Wildlife Photography on a Budget: Canon 70-300mm Tested
In this episode of Reviews on BRU Photography, we take a deep dive into the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM - The Plastic Fantastic. With a mostly plastic body but some surprisingly great features, is this budget-friendly telephoto zoom the last great swan song of the Canon EF lineup, or just a collection of gimmicks? We're putting it to the test to find out.
This lens is a curious mix of frustrating quirks and impressive performance. While features like the LCD info panel and limited zoom lock feel underutilized, the incredibly effective Image Stabilization (IS) makes it a powerhouse for handheld shooting, especially for video when paired with IBIS. We test its optical quality, finding it's at its sharpest at 70mm but still no slouch at 300mm, capable of capturing insane details on close subjects. However, we also explore its limitations, including its autofocus struggles on both a Canon 6D and a Fuji XT5, and why it might not be the best choice for high-resolution sensors.
In this video:
0:00 - Introduction
0:49 - Features and Gimmicks
1:54 - Zoom Lock & Manual Focus
2:49 - Lens Stabilization
3:38 - Close Focus
4:33 - Optical Performance
5:48 - Bird Photography Test
7:00 - Bokeh
7:11 - Autofocus Problems
8:15 - Video Test
8:53 - Final Summary & Recommendation
10:13 - The "Plastic Fantastic"
So, who is the "plastic fantastic" really for? If you're an aspiring wildlife, bird, or sports photographer who doesn't want to take out a bank loan for L-series glass, this might be the lens for you. What's your go-to budget telephoto lens? Let me know in the comments!
#BRUPhotography #CanonLens #LensReview #TelephotoLens
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