Nature Photography Gem

Author's Rating:

Pros: Lightweight, small and versitle. Smooth Zooming

Cons: Very Pricey, Non Fully Functional Locking Feature

The Bottom Line: 
An excellent lens for those "on the run" who rarely use a tripod. Lightweight, smooth and compact.

Author's Review
As a Nature Photographer and one that works mainly without the use of a tripod, mostly because I spend a lot of time scrambling up and down embankments, rock outcroppings and through thickets; that I usually carry two cameras, one with this zoom lens and one with a 10-22mm wide angle. My original decision for buying this lens over the similar 70-300mm without the Diffractive Optics Features (and costing about half of this particular lens) was the claim to being lightweight (as compared to other lenses of this nature) and quiet. It certainly is lighter than most lens which made it ideal for me. While seeminly wider than most lenses, I don't find that a deterent to its use.

Touted to have a lens locking feature, it only works when in the unextended position and is mainly used to keep the lens from sliding down when carried over your shoulder or around your neck. It would of been ideal if this feature worked in any position the lens might be in but that would only come into play when using a tripod. Since I rarely shoot with a tripod, this potentially annoying feature could frustrate some but if you are only concerned with it extending while being carried it shouldn't pose any problems.

The Image Stablizing Feature is a God send to someone like me who could be half-way up an embankment and along comes this great little fox or bear cub or (well, you get the picture) and you are shooting without a plan. There have been plenty of times when my camera shake couldn't be corrected completely by this great little feature, but overall, 95% of the time it does. This is another reason why the weight of this lens helps with clearer hand held shots because you are less likely to move the camera when clicking the shutter with one that is lighter. Two Image Stablizing modes, one for straight on shots and one for panned shots (good for following birds in flight or an animal on the run). Unfortunately, unless you think about it beforehand if you are taking a still straight on shot and something comes running by you my first inclination is to take the shot and worry about the settings later. Unless I am pre-disposed to catching birds in flight or the like, I tend to forget to change the IS mode from straight to pan.

If you do use a tripod you must remember to shut off the IS mode or it will surely mess up your intended shot. It took me a few times of shooting with a tripod with the IS still on and wondering why the image was coming out so fuzzy. Was it my tripod? Ahh.... not the tripod but the IS was still on. Simple little step but an important one to remember.

Personally, I love this lens. It works really well for my intended use which is Nature photography. If I need a close-up shot or if I am shooting portraits I have other lens that are better suited. If you like to tromp around the woods like me and want a lens that is light and easy to use, this is it.