Canon 28-300 USM IS L series lens - how good is it?

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I have been considering one of these for a while as an all-in-one lens, I appreciate it is a big old beastie but it is still smaller than carrying around 2/3 lens.

I currently use a 24-105 F4 which I am very pleased with so reluctant to jump into the 28-300 unless I know it is a good replacement.

I've read several reviews which comment on the fact that it doesn't match the L prime lenses (I'm not surprised by this!!!) and that image quality is compromised to a certain extent by the range of the zoom. That said they do comment that the IQ is very good for a 'superzoom'.

I'd be really interested to hear from anyone who has used this lens as to what the IQ like is in the 'real world' rather than a lab report, especially how it compares to the 24-105. Is it good enough to use as my main lens or am I likely to be disappointed by the IQ? I'll be using it on a 5D MkII

Thanks
 
We recently used one on a safari trip to Kenya,

I had my 5D MKII with 100-400L My Collegue was using the 28-300

On the whole it performed very well and I would find it had to distinguish the images taken between 100-300 from either lens

At the wider end it won out as being out in dusty conditions meant it was a lot easier having the 28-300 rather than the 100-400 as swapping out for a wide in the dust was really not something I wanted to do, but at the wide end I would say it was lacking compared ot the 24-105L

Also the macro facility on it is useful and produces some good images if you can hold the beastie still enough,

The one in use in Kenya was used with a Bean Bag on the tripod mount and provided a good sturdy base.

In this sort of situation where it is in a vehicle and supported its easy to use all day, but I don't think I would like to be lugging it around on a long walk anymore than the 100-400 or any other big hunk of white.

If you really want to go 1 Lens or in an area where its too dusty to change lenses I would go for the 28-300L, but in the real world I would rather have a couple of Lenses in a backpack and change as required,

Sorry its not a one or the other answer, if only it was that simple :D
 
New 70-300L ? with a 24-70 or 24-105

Covers pretty much everything...
 
I went for the Siggy 28-300mm. It was a fraction of the cost and a fraction of the size and it made a great holiday and day out lens. :)

Apart from the advantage some offer of a fast aperture, IS or USM I think that most lenses are good enough these days, certainly for something up to A3, maybe, if you don't crop heavily or pixel peep.
 
501cards - thanks that really is very helpful. I guess the answer is, as I thought it would be, that there is no clear answer.

There are times when the 28-300 is perfect and others when it definitely isn't. I guess the reality is that ultimately I would be better served by carrying two lenses and although this may involve more weight the 28-300 is a big old beastie.

What I'm not prepared to do is sacrifice image quality with the 5D Mkii being very unforgiving on lenses. I think I am better keeping my 24-105 and matbe getting a 70-200 F4 which is very reasonable priced, relatively compact and will work with my 1.4x converter
 
daveproctor said:
501cards - thanks that really is very helpful. I guess the answer is, as I thought it would be, that there is no clear answer.

There are times when the 28-300 is perfect and others when it definitely isn't. I guess the reality is that ultimately I would be better served by carrying two lenses and although this may involve more weight the 28-300 is a big old beastie.

What I'm not prepared to do is sacrifice image quality with the 5D Mkii being very unforgiving on lenses. I think I am better keeping my 24-105 and matbe getting a 70-200 F4 which is very reasonable priced, relatively compact and will work with my 1.4x converter
Click to expand...

Similar Dilema to you, the 24-105 is just too goood and too versitile to walk away from,

My Current Bag is,

5D MKII with Canon 135L F2
1D MKIV with Canon 24-105L F4

In Reserve ready to use in the bag, 100-400L, 50 1.8, Sigma 12-24, Sigma 105Macro

And that really covers about everything I need,

I had the 70-200 F4 IS, but sold it as I found the combination of the 24-105 and the brilliant 135L F2 and with the 100-400 in reserve covered just about all the bases I needed.

Dont Get me wrong I still look with green eyes at the new 70-200 2.8L II and have those backwards and forwards thoughts, but at the moment its the bag I am living with and covers everything I normally do with the extra bit of Siggy Kit for UWA or Macro.

Good Luck, sure it will keep you working on ideas for many an hour!
 
Richard

Thanks for that. I only have the one Canon body but I own the 24-105, 17-40, 100 macro, 300mm F4, 1.4x converter and a 135 F2 which I picked up today.

If I look at this sensibly I can carry the 24-105, 135 and 1.4x converter in a small bag and the outfit will probably weigh less than the camera body and the 28-300. I don't get up to 300mm but I can get can 190 with the 135 and 1.4x converter attached so think I'd be better placed sticking with this.

Dave
 
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