jo-1's reviews

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM

What can be written about the latest incarnation of the 300 f/22.8 that haven't been done elsewhere?

I bought one of the 1st lenses in Germany (reason for the high price tag) and use it ever since almost purely was a walk around lens. Either in Venice or for wildlife on my FF camera.

The image quality easily outperforms all Canon zooms and that tells a lot. Additionally it is the most affordable and lightest of the new type II teles and with the 1.4 and 2.0 type III extenders it just shines.

Focussing is no problem on my 5D II (opposite to many whiners about the AF system). Micro contrast and color reproduction are simply the best I've seen so far from any lens I've owned.

Canon does incredible lenses - the sole reason currently (end of 2012) to stay with Canon.

I conducted a test of the Nikon D800E with the 70-200 f/2.8 VR plus 2x converter vs my 5D II with the 300 f/2.8 II plus the 2x extender in a stage performance.

The printed results (24x36 inches) of the 5D II easily outperformed the results of the Nikon gear.

I was about to purchase the Nikon tool chain but the 300 II is so good that every further thought was unnecessary.

I hope that Canon brings out a 7D II with > 20 MPixel and > 10 fps - the 300 II will be the wildlife and action king. On FF it offers a very unique bokeh quality and last but not least it simply delivers - all the time if you know how to handle it properly.

The lens to buy if you are intending to travel a lot.

I own the fantastic 70-200 f/4.0 L IS USM but in direct comparison the zoom feels like a toy and the quality of the bokeh is a completely different story.

Very good lens - maybe the best on this planet (beside the gorgeous TS-E 17)