300mm f2.8 Lens - Why It's My Go To For Wildlife Photography

[@neilcole3406]

I like the fact that you stick with what you like and don’t lust after the next new thing! Never change!

[@ThisisForester]

I just have it, but in the Nikon version. you are cool as the inspiration

[@denthemen1000]

I have this lens and it's been brilliant! Most of the time I have a 2x Extender fitted which performs superbly. Now had this combination for twelve months well worth the expense.

[@wildlifewitholly]

Nice! Totally agree, think it’s a lens I’ll have forever!

[@denthemen1000]

@@wildlifewitholly If you get the chance to have a go with an extender I don't think you will be disappointed. My lens came with the extender and camouflage covers, case, polarising filter and strap. Bargain !

[@mcr8759]

Excellent video, great to see real life experience with the lens vs reviews. The 300 lens also makes a lot of sense when traveling or doing longer/harder hikes. Just saw your video now because I am looking at purchasing a 300mm F2.8 🙂

[@wildlifewitholly]

Glad you found it useful! It’s a really great lens, I’ve started using it with the 2x converter more lately as well and I’m really pleased with how it performs with that too.

[@TheChenza05]

i love the bird trolling you at @3:53 😅

[@wildlifewitholly]

😅 haha someone who was sitting there before me was giving seeds to the birds so they kept coming back behind me!

[@BullitTom]

Great video Olly, I have the nikkor 300mmf2.8 and can confirm that it is a very sharp lens too. I use it for sport, wildlife, seascapes, landscapes etc. A great all round lens

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thanks Tom! Fully agree!

[@raymondpenalver7095]

Thanks for the great tips and advice here Olly, excellent video as always 👍

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thanks Raymond, hope you found it useful and thank you for comment as always - Have a great weekend!

[@frankanderson5012]

I'd be interested in seeing a video on how well it does with converters. From what I understand it does do well, but would be nice to see it in action rather that just set up images. I've been considering getting either the 300 f2.8 or the 400 f4 DO for low light mammal photography

[@wildlifewitholly]

Might look at doing this or at least using the converter in an upcoming video so that people can see!

[@westpalmdoc]

re TCs general rule is a 1.4 or 1.7 will do well. on any prime. the 2X will degrade image quality and prob best to avoid. sold my 2x after a few months.

[@strix_pht]

Beautiful lens and your pictures also. Good job.

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thank you!

[@neilcole3406]

Great video Olly, be the master of your lens!

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thanks Neil!

[@andersonboy620]

Please a video with a x2 converter! Thumbs up who wants it.

[@barbarahempel3380]

Thank you for your good explanation - and the lovely pictures as always 👌

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thanks Barbara :)

[@johnlowe7097]

Great video Olly very informative, I’m new to photography so this is a really helpful video 😊

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thanks John, I’m glad you found it useful, let me know if you have any questions :)

[@joncothranphotography9375]

Great lens, Olly! I would need the 2x extender for that here where I live. Thanks for your thoughts on that...

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thanks for the comment! Yes I expect so re 2x extender over there, I’m moving to California in September for a couple of years so might need to bring my converter with me!

[@martinkurian2492]

It's a very good video. I have a Canon 500 prime. It gives beautiful images. But the weight gets to me after a short time. I do not prefer monopod or tripod. For this reason I have just bought a 300 2.8. I am yet to go out and try it. Your video was so useful to me because I personally could relate to it. Thanks very much

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thank you. I’m glad to know you found this useful and relatable - one day I’d love to get something with more reach, maybe 100-500mm but for now the 300mm is perfect for me :)

[@francesco1728]

Hi Olly, I am switching to Sony from Fuji, do you suggest the 300 over the 200-600?

[@wildlifewitholly]

I personally don’t have experience with Sony or Fuji but in terms of focal length it really depends what you photograph most? 200-600 offers a pretty awesome range and f6.3 at 600mm isn’t bad at all. Does your camera body have good low light performance?

[@nogroove3819]

I enjoyed your review Olly. I have the Sony 200 to 600 and agree the slower lens can be limiting. Looking at the new 300 2.8 from Sony. How have you found your 300 behaved with teleconverters? Hitting the like and subscribe.

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thank you! I have a 2x converter which I occasionally use and it’s pretty good, definitely lose some sharpness and takes the lens to f5.6 but you can still get really decent pictures particularly if the light is good. Takes slightly longer to focus as well with a converter but still a lot better than what I had before (Tamron 150-600mm).

[@pentagramyt417]

@@wildlifewitholly that's the key, if that's FASTER than native lens like 200-600 at 600, even with x2.0 TC, that means it is better in any way.

[@sidexplores]

Super useful video! This is great

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thanks!

[@northernsky6117]

Is this version 1 or 2? Great video. Thanks.

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thanks! This is version 1 but there is also another version before this one with no IS.

[@northernsky6117]

@wildlifewitholly Okey. I just bought one today. I was looking for sigma zoom, but found your video and few others about this lens. I was lucky there were two used ones for sale and i got the opportunity to test one with my 1d body. Thanks for the video👍

[@joekelly9369]

100% agree , early morning wildlife needs fast lenses , 2.8 is standard even then your looking at 80th second before sun up at low iso's low being 200 -400 minimum

[@wildlifewitholly]

Yep exactly! I’m regularly at 4000 ISO to get high enough shutter speeds even at f2.8 so it’s definitely a priority for me

[@markgilder9990]

Just purchased used from a reliable on line supplier. Blown away by the quality. I found I was using the zooms at maximum zoom length. So ended up with the 300 and a 2x extender. All with the Canon R7 APSC 32mb sensor.

[@wildlifewitholly]

Awesome! Glad you’re enjoying it!

[@tomscott88]

Thing is yes 2.8 is awesome but with birds or mammals 2.8 is far too shallow for song birds I find myself at f8 because it’s the only way I can get the bird front to back in focus. Feet tail etc out of focus kind of drives me mad and the shoot wide open element is something I think isn’t the best way of shooting and as soon as you start seeing your subjects with the correct depth of field the wide open images aren’t as good imo like your own shot, beautiful but you only have it’s face in focus

[@wildlifewitholly]

Yeah I see what you’re saying, totally depends on how far the subject is, if they’re close up and you can still get a clean background with f8 then that’s the ideal scenario! But I’d rather a clean background and only the face in focus than the entire bird but a messy background, I guess it’s all situational!

[@lukasz0101]

What is the exact model of the lens ?

[@wildlifewitholly]

This is the Canon 300mm f2.8 IS USM L - As far as I know this is the middle version, the first has no IS and then there is version 2 of this one

[@MrNani1983]

However isn’t it true that a lens is never the sharpest at its widest aperture . So you ll stop it down to 5.6 or 8 ?

[@wildlifewitholly]

In theory you’re right but the difference is so small, I’d still rather be able to use f2.8 when I need depth of field or when the light isn’t so good

[@MrNani1983]

Oh thankyou for the info .

[@barrieharwood]

The Sony 300mm f2.8 is much lighter than other brands, (only 1.4 kg),which is very noticeable when hand-holding for any length of time

[@iastorgaphotos]

The lens is way out of my budget, especially as I’m not a professional photographer. Instead I recently bought the Sigma 500mm f5.6. It’s lightweight and surprisingly sharp. I love it 🥰.

[@wildlifewitholly]

That’s understandable! I always buy second hand but even then it’s not cheap - sigma 500mm sounds like a great option!

[@terohamalainen8868]

I'm just getting my nikon 300mm f2.8 ed vrii 1850€, ITS A BARGIN

[@macphotonatura2274]

300 2,8 👍👏👏👏👏

[@westpalmdoc]

got rid of all zooms yrs ago. cant compare to primes. have a 300mm 2.8 nikon prime and its all i’ve used for wildlife shooting for yrs. drag a 600mm f4 prime around too with some TCs but its rarely ever used. 300mm is all one needs…

[@wildlifewitholly]

Yeah it’s incredible how versatile it is even though it’s only 300mm, I am maybe looking at 100-500mm RF lens to add to the collection because I’m hoping to be able to photograph black bears and bobcats at some point soon in the U.S and I do feel the extra reach will be useful for animals like that

[@luzr6613]

Well, ok then - i'm pretty critical, but i subd. Why? A pleasing and easy-going manner overlayed on a passion for stuff i also value (forgive me as i don't mean to be unkind, but you almost came across as some sort of 'Nature Photographer!). And also because you appreciate the opportunities that fast glass enables. We may not be on the same page regarding cropping however, in that i do my very best to avoid it. Two reasons - i like to frame my shots in situ, and i feel a somewhat MP challenged: the latter is also a great reason for the former. Anyway... really nice vid and some lovely images. All the best from a cabin in a swamp in a rainforest in New Zealand.

[@wildlifewitholly]

Thanks for the lovely comment! :)

[@luzr6613]

@@wildlifewitholly All good - just telling it like it is! And thank you too: some time ago i bought a job-lot of really good glass at a bargain price. It is glass i had never dreamed of having. I shoot mainly landscape / environmental / sticks and weeds, and for all that zooms are ideal. Amongst the lenses were a tele-zoom and a 300 prime - both at f/2.8. The prime is legendary but, with the focal range covered from ultra-wide up with the zooms (and a 150 f/2), i decided to sell the 300 to cover some of the cost. I had it listed for months, though not internationally, and while there was lot's of 'interest', it didn't sell. In that time i'd only taken it out for a shoot once (and i'm a daily shooter) - on a tripod and with several different bodies. I'd taken one shot and it's one of my favourite images. My resistance to shooting it stemmed from the fact that i knew that, if i did, i would not want to part with it. Then i saw your vid and i thought 'why not?' So... a few weeks pass with 3.6kg of excitement and joy, and it's no longer for sale. I wonder if i could try invoicing you for my financial loss? Great stuff - loved your critter-shots - have an excellent day!

[@ILLAILLS]

I want to grab one but walking around with that has to be taxing on the back lol

[@wildlifewitholly]

Yeah it’s not too light haha but much better than 400mm+!