Digital SLR Reviews Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Image Stabilizer’

Canon EF 70 200mm f 4 L IS USM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

Capture the far-off action of fast-paced sports or zoom in for an intimate portrait with the Canon EF 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens. The L-series lens offers an Image Stabilizer that provides up to four stops of shake correction–a first for Canon IS lenses. The use of fluorite UD lens elements, meanwhile, produces an excellent optical performance in terms of resolution and contrast. Add in a sturdy housing with water- and dust-proof construction and you have a lens that’s both portable and high performing. Other details include an f/4 maximum aperture, a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM) that enables quick and quiet autofocusing, compatibility with circular polarizing filters, and a lightweight body. The lens carries a one-year warranty.

• Focal length: 70-200mm
• Maximum aperture: f/4
• Lens construction: 20 elements in 15 groups
• Diagonal angle of view: 34 to 12 degrees (with full-frame cameras)
• Focus adjustment: AF with full-time manual focus
• Closest focusing distance: 3.94 feet
• Zoom system: 7-group helical zoom (72-degree rotational angle)
• Filter size: 67mm
• Dimensions: 3 inches in diameter, 6.8 inches long
• Weight: 26.8 ounces

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars My favorite lens!
This is the best lens in my camera bag. Meaning: versitile, light, and excellent image quality. I upgraded from the non-IS version(which is a great lens as well) to the IS and love it! I highly recommend this lens. For those who don’t shoot birds or racing or in low light stadiums, this lens is all you need. I contemplated the 2.8, but decided for the much lighter weight of the f/4. I can consistently get three more stops with the IS. No complaints whatsoever.Bottomline: Canon L-series+image stabilization=HEAVEN Get this lens.

5 Stars Great lens
As everyone has already mentioned, this lens is truly great! Incredibly sharp even wide open at f4, and the IS works fantastically well.

Build quality is top class as you would expect, and using this lens is just pure joy.

If you can afford the IS version get it, otherwise the f4 non IS is a great alternative at almost half the price.

5 Stars Essential
This lens provides image quality comparable to the best primes with image stabilization and the versatility of a zoom. That makes it a must have for a basic lens collection. I am shooting on a 1Ds III that tests every lens to the max and previously owned the non IS version of this lens. It was not as sharp as primes like the 135mm f.2 or the 85mm f1.8. My first priority is image quality so I basically stopped using the zoom and relied on the primes instead. The basic image quality of the new zoom is equal to any lens I have ever owned, even on a tripod with the IS off. The IS adds another dimension to its versatility, which is obviously a big advantage on a telephoto. I recently shot some wildlife at 200mm hand held and the image was as sharp as if the camera were on a tripod next to the animal. Now I use the primes only if the extra speed is needed to stop motion.

5 Stars Wonderful Lens
I recently traded in my long beloved 70-200mm f/4 L lens for the IS version after a recent hand surgery. I wrote an extensive review on the 70-200mm f/4 L for Amazon, and everything about that lens applies to this one plus more. I have to say that I am incredibly impressed with this lens. Not only is it just as sharp, contrasty, and light as the non-IS version, but the IS adds almost 4 stops of hand-holding ability! I was able to hand hold this lens and get sharp and clean images at 1/13 second shutter speed with the IS on!

My only gripe about this lens is that the IS is noisier than the IS on the Canon 100-400 or the Canon 24-105. When I first got it, I thought I had gotten a bad copy. It turns out after taking it to the shop, that the IS is just noisier than on the other IS lenses, and it seems to work perfectly except for a little more noise than I would like.

If I could give this lens 4.5/5 stars, I would do so, but I figure it’s worth rounding up just because the image quality is second to none.

If you need a lightweight telephoto lens that will produce excellent images consistently and also IS, then this is your lens.

5 Stars Great color and contrast
Prior to purchasing the 70-200mm f/4 L IS I’ve had mixed results with telephoto lenses. This lens has shown me what a truly great telephoto can do for my hobby. The first thing I noticed was how bright the view finder was. My photos displayed great color and contrast when using this lens. Focus is incredibly sharp compared to my previous telephoto experiences. Even with the IS I prefer to use a monopod because I feel like the camera is moving with that lens hanging out front. Now I don’t know how I got along without my 70-200 f/4 L IS. A great addition to anyone’s bag for those who take their photography serious.

Buy/More Info

Canon Digital Rebel XSI 12 2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF S 18 55mm f 3 5 5 6 IS Lens Silver

For photography with point-and-shoot ease, look no further than Canon’s EOS Rebel XSi. The EOS Rebel XSi brings staggering technological innovation to the masses. It features Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, and a 12.2-megapixel CMOS Sensor with Optical Image Stabilizer. The EOS Rebel XSi’s refined, ergonomic design includes a 3.0″ LCD monitor, compatibility with SD and SDHC Memory cards and accessories that enhance every aspect of the photographic experience. Image Format – 22.2mm x 14.8mm 3 – 2 Horizontal – Vertical Aspect Ratio Color Filter System – RGB primary color filter Low-pass Filter – Located in front of the image sensor, non-removable Recording Format – Design rule for Camera File System 2.0 Image Format – JPEG, RAW (14-bit Canon original) RAW+JPEG White Balance Settings – Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent Light, Flash, and Custom Focusing Modes – One-Shot AF, AI Servo AF, AI Focus AF, Manual focusing (MF) Metering Range – EV 1-20 (with EF50mm f/1.4 USM lens, ISO 100) Exposure Compensation – Manual 2 stops in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments and AEB 2 stops in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments AE Lock – Automatic when focus achieved with evaluative metering and One-Shot AF, and Manual by AE lock button Shutter Type – Electronically controlled and focal-plane shutter Shutter Speeds – 1/4000 seconds to 1/60 seconds, X-sync at 1/200 seconds, 1/4000 sec. to 30 seconds, bulb Self-timer – 10-seconds, 2-seconds delay or 10-seconds delay plus continuous shooting Brightness Control – 7 levels provided Body Dimensions – 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 (128.8×97.5×61.9mm) Weight – 16.8 ounces (475 grams) body only Lens Dimension – 2.7 x 2.6 (69×66.2mm) Weight – 6 ounces (190 grams)

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great camera, but never received from Amazon
Well, I originally ordered the camera through Amazon on the 11th of Sept., it was scheduled for delivery on the 22nd. October 2nd comes and still without the unit, carrier (USPS) showed item was in “arrival scan” status at a location the whole time. Contacted Amazon to cancel order and refund, it’s now the 12th of Oct. and still no camera or refund on account. I ended up ordering the camera from n*w*gg for about $50 cheaper, just so happens they had a promo going on, 10% off all DSLR’s.

My rating above is not for the service, but for the camera.

On to the product, I love the camera so far. I am just getting into photos, so my photo skills are not quite up to par. Using this camera makes taking photos a snap and they come out great. Quick response to capture those precious moments of your first child.

5 Stars Canon XSi
This camera is a great camera for DSLR beginners. It is very easy to use and takes very good pictures.

4 Stars Awesome camera kit, nice job Canon!!
I’m very satisfied with this camera. I’m a fine art painter and digital concept artist so I take tons of reference images. It offers all I need for now, i’ll upgrade to a higher end Canon or Nikon when I get the dough.

PROS

great image quality

accurate color

nice functions

large preview screen

lightweight for a digital SLR

good value EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens, images are clear and crisp

CONS

ISO speed only goes to 1600, not very ideal for night photography

Zoom with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens isn’t that great

5 Stars Great Buy – Trust Amazon !
Purchase for my 16 yr old – living out of state – needed the camera faster than the expected ship date, I sent the email saying I needed it, it came the next day. The camera is better than I expected. the service great. I paid hundreds more for my D-SLR and it was a lesser version – This is a good buy

5 Stars Great camera for the money
I’ve had the camera for about a month and have taken several hundred photos in different environments (outdoor, indoor and action). It does a great job in all areas and the battery life is super… charged it the day I got it and have yet to have to recharge it. The only issue with the camera is either the memory card that I bought or the camera itself… it seems to get hung up sometimes when reviewing photos and sometimes when taking a picture it gets a glitch so you have to shut the camera off and take the memory card out and put it back in, then everything is fine. Great camera for the money!!! If you buy an extra lens for it spend the $400 for the better Canon lens as the $275 (55-275) telephoto I bought doesn’t give as clear of picture as the lens that came with the camera.

Buy/More Info

Canon EF 28 135mm f 3 5 5 6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Equipped with an Image Stabilizer and high zoom ratio, the Canon EF 28-135mm standard zoom lens delivers sharp, natural-looking pictures virtually ever time. The lens is particularly handy for places where flashes are prohibited, as it excels in dim lighting without requiring a flash or a tripod. Other features include a ring-type USM for swift, silent autofocusing and full-time manual focusing; a close focusing distance of 20 inches; and a maximum aperture of f/3.5 to 5.6. The lens carries a one-year warranty.

• Focal length: 28-135mm
• Maximum aperture: 1:3.5-5.6
• Lens construction: 16 elements in 12 groups
• Diagonal angle of view: 75 to 18 degrees
• Focus adjustment: Rear focusing system with USM
• Closest focusing distance: 1.6 feet
• Zoom system: Rotating type
• Filter size: 72mm
• Dimensions: 3.1 inches in diameter, 3.8 inches long
• Weight: 18.9 ounces

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars A good value walkaround lens
The Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 lens with Image Stabilization is a very capable, and more importantly, affordable lens,and is perfect for times when you just want to have one lens on the camera but you also want to have a lot of options with your focal range. While you get the benefits of a slight wide to telephoto range in one handy package, you do lose in light stops as you move through the focal range (the maximum aperture stops down as you move toward the telephoto end of the range). This is where the image stabilization comes in very handy, and allows you to keep hand shake at bay even when you have to compromise on shutter speed to get the correct exposure.

I’ve had no complaints about the optical quality, I think you’ll be pleased with the shots you get from it – the lens may be cheap but don’t confuse that with what the quality of image this lens can provide. Keep in mind on a camera with a cropped sensor (any Canon DSLR model other than the 5D and 1D models) the focal range is equivalent to @45-215mm – you lose a bit of the wide angle advantage, but you get more telephoto, so it depends which end of the focal range you value the most as to whether that is a disadvantage or not.

1 Star Defective, no manual, all images blurred – incapable of focusing correctly
Either it was damaged in shipping, or I got a defective lens. For whatever reason, the picture quality on any photo taken on this lens (with every setting, stop, is on/off, tested) came out blurry, particularly on the left side. Photos taken with my old stock 18-55 lens were dramatically clearer. The zoom range was decent, but I’m disappointed. Sending this lens back. It didn’t even come with a manual. I was really looking forward to a lens upgrade.

—

Update -

I reordered the same lens from the same folks and, surprise, this one came in a real Canon lens box with manual and everything. Clearly the one I sent originally was not brand new. Be advised, if you don’t get a manual and a canon box, you’re getting sent something that someone else returned. That said, the new lens is beautiful. The shots are crisp and even using it for a few pictures, it’s pretty awesome and the best lens I have.

If I could, I’d change my rating from 1 star to 4. For the hassle I went through returning the bad lens, I have to take away a star.

4 Stars Great Walk Around Lens
This is a great general purpose walk around lens, and the Image Stabilization is great when hand holding your camera for shooting. Sharp and Fast outdoors, but unfortunately the lens is not fast enough for most indoors photography (unless very well lit). I’ve usually got this lens on my camera when I’m outdoors and I need an all purpose walk around lens.

Pros:

Fast and Sharp

Image Stabilized

Great range of wide and telephoto lengths

Cons:

Poor low light performance

Gets soft in the outer ranges

4 Stars Canon 28-135mm IS f/3.5-5.6 great all around lens!
This lens is an excellent general use lens for either a digital crop (Rebel, 40D, 50D etc) or full frame camera (5D, 5D MKII) although its slightly less appealing on a crop camera as the zoom range isn’t quite as wide as on the full frame but still very respectable. In fact for a complete review of my thoughts on this great little performer check out the complete article [...]

4 Stars great lens – good all rounder
I actually got this lens to upgrade my original lens from the XTi set (which I was able to sell on Craigslist). It was a good upgrade, the zoom was better up to 135mm and the IS is good for picture taking. It is a versatile lens to use on a daily basis. Sometimes when I need to I use my 50mm prime for portraits but most of the time I have this on.

Plasticity body but does feel solid, would have liked it to have more metal on it for $400. There is zoom creep when pointing extemely up or down especially when filters and hood are on. (does not come with a hood – again for $400 really should be part of the package).

Main objective is the picture quality which is very good. Sharp and well saturated with good contrast. I also like the fine focus adjustment ring – nice.

I think this was a good upgrade for the XTi, I do like using it and think it is a fair price when considering other options. For an extra 1 star should come with a hood and have no zoom creep and perhaps a bit more metal in the outer construction. One of the better non L lens.

Buy/More Info

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12 2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF S 18 55mm f 3 5 5 6 IS Lens Black

For stunning photography with point and shoot ease, look no further than Canons EOS Rebel XSi. The EOS Rebel XSi brings staggering technological innovation to the masses. It features Canons EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, plus a new 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and is available in a kit with the new EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens with Optical Image Stabilizer. The EOS Rebel XSis refined, ergonomic design includes a new 3.0-inch LCD monitor, compatibility with SD and SDHC memory cards and new accessories that enhance every aspect of the photographic experience.New Canon 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC III image processor Canon’s CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor captures images with exceptional clarity and tonal range, and offers the most pixels in its class. It offers many of the same new technologies to maximize each pixel’s light gathering efficiency that were first seen with the professional EOS-1D Mark III model. It’s an APS-C size sensor (22.2 x 14.8mm), and there’s an effective 1.6x increase in the lenss marked focal length when attached. Canons DIGIC III Image Processor dramatically enhances image quality and speeds up all camera operations for intuitive operation. It works in concert with the EOS Rebel XSis sensor to achieve unprecedented levels of performance in all lighting situations.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great Buy – Trust Amazon !
Purchase for my 16 yr old – living out of state – needed the camera faster than the expected ship date, I sent the email saying I needed it, it came the next day. The camera is better than I expected. the service great. I paid hundreds more for my D-SLR and it was a lesser version – This is a good buy

5 Stars Great camera, but never received from Amazon
Well, I originally ordered the camera through Amazon on the 11th of Sept., it was scheduled for delivery on the 22nd. October 2nd comes and still without the unit, carrier (USPS) showed item was in “arrival scan” status at a location the whole time. Contacted Amazon to cancel order and refund, it’s now the 12th of Oct. and still no camera or refund on account. I ended up ordering the camera from n*w*gg for about $50 cheaper, just so happens they had a promo going on, 10% off all DSLR’s.

My rating above is not for the service, but for the camera.

On to the product, I love the camera so far. I am just getting into photos, so my photo skills are not quite up to par. Using this camera makes taking photos a snap and they come out great. Quick response to capture those precious moments of your first child.

4 Stars Awesome camera kit, nice job Canon!!
I’m very satisfied with this camera. I’m a fine art painter and digital concept artist so I take tons of reference images. It offers all I need for now, i’ll upgrade to a higher end Canon or Nikon when I get the dough.

PROS

great image quality

accurate color

nice functions

large preview screen

lightweight for a digital SLR

good value EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens, images are clear and crisp

CONS

ISO speed only goes to 1600, not very ideal for night photography

Zoom with the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens isn’t that great

5 Stars Great camera for the money
I’ve had the camera for about a month and have taken several hundred photos in different environments (outdoor, indoor and action). It does a great job in all areas and the battery life is super… charged it the day I got it and have yet to have to recharge it. The only issue with the camera is either the memory card that I bought or the camera itself… it seems to get hung up sometimes when reviewing photos and sometimes when taking a picture it gets a glitch so you have to shut the camera off and take the memory card out and put it back in, then everything is fine. Great camera for the money!!! If you buy an extra lens for it spend the $400 for the better Canon lens as the $275 (55-275) telephoto I bought doesn’t give as clear of picture as the lens that came with the camera.

5 Stars Canon XSi
This camera is a great camera for DSLR beginners. It is very easy to use and takes very good pictures.

Buy/More Info

Canon EF 100 400mm f4 5 5 6L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

Equipped with an Image Stabilizer, the Canon EF 100-400mm telephoto zoom lens makes it easy to capture the far-off action of fast-paced sports or zoom in for an intimate portrait with a blurred background. The lens offer such features as fluorite and Super UD-glass elements that largely eliminate secondary spectrum; a floating system that ensures high picture quality at all focal lengths; two Image Stabilizer modes; and compatibility with extenders 1.4x II and 2x II. The lens carries a one-year warranty.

• Focal length: 100-400mm
• Maximum aperture: 1:4.5-5.6
• Lens construction: 17 elements in 14 groups
• Diagonal angle of view: 24 to 6 degrees
• Focus adjustment: Rear focusing system with USM
• Closest focusing distance: 5.9 feet
• Zoom system: Linear extension type
• Filter size: 77mm
• Dimensions: 3.6 inches in diameter, 7.4 inches long
• Weight: 3.1 pounds

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Excellent lens, extremely useful even with a glitch or two
I just purchased this lense at B&H about 3 weeks ago for $1,500.00 and as of toay Amazon has it for $1459.00 which is the cheapest price around. I’ve seen the same lens at other websites for as much as $1,650.00. Well I just returned today from being at Indianapolis for the 2009 MotoGP event. I purchased this lense to specifically get close up shots of the riders and their machines. I own a Canon EOS Rebel T1i and wanted to take advantage of the 15.1 megapixels and get close up shots in order to enlarge the prints.

This lense was fantastic. The quality is amazing, exactly what an ‘L’ series lense should be. To focus you either push the lense out or pull it back in, this lense does not use the circular motion used to focus other lenses but it posed no problem. As a matter of fact I rather enjoyed the ability to focus this was as I could pull in or push out extremely quickly when needed (a must at sporting events).

The lense is a bit on the heavy side but only when used for very long periods of time. I used it for 5 hours straight and was a bit sore afterwards. The lense hood that comes with it worked very effectively, I had no problems with it coming loose or falling off so no need to purchase any other type. I did purchase Hoya filters (ultra violet, a polarizer, and a circular combination UV/Polairzer filter) and they not only protect the lens but even helped improve shot quality.

The quality of pictures were amazing and the lense is EXTREMELY fast. The autofocus is lightning quick and this was terrific as MotoGP is one of the fastest if not fastes motor sport events around.

It did have a glitch twice throughout the entire weekend. When focused at the full 400mm range, twice it failed to focus regardless of hitting the autofocus button. In order to fix this, all I did was pull the lense back in to 100mm and click the autofocus button and presto I could resume taking photos at all ranges.

I would say overall this is an excellent buy. Mostly because the range and price point are key. You can’t find another quality lense at this price with a range of 100-400mm. Once you go higher than 500mm you can expect to be in the couple or few thousand club. Lens is made of sturdy construction and very well finished. I do not regret the purchase at all and would highly recommend it.

Gixxer55

5 Stars Great tele zoom
I am an enthusiast shooting on Canon 40D and 5D.

Pro:

1. Surprisingly hand-heldable, considering the weight. IS helps a GREAT DEAL.

2. Zoom is extremely smooth, way better than the twist and zoom on my Sigma 170-500. And it doesn’t creek! (amazing engineering. In comparison, my old Tamron 18-250 and Sigma 170-500 immediately extend to the full length with a loud thunk when pointing downwards, while my new 18-270 is so tight it’s hard to zoom in and out). This is my first push-pull zoom and there is no learning curve at all. I love it!

3. No issue with so called dust pump problem – actually the Sigma and the much smaller Tamron 18-250 suck in more air than this one – you can easily tell by put you hand at the back of the lens and zoom back the lens and feel the air flow for yourself.

4. The lens balances extremely well on 40D and 5D without grip. The Sigma feels significally top heavy in comparison.

5. The color and contrast is L lens at its best, thanks to its quality glasses.

6. The length is quite managable actually, but a very thick lens nevertheless. The Sigma 170-500 is quite slim in comparison.

7. The AF is very responsible and assuring, even in modest indoor light (blinders partially closed). There is no comparison between the Canon L ring type USM and the regular Sigma AF.

8. IS works SEAMLESSLY. No noise, no ify in-between states. It works its magic without my awareness. Tamron and cheaper Canon like 70-300 announce their IS effects in distinctive and sometimes unnerving noises.

9. Background blur is milky smooth if you give enough distance between your subject and the background. My 70-200/F4L has a much more nervous blur in comparison.

10. Very LOW CA (color fringe, purple ring etc) at the long end. This is another nice surprise to me since I’ve heard many saying otherwise about this lens.

11. Everything about this lens is top quality, hood, collar, fit and finish.

Neutral:

1. Not the sharpest lens when pixel peeks, especially wide open. But the wide open shots are way more than ‘acceptable’ to me as an enthusiast. Here I am talking about hand held shots. I am sure the sharpness will improve on a tripod.

2. This is a very fat lens, white, not light weight, not fast, not cheap, no surprise. Putting this in perspective, this is a rather “cheap” and light weight tele comparing to the other fast tele primes/zooms. I tried out the Bigma in a Tokyo store several years ago and I didn’t like the feel of it, the zoom, balance, IQ – didn’t use it on tripod at the time.

Con:

None so far.

Bottom line:

A very hand-heldable tele zoom with great overall IQ. This is perhaps in the same vein as the Canon 70-200/F4L, 24-105L and 17-40L, relatively affordable with all the L lens advantages with great convenience and assured consistent IQ (AF speed and accuracy, weight balance in hand, mechanical quality all contributes to the end results of course) But they are certainly not the fastest or the sharpest lens on the market. But add convenience to the equation, these are certainly at the top of the game.

5 Stars It’s a good and professional lens
It can take good and sharp image but the lens is heavy.

However, I still give this lens 5 stars!

5 Stars A great lens
I picked up this lens from my local camera shop last week, and wish I would have picked it up sooner. I just love being able to zoom in on wildlife without scaring them off. The pictures are sharp and clear.

A few things that you should know about this lens. First, it’s heavy. I’ve used the neck strap a few times, however I end up carrying the camera in my hands. I’ve taken to putting the lens and camera on a monopod and throwing that over my shoulder. Much easier to carry, and the monopod helps get those sharp photos.

Second, you need good light, especially at the longer focal lengths. On a sunny day this isn’t a problem, but when the clouds come out, you either need to raise the ISO or dial down the shutter speed. It’s not a problem with the lens, just something to be aware of. Put the camera on a tripod and it’s a non issue.

Last, do your homework before you buy this lens. I spend months reading reviews about this lens, the Sigma 150-500, and the Canon 70-200 with a 2x converter, and looking at photos taken with these lenses. After going back and forth for a couple of months, I stepped back to determine what was important to me. I knew that I would not be happy with anything other than the sharpest image that I could find.

In the end, I’m extremely happy with the purchase, and my only regret is not getting this sooner.

5 Stars Super sharp mega zoom lens
I’ve nicknamed my 100-400mm lens “the Great White”, and I’ve put it to the test in safaris in Africa, looking for tigers in India, and shooting professional soccer in Chicago, and this lens has held up remarkably well.

The push-pull zoom for this lens is a little weird to get used to, but it’s now second nature. The IS feature features two modes, one for panning and one for static objects. For me, it helps with “shaky hands” because of the weight of this lens. In fact, if you’re going to be shooting an event with this, get a support (monopod, bean bag, your kid’s head, etc) for it.

This lens is a light hog and not that fast compared to the speedier prime lenses. When I shoot soccer games, I notice the pros with 300 f/2.8 or better lenses. Well, since I’m not a pro nor do I make any money from my photos, I have to make the best of what I can afford, and this is it. Even when shooting a friend’s kid’s ice skating event, I was able to take awesome images in the relative dark with a fast shutter speed and higher ISO without issues.

I had the 70-300mm lens before and I thought it was awesome until I borrowed a friend’s 100-400. The difference in the quality of the images is just breathtaking. Like a previous reviewer, I screwed up by not investing in this lens earlier. It’s a workhorse that has traveled with me everywhere. Sure, it’s heavy, but it’s an amazing piece of hardware that needs to be part of every serious photographer’s arsenal of lenses.

Buy/More Info