Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras: Customer Reviews & Product Details

I'm not a pro photographer. It's a hobby. A few years ago when my kids started soccer I needed a great telephoto lens. I went into my local camera shop and told them I needed a great lens to take photos outdoors of my kids on the soccer field. The rep didn't blink twice and handed me this lens. This probably the most used lens in my arsenal for taking outdoor photos. I take mostly photos of my kids and I prefer to catch them off-guard, so I sit to the side and just take shots of them when they aren't really aware. I like that. I get some really meaningful photographs, one of which is one of my favorite photographs. It always makes me smile.

I'm sure the pros will say there are better lenses on the market, but really. For me, a mom wanting outdoor photos of her kids playing soccer. This is the best lens. It's also very comfortable and easy to use. It feels good and responds well. I let a friend of mine borrow this several months back and she also took some amazing more artsy photographs with it and she more pro than I'll ever be.

Overall, this is a great lens, you can read the specs for product details, I won't go into all that, but know that if you need it for outdoor field-range shots, this is the perfect lens. Soccer moms unite! ;) The only thing that this really needs and I keep forgetting to buy is a hood. Sometimes my photos are too exposed if it's really sunny.

I searched a lot before buying this lens and it was hard to decide between this lens and EF 70-200 F/4 L.
At the end I bought this one and after my first few days I can say that it is more than satisfactory.
Pictures are sharp and even at 300 mm. under low light you can have some brilliant pictures.

One thing that can be criticised is that you can hear some noise when auto focusing and it becomes longer and longer when you focus at 300mm. :) but it does not bother me.

I agonized about which lens to purchase. I wanted one that gave me a range of features and crisp sharp images. This lens gives me everything I wanted.

I purchased this lens so that I get better pictures of my son at his football games. I have been very impressed with the results.

I was a little hesitant about spending this much on a lens, due to the fact it costs as much as my rebel xs, but I am sure glad I went for it! I've taken some amazing shots of the moon, dragonfly's, and birds, that I never though possible! Its a really great lens for wildlife, and general outdoor shooting because of its range, but as I got used too it I really began to want more than 300mm...L series here I come!!
As far as sharpness at 300mm, images still look extremely sharp. The autofocus works well, but I couldn't get a beep from my camera at 300mm? My only real complaint is the noise. The focusing makes a weird plastic rubbing against plastic noise, and it gets a little old. The Image stabilization, which by the way works amazingly, is also a little loud (high pitched whine). These are just minor complaints though, the lens really impressed me! One review on a photography website, called this lens a L series in disguise.
If you would like to see some samples check out my photostream on flickr[...]