Here're some sample images taken with the EOS 5D II and RAW converted via Canon DPP.
Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window). Please note that the originals are FULL SIZE samples
(=several megabytes) thus requiring a significant amount of bandwidth so please take care of the limited resources here.
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
300.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/160s
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
300.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/250s
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
277.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/160s
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
277.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/160s
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
200.0mm
Aperture:
f/7.1
Exposure
1/500s
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
93.0mm
Aperture:
f/7.1
Exposure
1/640s
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
150.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/800s
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
70.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/400s
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
70.0mm
Aperture:
f/9.0
Exposure
1/160s
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
128.0mm
Aperture:
f/9.0
Exposure
1/200s
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
400
Focal Length
300.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/1250s
Make
Canon
Model
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
146.0mm
Aperture:
f/5.6
Exposure
1/320s
Verdict
The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM L IS delivers high quality results throughout the zoom range but especially at
70mm. At 300mm it is clearly better than its in-house cousins (EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM IS & EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM DO IS)
reaching very good to excellent center results combined very good(-) borders/corners. The light falloff at max. aperture
is comparatively well controlled. The amount of distortions is about average for a lens in this class. Lateral CAs
are very low. The quality of the bokeh is good for such a slow speed lens.
The build quality is outstanding and that's despite the zoom extension system - it doesn't really get any better
in this class - and the sealing is the cream on the cappuccino here. The USM AF is extremely fast and near silent.
So does the EF 70-300mm USM L IS live up to the high expectations ? Well, I'd say mostly but not entirely.
The optical quality is at the high end for a lens in the 300mm zoom class but it doesn't shine quite as bright
as e.g. the (more affordable) EF 70-200mm f/4 USM L IS and, frankly, the pricing isn't aligned accordingly.
Yet you won't find another EF mount lens with this build quality, range, compact size and very decent optical quality.
