feet. A powerful ring-type USM drive provides silent. Featuring a dust- and moisture-proof "white lens," it is designed to appeal to professional EOS photographers looking to reduce lens changes and the number of lenses they need to carry.

Image Stabilization
The lens incorporates Canon's Image Stabilization (IS) technology, compensating for approximately three stops without any perceptible increase in image blur when shooting static subjects or panning. This increases the range of circumstances in which hand-held photography is possible, limiting the need to carry a tripod.

Fast Auto-Focus
The inner focusing ring-type 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. Full-time manual override without damage to the autofocus mechanism is featured. Minimum focusing distance is just 0.7m throughout the entire zoom range.

Ready for Digital Photography
The lens shape and coatings have been optimized to suppress ghosting and flaring, making this lens ideal for use with digital cameras that are more susceptible to reflections off the recording media than are film cameras.

Precision Optics
This lens features 22 elements in 16 groups for low distortion, high corner-to-corner resolution throughout the entire zoom range. As with all EF lenses, aperture is controlled with an EMD (electromagnetic diaphragm) for fast, quiet, highly precise control and incorporates a circular aperture diaphragm for beautifully pleasing background blur, from full aperture to two stops down.

The use of 3 Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) glass elements effectively curtails the residual chromatic aberrations that can plague lesser quality long lenses, while aspherical elements correct various kinds of aberration that occur during zooming to give the lens the unsurpassed clarity and resolving power that are the hallmark of professional L-series lenses.

Environmental protection
The EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM features a rugged dust-proof and drip-proof construction, designed for professional photographers working in harsh environments under a wide range of operating temperatures and humidities.

Product Description

A handy, compact zoom lens for versatile and easy subject selection while traveling, etc. The highest optical performance in its class, plus the convenience of focusing as close as 2.3 feet over the entire zooming range. A powerful ring-type USM drive provides silent, high-speed autofocusing, plus the wide zooming range provides an easy, enjoyable picture-taking experience.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

252 of 253 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice piece of glass., December 14, 2005

By	Boris Kandov (Richboro, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was salivating for this lens for four months and finally bought one a few weeks ago from the Amazon. I was very excited and couldn't wait to put this glass on my 20D.
First impression I got was that this lens is not that heavy as 3.7 pounds may seem, but boy I was wrong about that. It feels solidly built and looks not that huge on the body. So there we go... After filling up my 1GB CF with shots (taken outside, inside with external flash and without, with different f-stops and all range of zooms) and closely examining the results I decided to write this review with which I did not try to downplay the qualities of this piece of art, just to share my humble opinion.

Pros:
All in one solution (well may be except super wide)
Under most light conditions the lens performs as expected which is very good
Great zoom range that converts to 45-460mm on APS-C bodies
Nice color saturation and contrast, gorgeous bokeh
Push pull zoom (for some may not) which allows lightning fast zoom change
Focusing distance only 0.7 meter for any zoom range!
IS is doing a great job on longer exposure times
Quiet and fast focusing, never had a hunting problem
Included lens case is of good quality

Cons:
Painfully heavy (you start to feel it after an hour or so)
Pricy the much more suitable price would be around $1700.00
Softness in pictures at the 28 and 300mm range with fully opened aperture.
Focusing ring is too close to tightening ring so when you trying to loosen the tension inadvertently you may change the focus.
Very inconvenient to loosen tightening ring with one hand almost always had to do it with both hands
Aperture falls fast to f/5.6 somewhere in the 85-100mm range.
200 and 300mm ranges are too close to each other which makes it hard to adjust to precise zoom and it's causing overshoot. At the very end (300mm) lens gets stuck and you have to use force to push it back, and that's prevents you from gradually and smoothly change the zoom in between 180-300mm. I heard it's because it's new and this will go away.
The lens hood is barely sufficient at 28mm and almost completely useless at 300mm.
The shoulder strap is very narrow and will definitely pinch a nerve if you carry the lens case around your neck or shoulder

Overall it's a great solution if you only want to carry one lens and if you want to travel "light" but really don't know what focal lengths are required. But still I decided to return mine back and replace it with EF 24-105 L IS USM f/4 and EF 70-200 L USM f/2.8. as it's performance did not live up to my expectations for such high price and inconvenience to carry such a heavy load on your shoulder all day around.

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Versatility coupled with Clarity, August 15, 2006

By	Aries Austria (Ramadi, Iraq) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I love this lens, for some people its either a love it or a hate it. Although there is a long lists of pros, it is not perfect. Yes, there have been complaints about the weight, and there is also a 20% battery life reduction so a battery grip or an extra battery is needed. To be honest though, the pros definately out weigh the cons.

I am an ARMY infantryman and I'm using it here in Iraq and it has been AMAZING. the rugged structure and solid build have truly been battle tested.

If photography is really you're passion then like most passions bear the price you have to pay for those perfect shots accompanied by utmost bliss. I life is all about the perfect memories we take with us.

96 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast, clear, heavy performer, April 25, 2005

By	J. Tu "Dog Photo Man" (Silicone Valley,CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this lens for my EOS 20D. Before this lens, I was using EOS 28-135mm lens. After the upgrade, I found that 28-300mm lens give me almost distortion free image even at 300mm range. When I used 28-135mm lens, the distortion on the image is very visible when I am at 135mm range. Even at the wide angle range, I noticed that 28-300mm lens gives me much sharper image while 28-135mm lens gives me much softer image. The focus is very fast for 28-300mm L lens. On the down side, this 28-300mm lens is really heavy. Holding it will really wear you out. The auto/manual focus switch is arranged in a very awkard position. It is very easy to change your auto foucs setting to manual setting. The lens also will be pulled all the way down due to its weight when you carry it around. I have to carry it with my hand and not make it extend itself all the way down. If picture quality is what you are after, go for this lens. I am very pleased with the sharpness and the fast focusing.