Product ReviewsCanon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM Lens

Canon EF 100-300mm F4.5/5.6 USM lens

This lens has good glass and it has a fast USM motor so it adjusts quickly and takes good images. It needs a lot of light to shoot at longer focal lengths so that it can be stopped down to f8. For the price it is a excellent buy for a zoom at that length and it beats all the 75-300mm lens. On a crop senor lens it's even better because the soft parts of the image at the corners aren't in the image.

For the current price it's selling for it's a steal. Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: kehoutlet

Not a bad lens, with caveats

Not the best lens out there, but very reasonable. I've found it's very sharp at 100-200mm, but at 300mm it gets distictly soft and a little dreamy. If you like a kind of ethereal look, shoot at 300mm! For those of you blaming the user for the soft images at 300mm (which isn't unreasonable), I've tested with a tripod and remote release and get the same dreaminess.

I've also found I get the best results at 250th of a sec--remember this is a long lens without IS, so you have to shoot really fast shutter speeds to stop your movement. Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: felega70

Solid with great optics.

This lens has become a reliable go-to in my kit. Not missing the absence of image stabilization, and hard to argue with a 480mm equivalant on an EF-S camera body. Low-light performance as expected at full zoom and f5.6.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: kennedda1950

Good Range, compact size, great glass, reasonable price.

Quick, quiet autofocus, compact size, almost the feel of some L lenses, great add on to 18-135 STM, good range, nice for bird pictures while in my kayak. I have a 120-400 Sigma but this is much easier to use in the kayak and about 1/3rd the weight. Had this lens before and got great bird pictures with it, but sold it to get the 120-400, then missed the compactness. Will use 120-400 when landlocked but this is my lens for on the water. With everyone going for IS lenses this is a bargain on the used market.Read full review...

Great value for telephoto

Detailed review of this lens at Ken Rockwell's page is borne out by my experience with it. It's not image stabilized so a tripod is handy for shots at the far end of the zoom range. I use it on a Canon EOS 5D Mk II body when I want a lightweight zoom, particularly in adverse conditions where I'd be reluctant to haul along the far more expensive (three pound!) 70-200 mm f/2.8 L IS II.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: robertscamera

Your eyes beyond what doesn't matter

Almost forgotten by the nowadays world of digital photography, this lens is a first rate asset if you want to photograph what is beyond things and people that does not matter you at all: it goes there sharply, fast and light. Travels well, not heavy at all to carry, focus very fast (eider manual or automatic) and is sharp and effective. At 300mm it does some vignetting, but nothing that you can't correct, eider by closing a little bit the zoom, or in post production. A wonderful lens, cheap, durable and reliable. Go for it!Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: Rz3845v-Sq6@Del...

Glad I did. Just wish I had more of these high quality lenses from that era

Rather heavy and large, but I knew that already, and confirmed it when camera mounting as I purchased it. Happy to say my entire Canon kit has circled the globe with me without a single hiccup (spare batteries tucked in every nook & cranny!); the pro models; my fearless and simply brilliant eos630; flashs units that freak people out with a red beam of light(!), and the last of the affordable, (made in Japan) quality heavy multi element glass lenses.
A dying breed most likely, as am I; but my eos 1's and om 1n's and om2n's
will always cause my storage drawers to overflow with shiny paper slices of life. At it's current price, buy it, hold it, mount it on your camera's metal lens mount (it better be!) and either digi or film, make yourself proud of your own unique ability to capture the magic.Read full review...

Basement bargain price, pro daylight shooter, lightweight.

Great lens for daylight shooting. Hold that thing still, it's a long lens. There is no stabilization on this lens, so get your yoga on.
It's light weight and great during the day. I paired it with a knock off E65III lens hood. Never bought a lens cap for it, just the hood.
300mm is so much closer than 200mm. Just a great image.
I take this thing skitouring with a heavy winter pack, I don't want to bring a 'good' lens, because it will get wet and broken. A $100 lens is just the ticket.Read full review...

OLDSCHOOL IS BETTER

This 100-300 ultrasonic is so much better then the 75-300 that came with my new canon t5. The auto focus is so much more faster too. Yes its a bit heavier...but if you have a fairly steady hand...not a problem. Picture quality is superb. I may be an amateur, but this lens has made me pro amateur in my opinion. My friends and family noticed the difference when i send them photos. 👍👍Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: andyhid47

Well built classic still holds its own.

One of the classic well built lenses, super cheap, still functions great on my brand new mirror less camera. I wish Canon had made a classic ultra wide prime that could be found this cheap today!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: mpbcom

Length for cheap, worth every penny!

This lens is a hidden gem in the used ef market. If you need range without wanting the price, GET THIS LENS. It works great on my Canon Rebel T3i

I read that most people have trouble with softness at 300mm while stopped at f5.6 but I have had no trouble with it while manually focusing. I adore this lens, I got it for 65$ and it's been my best lens purchase. You can't beat that price and I really love using it!

Downsides: Lens does creep forward when pointed downward, focus is softer than newer lenses (to be expected with an older lens) It is harder to find this lens in good condition.

Upsides: SO CHEAP for the length!! I love the softness of the background and bokeh. Fast auto focusing due to the USM.

10/10 would buy again. I love this lens.Read full review...

Verified purchase: No