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Worth the Price, January 30, 2006
Reviewer: J. C. Blades "R1150GS"

This may not be the best lense out there, but for the price I believe I'ts a great value. I plan to use this lense on a tripod, with a remote control switch. With the camera on servo.
It's a Canon lense, and they are usally known for quality. It just depends on what you plan to use it for, and what you expect of it. For the price my expections were exceeded.
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A grat lens to have in your lens case., January 15, 2006
Reviewer: Pokey
I'm just a beginner in photography, trying to capture great moments alongside my 18 month old daughter, this lens captures those up close happy girl smiles and laughter from across the room without snapping up the clutter of the dreaded background of a messy room for all to see. Plus it'll work great with my new digital camera that we decided to invest in alongside it seems the rest of the civilized world.
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Nice Lens for the Price if Stopped Down, January 9, 2006
Reviewer: Michael Morgan

My tests of this lens show sharp results from 75-200mm if stopped down by one stop. Beyond 200mm it takes progressively more aperture reduction to get sharp photos. Using f11 at 300mm gives excellent sharpness but then you need a tripod in all but very bright sunlight. So, this lens will take sharp pictures but requires bright light or a tripod at the long end.

The new 70-300mm IS version has a similar build quality and optics (maybe a tad better optics at the long end) and provides a 3-stop advantage which allows handholding under most conditions. However, it costs over three times as much - but may be worth it to travel tripod-free. I prefer the 70-200mm f4L which costs about the same as the IS version but produces even sharper images with eye-popping clarity and contrast - even wide open at f4 (no stopping down is needed at any focal length). The L-lens is slightly larger, is off-white (gets noticed) and has no IS (but not needed unless it gets really dark since shooting at f4 gives better results than the IS lens at f8).

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Could be better, but works well within its price range, December 19, 2005
Reviewer: John Nolley II
After reading several online reviews of the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM lens, I had nearly talked myself out of even looking at one. However, thanks to a local Canon demonstration, I was able to play with several lenses, the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 among them. I got to try it out alongside the IS version (which costs just under 3x as much), the non-USM version, and some of their L-series professional lenses.

That said, I found there to be less difference among the directly-comparable lenses (the non-USM, USM, and IS versions) than I'd have thought. On the test shots I took using a Canon Digital Rebel XT, I didn't find full-zoom telephoto shots to be appreciably softer in the non-IS version reviewed herein, nor were the images overly soft for my liking period.

The USM focusing didn't seem to make as much of a difference as I'd expected over the non-USM model, either. Focusing was still relatively slow (as other reviewers have pointed out), although once an initial focus has been made, adjustments aren't too slow unless changing to a subject substantially nearer or farther away. HOWEVER, the AF engine did make a number of "mistakes" when using this lens that it did not using the IS lens (or, of course, the L-series glass); more than once I had to either switch to manual focus or try multiple times to get the right focus "lock." Furthermore, the USM model doesn't get you internal focus, either, like with higher-end lenses, so the end still rotates during focusing, which can be problematic with a circular polarizer or other filters.

Overall, I'd say that you "get what you pay for"; this is a very inexpensive lens, and it shows in some areas. But it's not nearly as bad as some would make it out to be. I tried it out both on several indoors shots under less-than-ideal lighting conditions and was pleased in most respects, and outdoors, I got very good results on even moving subjects.

Pros:
-- Cost; at under $200, you would be hard-pressed to find a lens with the same reach with even half-decent optics.

Cons:
-- Slow focus
-- Autofocus seems to confuse somewhat easily over the IS model
-- The USM version is still not an internally-focusing model, and thus the end of the lens will still rotate (and can affect filters, etc.)

I'd recommend the IS version if you have the extra funds, but if you are on a budget and just can't wait, I saw less of a difference than others have between the two. Of course, the real step up would be to a comparable piece of glass in the L series, but with it comes a real step up in price, too.
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This lens is awesome , September 28, 2005
Reviewer: Ricky Weiss "the rock n roll optician"
I recieved this lens a few days ago using it with my digital rebel xt and for the money this is worth every penny. The shots i took with it are super. For anyone who has a canon digital slr and does not want to spend 500-1000 for a lens, this is the one to add to your camera bag.

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