What was I waiting for...? I still can't figure it out.
I've been a happy amatuer snapper for several years who's greatest
aspiration is to hang a couple 8x10's or 20x30's in my home...nothing more.
I've been happy with my elan IIe (now 7e) and 28-105. My 100-300 usm was
another story....so soft on the long end that it bothered me as an amatuer.
Shooting at any moving subjects (even at shutter speeds of 1/2000 or faster)
at the long end was even worse....I didn't even like showing the 4x5's to
people, let alone blow them up!
I debated for a long time on what to do....I'm just simply not going to
spend $1000 on a 70-200 L or 100-400 L....I just cant do it. My budget,
amatuer status (and most importantly, girlfriend) just won't allow it. I
though about 3rd party but just wasn't comfortable...I like my canon lenses.
I asked many sources about the 100-300 5.6 L and was told it had great
optics, was a steal for the price, but handling, build and focus speed were
pathetic. I was told that I would have to give alot to get better prints.
I thought about it and decided that having the "newest technology" is for
the equipment geeks (no offense to any out there! :-) I wanted the best
quality for my budget,. not the newest acronym labeled on the side of my
lens. I found a 100-300 5.6 L on ebay for $225...quite a steal in general,
let alone for ebay! I sold my USM (unbelievably for more than the L cost
me!) and started snappin with the new L in my bag.
OH MY GOSH! The handling of push/pull is fine....front element rotation
doesn't bother me as I can live without a polarizer when I have to. The
focussing speed is ALOT faster than I expected. Not slow by any means to
me. I'm not a pro sports photog so it really isn't THAT critical. Maybe
the usm technology has people spoiled? The L focused plenty fast for my
moving subjects (water skiers crossing perpendicular to me shot from the
boat towing them) and tracked beautifully. The pics were fantastic compared
to anything I have ever gotten from my 100-300 usm.
So...after getting all that off my chest, what's my point. I guess it's
just to tell people like me (amatuers with a desire to produce the best
photographs they can on a budget) that the 100-300 L is the way to go it
your staying under $300 for a lens. It really can't be beat. All your
worries about a non-usm lens are for not....go with what counts....which in
my case is what makes me happy...quality prints i'm proud of.
Sorry to vent but I just wanted to tell my story...maybe someone will get as
much satisfaction if they make a similar decision...it certainly has
breathed new life into my photography. Besides, isn't that what really
counts anyways......?
Best,
Harold
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