canon 300mm f2.8 non IS

rickj

rickj

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does any one on here use a 300mm f2.8 non is? if so what's your opinion on it? I would really like the is version but cant see me affording one for a while and have the chance of the non Is. it's just under a £1000 body a bit scruffy but glass spotless.
 
Yes, I have one that I also bought second hand. Absolutely superb. Like the one you describe, the paint was a bit chipped here & there, but the glass is spotless. I do all my sports stuff with it - see link in my signature.

I'd like an IS version, but dont have the cash. The non-IS one is brilliant though, and you wont lose any money on it. £1000 sounds like a fine price - mine was £1500.
 
I'm sure Phil (purpleclouds) bought one recently. Sounds like a bargain to me!
 
Here is a bit of info for you about Non IS lenses.

Optically and mechanically there are no differences between the lenses and Canon only considers there to be one "full" model of the 300/2.8L non-IS.
However they did release three "sub-models" for lack of a better description. These were marked on the external box and also on the warranty card. But not on the lens itself.
The original one had no numeral after its name, but the second and third ones were marked as II and III respectively.

Diffrences

MK I

The original lens has a metal hood and no strap slot opening on the back of the tripod foot.
The case for these lenses was a black vinyl-coated hard case.
This lens also has Canon's brown coating on the front element.

MK II

The MK II changed to a polycarbonate hood (lighter) and added the strap slot in the tripod foot.
These lenses came with a green aluminum-trimmed lens trunk rather than the hard case.
The front-element coating changed from the brown one to Canon's green coating during the MK II production run.


MK III

The III was very similar to the II but came with the newer beige trunk instead of the green one.


Some people believe that the III focuses faster than the earlier lenses but that is just a myth.
The biggest difference really is age.
 
cheers guys, going to have a long think over night, I am thinking sell the 300 F4 IS buy
F2.8 then when funds allow move up to the is version
 
I owned one briefly, couldnt get along with a prime at the time. I also wasnt comfortable owning a lens of such a high cost that no-one would service. Or if they would service it they would not warranty the work during or after the service.
 
Could be left with a £1,000 pound paperweight if it goes bang as mentioned earlier I don't think Canon services the non-IS anymore. Although that is a very good price for it.
 
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