Best Canon 300mm Lens? | Shootout for the Canon Lens Wars Series Episode 19

[@Mark.Brindle]

Good review. I just purchased a new 300 f2.8 II (One of the last new ones I could find). I started shooting surfing photos several months ago (not for a living) as I already had the EF 100-400 f4.5-5.6 L IS USM II with the 1.4x III teleconverter. I was pleased with the combination and was able to get some fantastic images up close, all handheld. What issue I had was early morning at dawn, 30min before sunrise. The 100-400 is not fast enough. I started carrying my 70-200 f2.8 L II and would use it with the 1.4x teleconverter, which meant I lost a stop when I needed more light for autofocus. Living on the East coast, I'm shooting into the sun as the sun starts to appear. Lens flaring was also an issue. Both the 100-400 and 70-200 had trouble focusing as the sun started to appear due to a lack of contrast (that's my guess). I decided to buy the 300 f.28 II and it's night and day. Yeah, it's expensive ($AU10k). I only shoot at f2.8 no matter the time of day (I needed to buy a few filters - NDs and a CP). Focus speed is super fast, no trouble tracking a rider backlit at sunrise. Heaps of light for the autofocus to track the subject. With the background beautifully blurred and the subject is frozen at 1/2000 or more and is pin sharp. I still carry it, no monopod, it's heavy, but all OK after the first week. A good wide strap that mounts to the tripod foot is what I use. Being able to track a rider when it's dawn is worth every cent. The 1.4x teleconverter works amazingly as well. I have not yet purchased the 2x, I have not needed it (losing 2-stops might be a killer). Camera body is a 5D Mk IV with a Mk III as a spare (No mirrorless yet. I can shoot for many hours on two batteries in the battery grip. Maybe next year). Always Manual with auto ISO.

[@ghpatriot]

LOVE my 300f/4

[@DavidDiNatale]

The same with canon 400mm lens (400 2.8 / 400 5.6 / 100-400 II / 200-400) will be very nice ! Your video is very interesting ! Thank You !

[@sganzerla]

300mm f/4 front focused on sample at 2:10, we can see in the tree at right lower corner, so... it is obvious that it is not as sharp as the other one.

[@victoroliveira3256]

I think when god said "let there be light" he didn't know it would cost so much lol, thank you Pye

[@idoscharf4485]

Why don't you have the 70-300?

[@KevinMphotography]

it does?

[@Mauilover82]

Have you, or do you plan to, test the newer 100-400 L Mark-II lens? I've found that the sharpness of the new lens to be quite superior to the Mark-I. It would be interesting to see how that faired relative to this group. I suspect it might be equal to the 300 f/4 lens or really close.

[@austind709]

They are called indefinite pronouns, and they're okay to use.

[@DirectX3]

1Dx + 70-200mm f2.8 is ii + 300mm f4 is = professional gears with less cost but near perfect result.

[@UberDurable]

Are the expensive prime tele-lenses also less sharp at the widest aperture than 1-2 stops further?

[@ygmv21]

Hey nice and straight review, but, what about the old 300mm 2.8 non IS? or the IS version I as well?

[@RealtorRod64]

Why did you exclude the 70-300 L IS?

[@Arpon001]

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Lens Where?🤨

[@perfectforehand]

On a side note, how sharp is the Canon 400mm f/5.6 on the Canon 70D? cuz that info is not available on Dxo mark.

[@Happymali10]

I just decided to next buy the f4 IS, I hope I won't regret it.

[@rc-wingman5719]

did you focus manually with 100% zoom on the display?

[@bobonikita]

300/2.8 IS II L is great, I rented this lens and used few times. I had 300/4 IS L which I sold and it was nice lens, but 1 stop makes big difference and sharpness is much better, even with tc 2x III (300/4 IS is too soft with extenders). Monopod for 300/2.8? Yes - when you shoot football/soccer, but it's also ok when handheld, not so heavy. 400/2.8 IS II L is different ;)

[@korbinjericho9564]

You all prolly dont care at all but does someone know of a way to get back into an Instagram account..? I was stupid lost the login password. I would appreciate any tricks you can offer me

[@briggsezra7783]

@Korbin Jericho instablaster :)

[@korbinjericho9564]

@Briggs Ezra Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site on google and I'm trying it out atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@korbinjericho9564]

@Briggs Ezra It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy! Thank you so much, you really help me out :D

[@briggsezra7783]

@Korbin Jericho glad I could help xD

[@RagDoll2band]

Pye, what is the reason for exclusion of 70-300 IS USM?

[@RagDoll2band]

Oh, I see your answer below, thanks .-)

[@JoshSmith-ch8yd]

I am considering the 400mm L F5.6 non IS, or 300mm L F4 IS with a TC of 1.4x III to extend the focal length of the 300. Which set up would you recommend for wild life and sports photography. The bodies I have are the 7D and the 5D Mark III Thank you.

[@KirtiRanjan]

for mammals consider 300mm f4.. for birds consider 400mm f5.6.. 400mm f5.6 is sharper and faster than 300mm f4 with 1.4x III TC

[@jasonlarzelere6056]

I got another question, which Len is better for sports photography? The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM Or the Canon 300 F/4 Is L?

[@simontharby6375]

+Jason Larzelere I guess that kinda depends what sport and how much control you have over your distance to subject. You might need to move around a lot to use the 300mm prime on close subjects, or to get the composition you want, and you might not be able to do this, or have time to do it and get the shot. You probably also need more info on the AF speed and accuracy, since you'll be shooting moving subjects.

[@fototbnl]

+Jason Larzelere You gotta go for the 300mm prime f/4. That stop of light is killing when you're going to photograph sports at evening events. When you can afford it, go for the 2.8. For a crop sensor body the 300mm is enough (because you'll be at 1.6×300mm=480mm). @full frame you probably want to go for at least a 400mm (but honestly you're better off with a 500/600mm). All L lenses will do the job when we're talking autofocus. More important is your body. The 7D/70D/7DmkII/1DmkIV are the best bodies to go for. Full frame will be a 5DmkIII or 1DX. The 6D will not have enough autofocus capabilities. Hope that helps!

[@prasannaambi]

Nice presentation and clear cut answers.

[@rolandsv8]

Has to slow down the speach! Its impossible to follow the information when its presented with so many abbreviations in such a fast pace! I had so stop and rewind video several times to catch up which lens you the presenter is talking about.

[@princet1863]

rolandsv8 i didnt have a problem following, then again....im not an idiot. 👍

[@victoroliveira3256]

The war continues, that's an expensive table, just wandering if we're going to get our best of nikon war, and then the battle of best for best nikon vs canon, it would be a great war, great video thank you

[@payamjirsa]

We are looking forward to the next series too! Hopefully we can continue with it =)

[@JJhuang42]

Where is the 70-300L?

[@payamjirsa]

It accidently got left at the studio during the shoot. We mentioned it in earlier videos =(

[@JJhuang42]

Pye Jirsa :( that's very unfortunate...

[@ellbertdinoy]

how do u end up using the same picture no matter what lens you are testing?

[@FranklinLiranzo]

he shot the same model in the same location with the 4 lenses...

[@brewers22916]

Will these lenses fit my Canon EOS rebel t5i?

[@fototbnl]

+brett tamblingson Yep all EF and EF-S lenses will

[@SM_zzz]

Thanks for the reviews, all very helpful. Just a wee bit of critique...could you possibly leave more time for us to differentiate between the sample photos please? And eh, slow down the narration a bit..ease off the aul charlie. Thanks all the same.

[@jasonlarzelere6056]

Will the f4 fit on my T5 camera?

[@slrlounge]

Jason Larzelere We believe so. If you're ever in doubt, you B&H is one of the few places you can call up and ask these types of questions.

[@jonvenusti]

b&h is a local camera store they just sell online too. for me ...b&h is my local store its 20 mins away.

[@isopixify]

no 400mm ?

[@stubones]

Final video??? You're missing the 200-400L, the 400 ii, 500ii, 600ii and 800L. Disappointing :(

[@payamjirsa]

We stopped at 300mm because we felt we covered the most "popular focal lengths" by that point.

[@stubones]

Pye Jirsa Fair enough :) That said, with so many lenses missing from the lens war it does leave it incomplete so at some point in the future......... :)

[@stubones]

***** Shut up Douchebag, you dirty tampon.

[@casualking4548]

Nobody noticed f2.L? Okay

[@prodigy2k7]

F/2 300mm? where XD

[@nitramwin]

Yup 👋😂

[@vdan2879]

Great work! Love the lens (porn) videos.

[@markdandeneau2904]

You waited until past 4 minutes before you finally identified the 300mm f4 lens as having stabilization? I enjoyed the video, but would rather have known the exact lenses from the start.

[@vanvita]

70 300mm L