Customer reviews from usa.canon.com
Canon - EF 28300mm f/3.55.6L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens - White
Average customer rating
4.8
(58 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 58 reviews
5 Stars
49
4 Stars
6
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
0
1 Star
1
94%of customers recommend this product.
(
49 out of
52)
Customer Reviews for Canon - EF 28300mm f/3.55.6L IS USM Standard Zoom Lens - White
Customer Rating
3
comes Up short
on December 14, 2009
Posted by: Blak&Gld
from Western PA
I am a professional. I shoot NFL, NHL, MLB NCAA and news as well. I REALLY wanted this lens to work.
I used it on a new 7D. I tried night football, hockey and indoor basketball. All network television lighting.
I was surprised that it worked out well in football and at hockey the Overall diameter was small enough to get through a whole in the glass (unlike a 300 f2.8)
However, the shortcomings at basketball were far too great. It is just too slow at 5.6 to be useful. I had to shoot at 5000 iso and NOISE, NOISE NOISE!
Besides that, at a close participant/spectator venue like basketball, the DOF is too great. (depth of field)
When shooting the other basket, the fans behind the players were sharp enough to be visually distracting. Similar issues with players on the bench behind the action.
Also, the mechanics of the push pull zoom weren't user friendly for my needs. Between say 200 to 300, its very stiff and is a very small adjustment. The location and methodology of the locking zoom ring is a bad design. It takes two hands to lock or unlock. If you don't lock it in short, the lens slides all the way out to 300 and is very awkward. If this lens were half the price, or fixed at 3.5, I would buy it despite those shortcomings.
Now others have said it's too big and heavy.
I thought it was rather compact for what it is. It's only a few ounces heavier than the 70-200 2.8 and not much longer. If you were to replace that 70-200/ 2.8 around your neck with this, you'd hardly notice the difference. Except when the lens extends itself.
I used it on a new 7D. I tried night football, hockey and indoor basketball. All network television lighting.
I was surprised that it worked out well in football and at hockey the Overall diameter was small enough to get through a whole in the glass (unlike a 300 f2.8)
However, the shortcomings at basketball were far too great. It is just too slow at 5.6 to be useful. I had to shoot at 5000 iso and NOISE, NOISE NOISE!
Besides that, at a close participant/spectator venue like basketball, the DOF is too great. (depth of field)
When shooting the other basket, the fans behind the players were sharp enough to be visually distracting. Similar issues with players on the bench behind the action.
Also, the mechanics of the push pull zoom weren't user friendly for my needs. Between say 200 to 300, its very stiff and is a very small adjustment. The location and methodology of the locking zoom ring is a bad design. It takes two hands to lock or unlock. If you don't lock it in short, the lens slides all the way out to 300 and is very awkward. If this lens were half the price, or fixed at 3.5, I would buy it despite those shortcomings.
Now others have said it's too big and heavy.
I thought it was rather compact for what it is. It's only a few ounces heavier than the 70-200 2.8 and not much longer. If you were to replace that 70-200/ 2.8 around your neck with this, you'd hardly notice the difference. Except when the lens extends itself.
Pros: Fast auto-focus
Cons: Semi-sharp images
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Love this lens
on January 21, 2011
Posted by: Bobsizz
from Sierra Vista AZ
I love this lens. It is so versatile that it stays on my camera 99% of the time. Which is a great thing because if you have to change lenses all the time you are exposing the inside of your camera to lots of dust and dirt and other harmful contaminates. If you really want to see how much dust there is even in a closed room just turn off all the lights and get a flashlight and shine it in front of you and you will see millions of dust particles floating. And those dust particles get inside your camera every time you change lenses. But with this lens and its wide range you can just about keep it on for any occasion. Most people wish it was lighter. Not me, being heavy only shows me the quality that this lens possesses. The only cons I have is. I wish it had a rotating zoom instead of push pull. I wish the focusing ring was closer to the back of the lens and wider. The push pull zoom feature could be a bit smoother. I wish Canon would make a 1.4 extender for it. And last I would like the aperture to be in the two’s to four’s. Other than that I love the ruggedness, the build quality and the picture quality.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Well worth it.
on February 12, 2010
Posted by: Matt
from Seattle, Wa
I use this lens to shoot motocycle motocross racing, indoors and outdoors. Just this one lens covers most all situations, and eliminates the need to carry a second camera and lens. It's a bit heavy, and hard to loosen to zoom, but well worth the investment. When Mark III and the lens hit it, the images are awsome.
Pros: Super-sharp images
Cons: stiff hard to adjust
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Stop Waiting, Buy It!
on December 15, 2014
Posted by: JKTShadow
from North Carolina
I watched this lens for literally a year, reading review after review, trying to figure out if it was worth the money before I finally purchased it. Since I took it out of the box, I have not taken the lens off my camera (18 MP 60D) and LOVE IT! So much so that I'm about upgrade to a 5D or a 6D and I've finally fulfilled a long dream and officially started my photography company!!
USES - I have gotten awesome shots at sporting events (Football, NHRA, Swimming), family sessions, portraits/headshots, architectural, and outdoor/landscape with this lens....There is nothing this lens will not do!
Why I Waited - Outside of the cost, seeing the reviews about the weight of the lens is what made me the most nervous. Yes it is heavy, but after my 2nd or 3rd time shooting with the lens the weight was a non-issue/Not-noticeable. I shot for over 3 hours last week at a local park doing multiple family sessions and never grew tired at all.
So seriously, quit worrying if it is worth it and buy it already!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Useful lens for field work
on April 13, 2009
Posted by: SunSnapper
from Ann Arbor, MI
This lens has performed well for the two years it's been in service. Very functional except in low light. Very versatile range.
The only complaint is the same as with all auto focus lenses, no quick pic when the lens/camera has trouble distinguishing a focal point. The telephoto tubes had a problem with the friction ring, which tightens the lens down at various distances. Once that goes, the lens slides out to the full 300MM focal length making it useless for any tilt angle tripod work.
Pros: Super-sharp images, very versatile
Cons: heavy, durability
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Best Canon Lens Ever...
on February 4, 2017
Posted by: SatinaimagesbySherman
from San Francisco, CA, United States
Wide Angle - Telephoto...28-300 f/3.5-56L IS USM Awesome Range Very Sharp Focus!
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Very Useful Lens
on April 30, 2011
Posted by: Anonymous
This lens is very useful for almost all subjects. It tooked many spots in your 'lens inventory' because of its wide focal length.
The lens' build quality is good, however the main con is its heavy weight. I can't stand for 5 min holding this lens in the same position.
I'm taking this lens with me to a school paleo trip in the desert, with my camera and lens, i can capture a wide variety of objects.
The lens' build quality is good, however the main con is its heavy weight. I can't stand for 5 min holding this lens in the same position.
I'm taking this lens with me to a school paleo trip in the desert, with my camera and lens, i can capture a wide variety of objects.
Pros: Fast auto-focus, Superior build quality, quiet auto-focus, wide focal length
Cons: weight
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great All around lens
on May 29, 2014
Posted by: Ham Bone
from Camp Lejeune, NC
Weight is meant for a bigger guy like me who can handle it. Its great to have convenience of shooting distances of 28-300mm with quality aperture with my Canon 5d M3
Pros: Fast auto-focus, Superior build quality, Super-sharp images
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com