[M_Six]

The Digital Picture has some IQ tests up for the new 70-300. Compared to the 70-300L, which is a great lens, the new budget 70-300 II holds its own very nicely. I'll be picking one up for my lightweight SL1 kit.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/R...mp=4&APIComp=0

[M_Six]

I received enough gift certs for Christmas to get this with laying out a dime. Should have it early next week if not by this weekend.

[Itsed65]

WooHoo! Free Gear

[dcstep]

It's a great value.

Compare to the 70-200mm f/4L IS and the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L II and you see the value in the extra money, particularly at wider apertures.

[RABAUKE]

I love free shit!

[RABAUKE]

I need to start taking pix again. I put my camera down a while back as I've been too busy with retirement to go out and play with it.....time to get back at it, maybe look for a new lens to get the juices flowing.

[M_Six]

...too busy with retirement...

That's not a bad thing. Some folks get bored as hell, I hear. I've got 10 years before I get to try it.

[Itsed65]

Originally Posted by M_Six

That's not a bad thing. Some folks get bored as hell, I hear. I've got 10 years before I get to try it.

5 years

[RABAUKE]

Originally Posted by M_Six

That's not a bad thing. Some folks get bored as hell, I hear. I've got 10 years before I get to try it.

I used to shoot tons of film, then transitioned to a Nikon D300, which I love. Retired in May, I could have gone in October 2014 but my wife talked me into staying until the spring because I'm not a big fan of winter. She says take the summer off, play golf, goof off etc. I played 27 holes, been too busy doing renovations on our old house, no time for photography yet.....will finish reno's in the spring, then golf, boating and photography.....and goofing off.

[M_Six]

Just got the lens. Pics in a few.

[M_Six]

Canon 5D MkIII with the new 70-300mm f4-5.6 USM II. These are all 100% crops at 1024x768. Not the best light, so I was between 2500 ISO to 3200 ISO. I'm thnking not bad for a $500 lens. I don't have a lens correction profile yet either.

[dcstep]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Canon 5D MkIII with the new 70-300mm f4-5.6 USM II. These are all 100% crops at 1024x768. Not the best light, so I was between 2500 ISO to 3200 ISO. I'm thnking not bad for a $500 lens. I don't have a lens correction profile yet either.

Great shots.

That lens may shoot to the top of my list for someone not wanting to spend $1,000/$2000/etc. for an entry wildlife lens.

How 'bout with the EF 1.4x TC-III attached. Will the MkIII AF in useful fashion?

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by dcstep

Great shots.

That lens may shoot to the top of my list for someone not wanting to spend $1,000/$2000/etc. for an entry wildlife lens.

How 'bout with the EF 1.4x TC-III attached. Will the MkIII AF in useful fashion?

I don't believe this lens will take a TC. I'll check, though.

[M_Six]

I was right, no TC for this lens. At least not a Canon or Sigma TC. The third party ones may work, but I'm not sure it'd be preferable to just cropping a bit.

[Itsed65]

Slap it on the 7D2 (or any APSC body) and there's your 1.6 TC

[M_Six]

Originally Posted by Itsed65

Slap it on the 7D2 (or any APSC body) and there's your 1.6 TC

That's my next experiment. I see this as taking the place of the 55-250 STM. It's bit larger and heavier, but the extra range on the long end is nice and it works with all my camera bodies.

[Arsonism]

Works out pretty good IMO