This lens’s predecessor was an important lens for Canon, and although the Image Stabiliser part of the Canon 75-300 f4-5.6 IS was excellent - Unfortunately the lens itself wasn’t so good. Like most 70 or 75-300’s it’s performance at the longer end of the zoom range was average, at best. That lens was also designed for film, so is the new Canon 70-300 IS a better choice for digital SLR cameras?

Changing from the old 75-300 f4-5.6 IS USM to the new Canon 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM may seem like a relatively minor upgrade, but this is in fact an entirely different lens. To aid performance the new lens has a UD element in it’s construction and this does make quite a difference to performance overall. Where the old lens amounted to impressive technology mounted on a normal Canon 75-300 f4-5.6 USM lens - the new Canon 70-300 f4-5.6 IS USM is a completely new optical design coupled with an upgraded 3 stop image stabiliser. The lens feels very well made and at 630g isn’t a lightweight - the normal Canon 75-300 USM weighs 480g. Unfortunately, as usual, Canon don’t provide a lens hood - that’s an expensive extra. Really a lens like this needs a hood, and for a £ 370 lens, in the UK, that does seem a bit mean.