The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM is a telephoto zoom lens designed for use with Canon EOS DSLR cameras. It has a focal length range of 70-300mm, which makes it ideal for capturing distant subjects, such as wildlife, sports events, and landscape photography.
Design and Build Quality
The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens has a sturdy plastic construction that feels durable in the hand. The lens weighs around 710g (25oz), which is fairly lightweight for a telephoto zoom lens. It has a zoom ring that is smooth and easy to operate, and a focus ring that is located closer to the camera body.
The lens also features a 9-blade circular aperture, which helps to create a smooth and pleasing background blur. It also has Canon’s Image Stabilization (IS) technology, which reduces camera shake and allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds without getting blurry images. The IS system has two modes: one for general photography and one for panning.
Autofocus Performance
The lens uses a USM (Ultrasonic Motor) autofocus system, which is fast, accurate, and virtually silent. This makes it ideal for capturing wildlife and sports events. The autofocus system is also customizable, with the ability to set the focus speed and limit the focus range.
Additionally, the lens has a full-time manual focus override, which allows you to make fine adjustments to the focus manually without having to switch the lens to manual focus mode. This is especially useful when you need to make quick adjustments to the focus while in autofocus mode.
Image Quality
The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens delivers sharp and detailed images with strong contrast throughout the zoom range. The lens’s Super Spectra Coating helps to reduce ghosting and flare caused by reflections, resulting in images with better color accuracy and contrast.
While the lens does suffer from some chromatic aberration and distortion, these can be corrected in post-processing. Additionally, the lens has a minimum focusing distance of 1.2m (3.9ft) throughout the zoom range, which makes it useful for close-up photography.
One of the lens’s standout features is its Image Stabilization (IS) technology, which helps to reduce camera shake and allows you to shoot at slower shutter speeds without getting blurry images. This is especially useful when shooting in low-light conditions or when using a longer focal length.
Compatibility
The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens is designed to work with Canon EOS DSLR cameras. It is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C sensor cameras, and has a Canon EF mount. It is not compatible with Canon’s mirrorless cameras unless used with an adapter.
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- Good image quality with strong contrast
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Customizable autofocus settings
- Full-time manual focus override
- Image Stabilization (IS) technology
Cons
- Some chromatic aberration and distortion
- Not compatible with Canon’s mirrorless cameras without an adapter
Conclusion
The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM is a versatile and high-quality lens that can be used for a wide range of photography genres, including wildlife, sports, and landscape photography. Its lightweight and compact design make it easy to handle and use for handheld shooting, and its fast and accurate autofocus system makes it ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects