1. Is the 300mm IS f/4.0 really as sharp as the non is version? 2. Does it work well with the TC'S (1.4x & 2.0x)? 3. does it work well when panning (following birds)? I've heard the is binos are jerky when panning. 4. Is it worth the extra couple of hundred bucks?

-- Bob Fisher (rfisher@centuryinter.net), January 22, 1999

Answers

Those are all subjective judgements to some extent. Sharpness should be a measureable quantity, but it frequently doesn't seem to be. Some published lens tests suggest the IS isn't quite as good (optically) as the non-IS, but many user reports are that there is no difference. You pick which report to believe because I've no idea who is right - if anyone is. It's probably safe to say that there isn't a big optical difference between the two lenses and they work equally well with TCs. If you want to hand hold the lens and you need IS, the choice is clear. If you don't, the IS does focus closer which is useful in itself. If you can put the extra few hundred dollars to better use, don't need IS and don't care about close focus, get the original version (I have one and it's a great lens).

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), January 22, 1999.

The old "Non-IS" 300 F4L is "insanely" sharp. That fact was just irresistable. The old F4 has only 8 elements as opposed to the 15 in the IS version. Assuming Canon did as good a job with the new one as with the old, it must be technically worse just becuase of the added elements. I found it interesting that the old lens while physically containing less glass and presumably less hardware, was actually 30g heavier.

That said "IS" may buy you clarity in hand-held situations that may not be possible with the old one. I just shot some Fuji 400 on a cloudy day and found it VERY difficult to get a high enough shutter speed...the IS would have helped. On the other hand, if you mainly work with a tripod, the extreme clarity of the old F4L will yield STUNNING results.

I do have a 28-135 f3.5-5.6 IS...I can get away with crazy handheld shots in indoor situations without a flash. That lens is definately worth EVERY PENNY. "IS" is creating new oportunity for photography...perhaps even changing the rules a bit.

P.S. The old F4L is kinda hard to buy. My search of the entire known internet occasionally yields NO AVAILABLE 300 F4L's for sale used (Canon dealers no longer carry it). On good days, maybe one or two for sale.

-Rob

-- Robert Pernett (rpernett@excite.com), December 13, 2001.