Looking to find more information regarding the Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM? Read our latest review to learn more about the Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM, its specifications, and if it’s a good camera lens for you.
Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM Specifications
The Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM was first announced on 01/06/1990 with a Canon EF mount type. Below is a summary of this lens’s specifications:
Indicative Price: $300
Focal Range: 100-300
Aperture: F/ 4.5-5.6
Filter Diameter (millimeters): 58
Maximum Diameter (millimeters): 73
Number Of Lenses: 13
Length (millimeters): 121.5
AF Motor: USM
Stabilization: None
Zoom Type: Ring
Tripod Mount: None
Colors Available: Black
Manual Focus: Yes
Weight (grams): 540
How Does Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM Score?
Below are the lens metric scores we’ve measured for this specific lens:
- Sharpness: 2.5/10
- Transmission: 3/10
- Vignetting: 6/10
- Chromatic Aberration: 7/10
- Distortion: 3.5/10
Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM Performance
The focus is not an auto-focus type. The Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM lens has a ring type zoom, which is not smooth to operate due to the stiffness of the zooming action. The focus ring also does not rotate during auto-focus operation, but it does however rotate when manually focusing this lens. The AF speed is moderately quick.
The Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM lens does not offer an image stabilization feature which can lead to camera shake when photographing in low light conditions or at maximum 300mm focal length range. Something to keep in mind is the bokeh quality of this lens, which is not very good. This lens is not weather sealed which may be an issue if you are taking pictures in wet conditions without a waterproof camera housing.
The Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM lens has medium sharpness when used at 300mm focal length range, but its overall score drops down to 2.5 when used throughout its entire focal length range from 100mm to 300mm. Typically, lenses with a score of 2 or below are not considered sharp enough for professional photography use.
Another area to note is the ergonomics of the lens. It’s smooth to operate, but it can be improved if Canon would offer better focus and zoom rings. The lens weight is 540g which is not too heavy.
Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM Pros & Cons
Below are the pros and cons of Canon EF 100-300mm f /4.5-5.6 USM lens:
Pros: light construction, can be easily handheld because it’s lightweight, reliable AF performance Cons: the lack of stabilization feature is a drawback when photographing in low light conditions or at long focal lengths, the bokeh quality is not good and that means that this may not be the best lens to use when taking pictures of your kids or pets, the lens is not weather sealed so you will want to take special care if you are planning on photographing outside in rainy conditions.
