Thoughts on 70-300mm DO? UPDATE 2: Pretty good, but sold!

[neuroanatomist]

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have you considered adding the 135 f/2?

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I've definitely considered it, and still am. It's lower on my list, though, since getting the 70-200mm II.

You should definitely try it out before purchasing to see if you can accept the tradeoff you are going for. Personally, the "halo" effect caused by the DO elements also mentioned in the review would annoy me.

Definitely a good idea. My preference would have been to try out a new copy in a local shop, for comparison to the 70-200 II (which I know will have better IQ). Unfortunately, none of the shops have one in stock. If I were the CR Guy, I'd say that means a 70-300mm DO MkII is coming out soon.


I'm not too worried about the halo effect, provided it's limited to the OOF highlights.

Is this for your China trip? I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to take the "good-n-heavy" stuff everywhere you go...

Not really for serious travel - in that situation, I'd want my best lenses (likely kit at this point would include 17-55mm, 70-200mm II, 1.4x TC, and 430EX II, and probably the 10-22mm), and live with the weight and bulk. My only concession there will probably to get a smaller backpack-type bag for just that amount of stuff (Flipside 300, maybe).


My intended use for the 70-300mm DO would be local trips and 'grab shots' - situations where I want to cover a broad focal range but not carry many lenses or big, white lenses. It's unlikely that I'd need to print those shots larger than 8x10" or do much cropping.