Quick answer
A compact 300mm telephoto with image stabilization and an f/4 aperture. A long-standing wildlife and sports lens that takes extenders.
Pros
- Light for a 300mm
- Image stabilization
- Compatible with extenders
- Sharp
Cons
- Older ring USM motor
- Only f/4
- Long hood adds bulk
Verdict
A lighter supertelephoto that works well with extenders. The 100-400 II is the zoom alternative.
About this lens
Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM: a telephoto prime lens with a 300mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/4, made for Canon EF mount cameras, from the Canon L series with Image Stabilizer and ultrasonic-motor autofocus. A relatively portable L-series telephoto prime for wildlife and sports.
Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon EF
- Focal length
- 300mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/300.0
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 1997
- Optical construction
- 15 elements in 11 groups
- Aperture blades
- 8
- Image stabilization
- Yes
- Autofocus motor
- USM
- Minimum focus distance
- 1.5 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.24x
- Filter thread
- 77 mm
- Weight
- 1190 g
- Length
- 221 mm
- Diameter
- 90 mm
Specification source: global.canon
What can you shoot with the Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM?
- Wildlife
- Field sports
- Aviation
Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
Full-frame equivalent and field of view
Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.
| Sensor | Crop | Equivalent | Horizontal FOV | Diagonal FOV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 1.0x | 300mm | 6.9° | 8.2° |
| APS-C | 1.6x | 480mm | 4.3° | 5.2° |
Frequently asked questions
Can the Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS be used with a 1.4x extender?
Yes, it works with Canon's 1.4x extender, giving 420mm f/5.6. Autofocus remains available on most EOS bodies at that aperture.
Does the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM have image stabilization?
Yes, it has built-in IS, which helps handheld shooting at 300mm. The stabilizer is an older design than on recent supertelephotos.
EF 300mm f/4L IS vs EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II?
The prime is lighter and a stop faster at 300mm. The zoom is more flexible and reaches 400mm without an extender.
Alternatives for Canon EF from other brands
All Canon EF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
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