Canon users are spoilt for choice when it comes to lenses with a 70-300mm zoom range or similar. The full range of options is: the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM (SRP £1,600); EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM (SRP £650); EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM (SRP £350); EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III (SRP £300); EF 70-300mm...

Ultra-reliable AF and IS systems

Poorer sharpness past f/16

Canon's EF 70-300mm f4-5.6L IS USM brings L quality to this popular zoom range. You get tough build quality, quick and quiet USM autofocusing, full-time manual focusing, effective image stabilisation and great optical quality in a barrel that's comfortably shorter (albeit fatter and heavier) than...

Well I have tried the lens out today after getting receipt this morning. Not for professional use perhaps but with image stabilisation and compact size. Great for zooming in on subjects and even good with macro use. Does what I need for now.

If you're on a 1.3x or 1.6x crop body (the XTi for example) will give you 112-480mm, which is nice for the extra distance, however, if your wanting to be up with your family and friends and get full body shots you have to be standing quite far away.

Excellent image quality while not an L series lens with a wide aperture it still rocks in cloudy/low light conditions; I've taken 2,000+ images with this lens and it has not let me down

Louder auto focus than other USM lenses, not by a lot though; Autofocus hunts in lowlight at 300mm

I bought this because I do a bit of "birding" and I wanted a long lens. The non "L" version was a bit disappointing. This is substantially bulkier, and heavier but oh my, it is terrific!

Sharp as a tack; good fast focusing

Big; heavy; (compared to non L version

We've just tested the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM L IS within its native full format scope so you may forgive us that we've pretty much copied the introduction. The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 USM L IS is the latest addition to their tele zoom lens lineup making it, by far, the most extensive system...