Product ReviewsCanon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM DO Lens

If you can work within its limitations, it's good for its price

I wouldn't pay anywhere near list price price for it, but at its typical eBay price, I think it's a reasonable choice for a long zoom lens.

If you can live with the limitation that it only shoots sharply at f/8, you'll be OK (not great - just OK). But the sharpness drops off fast at larger apertures, limiting low-light / high speed / creative performance significantly. And off-angle light can be a problem in bright scenes - I always use the hood when shooting outdoors.

I believe these problems are inherent in the design, and that the edges on the fresnel lens that make the lens so much lighter than similar zoom lenses also disperse light off-path. Hence why, at smaller apertures (which only use the light that passes through the center of the lens) this isn't as much of a problem.

This will lead to disappointment with a lot of pictures. Be forewarned, and be prepared to shoot in aperture priority or manual modes. But with those limitations in mind, I've been able to take pictures that are serviceable for my purposes (mostly plant / bird IDs), and sometimes beautiful.

Other aspects are very good, though - I've never noticed any chromatic aberration, the autofocus has been fast, quiet, and precise, the image stabilization is sufficient for the zoom length.

(On my particular unit the stabilization sometimes fails to engage until I switch it off and back on, but I've never heard that complaint from others so I think that's just a problem with my lens or camera.)Read full review...

Verified purchase: No

Canon 70-300 do should be an L lens

I have neck problems and needed a lighter lens that would still allow me to photograph fast pitch softball. By take nag the double b@ttery pack off my 7d and going to the 70-300 do lens I was able to dramatically cut the weight of my outfit and still get the quality I want.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: procam

Canon EF 70-300mm DO IS USM Lens

This zoom lens is the size of a regular lens except that it is a little chunky in circumference but it easy to carry around. I did some quick test shots and it appears to focus very quickly and the pictures at full zoom seem to be pretty sharp. At 200mm the lens is excellent so I would reccommend this as a great all around lens to use when you need telephoto pics. As in other reviews I read the zoom adjustment is a little stiff and the ring is a little too close to the camera body which is true but I have no real issue with it. The quality of pictures is what I expect from the better Canon lens line and the size of the lens for the range (70-300mm) is just great. I will be taking more test shots over the next few days to get a better feel for its performance and my learning curve in obtaining the best I can from this lens.Read full review...

Canon EF 70-300mm DO IS USM Lens

This zoom lens is the size of a regular lens except that it is a little chunky in circumference but it easy to carry around. I did some quick test shots and it appears to focus very quickly and the pictures at full zoom seem to be pretty sharp. At 200mm the lens is excellent so I would reccommend this as a great all around lens to use when you need telephoto pics. As in other reviews I read the zoom adjustment is a little stiff and the ring is a little too close to the camera body which is true but I have no real issue with it. The quality of pictures is what I expect from the better Canon lens line and the size of the lens for the range (70-300mm) is just great. I will be taking more test shots over the next few days to get a better feel for its performance and my learning curve in obtaining the best I can from this lens.Read full review...

Lens didn't meet my expectations

I had high hopes for this "new technology" compact zoom with an extended zoom range. The images taken can be exceptional, but unfortunately the lens is subject to significant flare, and the images at 300mm are "soft". Shooting outdoors at the US Open in Raleigh (during a practice round) I found about half of the images satisfactory in terms of sharpness, contrast, and overall image quality. But many were ruined by the flare, and turned many of the views into what looked like a hazy, misty day. At mid aperatures the images appeared sharp from center to corner. The lens also has the habit of extending when pointed downward! It is an adequate lens, but not the spectacular one I had hoped for.Read full review...

Lens didn't meet my expectations

I had high hopes for this "new technology" compact zoom with an extended zoom range. The images taken can be exceptional, but unfortunately the lens is subject to significant flare, and the images at 300mm are "soft". Shooting outdoors at the US Open in Raleigh (during a practice round) I found about half of the images satisfactory in terms of sharpness, contrast, and overall image quality. But many were ruined by the flare, and turned many of the views into what looked like a hazy, misty day. At mid aperatures the images appeared sharp from center to corner. The lens also has the habit of extending when pointed downward! It is an adequate lens, but not the spectacular one I had hoped for.Read full review...

Great quality, compact size

This lens is a great travel and landscape lens for two reasons: 1. its compact size makes people think you're not shooting their picture with a 300mm lens and 2. 70-300 is the sweet spot when it comes to telephoto work.

This lens is also one of Canon's best built non-L (professional line)lenses. The USM ring motor is quite fast. So it's got the edge over similar lenses. And it has Canon's more advanced image stabilization system built in.

The only area that reviewers have faulted the lens is that it isn't as sharp as Canon's L lenses. But those lenses generally cost far more for a similar zoom range and if they include image stabilization (IS). If you can get one of these lenses for under $900, it's worth it.Read full review...

Great quality, compact size

This lens is a great travel and landscape lens for two reasons: 1. its compact size makes people think you're not shooting their picture with a 300mm lens and 2. 70-300 is the sweet spot when it comes to telephoto work.

This lens is also one of Canon's best built non-L (professional line)lenses. The USM ring motor is quite fast. So it's got the edge over similar lenses. And it has Canon's more advanced image stabilization system built in.

The only area that reviewers have faulted the lens is that it isn't as sharp as Canon's L lenses. But those lenses generally cost far more for a similar zoom range and if they include image stabilization (IS). If you can get one of these lenses for under $900, it's worth it.Read full review...

Canon EF70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens

The IS capability is a great improvement over the 70-300 mm non stabilized lens that came with the camera. The stucco on an intermediate range structure is very detailed. Details in a long range close up taken using a 2 second shutter delay were marginally less sharp but that was probably caused by haze. I'll be repeating that picture on a very clear day just after we've had a good rain.Read full review...

Canon EF70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens

The IS capability is a great improvement over the 70-300 mm non stabilized lens that came with the camera. The stucco on an intermediate range structure is very detailed. Details in a long range close up taken using a 2 second shutter delay were marginally less sharp but that was probably caused by haze. I'll be repeating that picture on a very clear day just after we've had a good rain.Read full review...