Canon EF zoom lens - 70 mm - 300 mm F/4.0-5.6

Why to chose Canon EF 75-300mm IS lens? Because is long, heavy and expensive. But seriously, the lens is suitable to use exclusively with Canon EOS range of cameras, SLR as well as DSLR (Digital SLR). It works with all new digital SLR including 20D and 30D, so if you use a compact Canon camera the lens is not for you! Canon tends to sell the SLR (or DSLR) cameras as a set including a lens. Usually the lenses included in the package aren't best quality, don't get me wrong, there isn't anything wrong with them but they are just basic lenses deprived of newest gizmos like IS, USB and so on…

Currently Canon produces seven different lines of lenses to suite any job and pocket:
• Fixed Focal Lenses;
• Zoom Lenses;
• Macro Lenses;
• Diffractive Optical Lenses;
• Image Stabilisation Lenses;
• Tilt-and-shift Lenses;
• Extenders.

Body

The 75-300 IS is a telephoto zoom lens. As most of Canon lenses the EF 75-300 IS is not exception and comes in black colour with some silver and gold inscriptions as focal length and general info about the lens i.e. name of the lens; focal length; minimum and maximum aperture and other optional features, in that case USM, III and IS.

On the lens body there is just one button, it changes the lens mode: could be: AF - auto focus or MF - manual focus. Hope it's self descriptive. One could ask: what is the MF for? Who would use it nowadays? I can give you two reasons why we need the MF with proper lenses:
1. to extend creativity ;
2. to avoid damaging the lens.

There is a bright red dot on the side of the lens. Similar dot is on inside part of camera body where the lens is connected. When connecting the lens with camera body the both dots must be opposite each other to avoid bad connection between them. The lens is connected to the power source (battery) through the lens.

Considering modern compact digital cameras the EF 75-300 IS is heavy. The lens is heavier than my Samsung Digimax V6 digital camera. I use it (the lens) with my Canon 20D DSLR camera and Speedlite 420EX flashgun, all kit is not light (app. 1.5 kg) and handy but improvement in quality is incomparable.

Features

Modern lenses can be quite easily damaged, especially the ones from upper shelf. They are designed to be ultra fast and extremely quite. But in order to achieve this they are equipped with some gizmos, in our case: USM and IS.

USM is an abbreviation for Ultrasonic Motor. This technology has been pioneered by Canon to produce a fast, near-silent focusing action inside the lens. The feature spins by ultrasonic oscillation energy, ensuring fast and almost noiseless picture-taking. It also increases auto focusing speed. For some photographers (wild life photographers) USM lenses are obvious option as they are virtually sent and do not frighten away animals.

Now is time to explain why AF-MF switch comes handy. When taking pictures, people tend to use AF most often. After finishing photo session camera left on AF is vulnerable to damage the US motor, it is enough to pres lens against a bag or accidentally push the front of the lent and you need to acquire new equipment. The US motor is delicate part of lens, so you need to remember to switch the lens on MF after shooting session and never put your lens on the front part of its body. Use end part of it.

To keep your lens in good condition is vital and will extend its life. Another week points of a lens are front and rear part of it where glasses are exposed to damages. In order to prevent scratches use lens caps. Otherwise your lens will get scratched very easily, even when changing lenses always put lens caps on.

Other great protective pieces of equipment are filters. Different filters are designed do different kind of job, but a basic UV filter will protect your lens form getting scratched and can be attached to the lens constantly. Filters com to front of the lens and are connected by screwing in to the lens. For the lens you need filters size 58mm.

IS stands for Image Stabilisation a feature that has been designed to prevent camera shake from spoiling the shoot. This is particularly useful on close-ups or at slow shutter speed, in situations where tripod cannot be used. Built-in gyro sensors control an image stabiliser within the lens. This shift in response to movement and reduce the effect of camera shake. You can shoot in low light conditions from a distance without any increase in image blur.

Overall

In digital era most of us would use the lens with digital cameras. The 75-300 focal lengths is truth only in term of traditional SLR to convert it into digital term you need to multiply by 1.6 witch makes it a digital lens of focal length of 120-480! Great! I love digital era! This is fantastic possibility to discover new photographic opportunities.

What can you use this lens for? Actually anything! From portrait photography, through macro to landscape and wild life shoots. I love to use it to take pictures of people, portraits, because of the camera natural purpose. When shooting portraits the subject is pin sharp while background is out of focus which makes creates nice atmosphere and helps to concentrate on the subject. Distracting background can damage good picture, the lens helps to avoid the problem by making even the most distractive background out of focus.

When shooting macro I still recommend using tripod, not to avoid camera shake but to keep your hand rested. The lens is great for macro photography; the subject can be observed and shot from a distance without being disturbed; which is vital when photographing insects or butterflies or even birds.

The only downside I can thing of is the closest focusing distance of 1.5m (4.9ft). It isn't best when taking pictures of small flowers, there is much room for taking shoots from different angles. But is the only one!

Price

For new lens (if you can find it, has recently been replaced with new one 70-300) you need to pay app. £400 and used ones are available from £150.

Thanks for reading and good luck.