The powerful, yet reasonably priced, EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM will appeal to nature and sports photographers looking to achieve sharper images when shooting handheld. When fitted to an EOS camera containing an APS-C sized sensor, the lens gives an angle of view roughly equivalent to a 112-480mm lens on a full-frame DSLR.
The EF 70-300mm f/5-5.6 IS USM features a three-stop Image Stabilizer (IS), making this an ideal lens for handheld work. Shutter speeds up to three stops slower than would be otherwise possible can be used with no perceptible increase in image blur. When panning horizontally, the IS system can be set to correct only for unwanted vertical shake, and the system switches off when the camera is mounted on a tripod.
A UD (ultra-low dispersion) glass lens element corrects for chromatic aberrations and provides high resolution and contrast throughout the zoom range. Only environmentally friendly lead-free glass is used in the lens construction.
Super Spectra coatings ensure accurate colour balance and enhance contrast. They also reduce flare and ghosting – a common problem caused by light bouncing off a camera's sensor.
A virtually circular aperture diaphragm, which is controlled electromagnetically, gives out-of-focus regions a softer, more even feel, and lets in-focus subjects stand out against a blurred background.
A ultrasonic motor drives autofocus extremely quickly, and in near silence. Excellent holding torque ensures the point of focus is reached accurately, without overshooting.