The appropriate lens can make the difference between a stunning photo and a mediocre one.
Canon makes three telephoto lenses with a focal length of 70-300 millimeters (mm): the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, the EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM and the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM. Each lens is designed for professional photographers who need the tools to take high-resolution pictures in a wide variety of locations.
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
The EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM camera lens is the lowest priced of Canon's three 70-300mm telephoto zoom lenses. While all three of the lenses in this line have a focal length of 70-300mm, they all have different apertures. The aperture, which relates to shutter speed, has a maximum of 4 to 5.6 on this model. This model is not ideal for close up images, as its closest focusing distance is 4.9 feet. The EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM measures 3 inches wide by 5.6 inches tall. At 22 ounces, it is the lightest of the three lenses.
EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
The EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens is more expensive than the base model described in Section 1. This model has a smaller maximum aperture range of 4.5 to 5.6. Like the model in Section 1, the EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM is also less than ideal for close-up images; its closest focusing distance is 4.6 feet. This lens measures 3.2 inches wide by 3.9 inches tall, making it the most compact of the three models. It weighs in at 24 ounces. This model also utilizes Diffractive Optics (DO), which reduces the size of the image and increases its image quality and clarity.
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM
The EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM is the highest price of Canon's 70-300mm line. Like the base lens from Section 1, the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM also has a maximum aperture of 4 to 5.6. Of the three models, this lens is best equipped to take close up images, with a closest focusing distance of 3.9 feet. The EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM measures 3.5 inches wide and 5.9 inches tall, making it the largest of the group. At just under 37 ounces, it is also the heaviest of the three lenses.
Features Shared By All Three
Despite their differences in aperture, focusing distance and size, these three telephoto zoom lenses also share many similar features. All lenses feature the ability to lock at the 70mm focal length; this keeps the lens as compact as possible for easy transport. The lenses also include Canon's Image Stabilization (this is what "IS" stands for), which includes shake correction and panning stability for clear, crisp images even if the photographer can't hold still. The EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM and EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM models use a USM -- short for ultrasonic motor -- which allows for fast, silent autofocusing in the lens.
Tags: 70-300mm 70-300mm, focusing distance, closest focusing, closest focusing distance, distance feet, focal length, focusing distance feet
