Purchased 70-300L for use on my 7D for daylight field sports, and most importantly, to carry while when traveling. Processed (in Lightroom & NIK Suite) images from the 7D + 70-300L compare very favorably with those from my 5D MkII + 70-200L MkII.

Compact; Light weight; Fast auto focus (with both full and panning modes); Full time manual focus; Very sharp images; Responds well to micro focus adjustment

Cost, but then again it has 'L' build quality and performance; Lens collar is both expensive and (currently) unavailable

Handling and features Performance Verdict Specification Canon have given the 70-300mm range an L-series makeover and as a result this lens sports silent autofocus, with full-time manual override, weather sealing, optical stabilisation and tougher build quality than you might normally find on a lens...

Excellent build quality; Very good sharpness that is consistent through the range; Low CA; Low distortion; Effective optical stabilisation

May seem expensive for a f/4-5.6 zoom (although the premium is probably worth the extra in this case

It's just a joy to use, and very sharp. It's also a significant step up from the Tamron 70-300 VC, you'll have no worries shooting wide open at 300mm with this one! Perfect on APS-C. Also, do not underestimate how important portability is, it's very compact at 70mm.

Sharp throughout zoom range at f5.6, colour and contrast fantastic; Auto focus is amazingly fast, IS is superb; Very compact, not overly heavy; Metal filter threads; Zoom lock means hood can be stored in reverse orientation and still removed without zooming the lens out

None, well, maybe price; The relatively slow aperture and extension on zooming are not cons, in lens terms they are necessary design compromises to make it the size, weight and focal length range it is

When we first saw the new Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 L IS USM lens, we thought it just looked like a standard 70-300mm lens with a white overcoat on. After using the lens for some time, we're blown away by the image clarity, sharpness, build quality and speed of focusing.

When Canon first announced this new 70-300mm L-series optic, we weren't really sure why it was being added to the range. Initially we thought it was just another 70-300mm lens but with some optical improvements and white plastic added to make it look and feel more professional.

Candids of grandchildren, or anyone in fact. Easy to carry around on Canon 5d mk 4, even though a bit weighty! Well balanced. Excellent and consistent results. Would buy from Wex again, no problem.

Consistent Output; Durable; Easily Interchangeable; Quick Focus; Rugged; Sharp Focus; Strong Construction

Superb lens enabling you to take quality, pin-sharp close-ups from long distances. The image stabiliser is very effective too. The only drawback is the relatively small aperture but that's only a problem if you're photographing in low light or indoors, and even then the quality of the images remains...

Canon announced the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, on 26 August, 2010 in the lead-in to September's Photokina Trade Show. Targeted at professionals and advanced amateur photographers it's surprisingly compact for its specifications and usable with all of the company's DLSR cameras.

CANON EF 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM review. As a dedicated nature photographer much of my shooting is with wide angle lenses but I recently decided I wanted a telephoto zoom for wildlife, particularly birds. My criteria were: Min.

"In this zoom range there are many lenses to compare and it wasn't an easy decision. For me it came down to this lens or the 70-200 f/4 L IS USM and after trying both in the store I went with the 70-300 .