Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM
The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM is a compact L-series telezoom lens featuring optical image stabilisation, two ultra-low dispersion elements and Canon’s Super Spectra coatings. An eight-blade circular diaprhragm offers excellent bokeh, while AF is fast and quiet thanks to a ring-type ultrasonic motor. As with all Canon L series lenses, full time manual focus override is possible, allowing photographers to manually focus, even when the AF motor is engaged. As befits an L-series Canon lens, the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM offers exceptional build quality including environmental protection. Canon’s new Fluorine Coating also makes cleaning the lens easier, preventing smears or streaking. The Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM lens is available from October priced at £1599.99 / €1909.99.
Canon Press Release
Lightweight, compact and versatile - Canon unveils the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM
United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland; 26th August 2010 – Canon today announces the latest addition to its renowned L-series of professional lenses, the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM, designed to answer growing demand for a high performance zoom lens which offers outstanding mobility and versatility. The EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM offers a 4.3x telephoto zoom range of 70-300mm, with a variable aperture of f/4-5.6. The compact (143mm) design also features the build quality that photographers have come to expect from Canon’s acclaimed L-series lenses. With its impressive focal range and travel-friendly size, the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM is ideally suited to professionals and advanced amateur photographers wishing to capture portraits, nature and action shots in superb detail.
Canon signature image quality
Thanks to two ultra-low dispersion (UD) elements and a floating lens group, the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM captures stunning high-contrast, high-resolution images with low levels of chromatic aberration throughout the zoom range. The lens makes use of Canon’s Super Spectra coatings, reducing ghosting and flare to ensure the highest possible image quality and minimising the requirement for extensive post processing.
Canon’s advanced optical Image Stabilizer (IS) provides photographers with a four-stop IS advantage, enabling the capture of sharp images even when shooting at maximum zoom or in low light conditions, by allowing the use of slower shutter speeds than would usually be possible with handheld shooting.
An eight-blade circular aperture also offers excellent bokeh ideal for portraiture, producing a more pleasant background and creatively isolating the subject.
Autofocus (AF) is fast and quiet thanks to a ring-type USM AF motor, combined with the independent lens CPU and advanced AF algorithms to enable accurate, reliable focusing in all conditions. As with all Canon L series lenses, full time manual focus override is possible, allowing photographers to manually focus, even when the AF motor is engaged. With a minimum focusing distance of 1.2m (3.9ft) throughout the zoom range, photographers can achieve sharp results, even when close to the action.
L-series – robust performance in all conditions
Honouring the L-series heritage, the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM offers exceptional build quality, ideal for daily use by professionals and advanced amateurs. The lens includes environmental protection, allowing photographers to shoot in harsh conditions - even in the extremes of the desert or rainforest. Canon’s new Fluorine Coating also makes cleaning the lens easier, preventing smears or streaking.
Professional accessories
As part of the L-series range, the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM is supplied with a lens hood ET-73B and lens case LP1424 as standard. In addition, an optional, dedicated tripod mount C (WII) can be directly attached to the lens. This allows it to be stabilised easily and the camera switched quickly from vertical to horizontal and back, without having to reposition the camera body on the tripod, perfect for fast-paced action with a variety of subjects.



#1 James Weaver
Looks like a great lens, but what do the photos look like. Are there any photos you can post of this new lens? Thanks!!!
12:18 pm - Thursday, August 26, 2010
#2 Rob H
Does anyone have a release date, or expected price?
Thanks
4:19 am - Friday, August 27, 2010
#3 Sebastian
Hmmm...
70-2000 f/2.8L IS or variable aperture superzoom? Really tough choice there...
6:06 am - Friday, August 27, 2010
#4 Steve
Replacing the 70-200 DO?
I'm sure there are still people out there who look forward to Canon releases but here in the UK I look to them with dread. An updated lens or body usually means a big price increase. I'm glad that some of the lenses that I am saving for were not replaced as if they were they would have been put out of my reach like the 70-200 2.8 IS and now tele-convertors have.
11:14 am - Friday, August 27, 2010
#5 Rob Green
I agree with you Steve, each new lens release seems to come with a huge price hike. With people like Sigma improving the optical and build quality of their lens, I really think Canon are going to lose out. I'm not sure I can justify the premium that Canon charge to stay with them.
4:21 pm - Friday, August 27, 2010
#6 Gabriele Profita
Useless at this price for a lens that is not a big aperture one.
You'd better get a 70-200 f/2.8 IS USM + TC 1.4x or a 100-400 IS USM with that price!!
Not tough choice at all as long as they keep this price tag. This is absolutely a "no-buy" at the moment.
7:50 am - Saturday, August 28, 2010
#7 Ramon
Idd opt for the 70-200 f/4 IS USM with a 1.4 converter which gives almost 300mm @ f/5.6, unless the price is comming down into € 1000,- teritory together with a 7D makes a great outdoor package.
7:18 pm - Saturday, August 28, 2010
#8 Jenkins
Sort the price out - you canon Muppets. A thousand pounds should cover f/4-5.6L
1:25 am - Wednesday, September 1, 2010
#9 Peter Strømberg
The great thing about this lense is it's a lot shorter than a 70-200mm (143mm, as appose to 193mm)
If you look at other Canon L lenses, the street price is generally a lot lower than the suggested retail price. For example the 70-200mm sells on amazon.co.uk for £1800, while the list price is £2800.
This lense should quickly come down in price, if not already at the launch. If the image quality is up to par over the focal range it should do really well. Want one.
7:21 am - Monday, September 6, 2010
#10 ChuckInWichita
I just saw it listed in Adorama to order for a price of $1,500. Is that really reasonable, as Canon has stated in their hype? For me, I think NOT.
12:11 pm - Wednesday, September 29, 2010
#11 Bob S
One has to wonder if there are issues with this lens as it was supposed to be out in October, now nearly December and no lens yet. Adorama, B&H, and Beachcamera all have it listed for "pre-sales" but they have no idea when it will be coming out. I personally am going to wait. I have the 1st generation 70-200F2.8 IS and think it is sharp as a tack. On my full frame, it still is just a 200mm, so the 1.4 extender doesn't seem worth the extra 80mm. BTW - when is the new 1.4X iii coming out?
12:37 pm - Sunday, November 28, 2010