Features

• Wide to telephoto 3.5x zoom lens ideal for landscape, full-length portraits, travel and portrait photographs
• Silent Wave Motor enables ultra-high-speed autofocusing with exceptional accuracy and powerful super-quiet operation
• M/A mode for quick switching between autofocus and manual focus operation
• Seven-blade rounded diaphragm achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements
• Internal Focusing technology for smoother focusing and a better balanced handling

Reviews (1)

Surprisingly Great Lens
This lens is probably the best lens I own.It focuses fast and it is very sharp.
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Features

• Rounded 7-blade aperture diaphragm
• One aspherical lens element
• G technology lets the user control aperture selection through the camera body
• Filter Size -62mm
• F-Stop Range -3.5-5.6 to 22

Features

• Sigma EX lens with 17-35mm zoom
• Incorporates aspherical lens elements in the front, as well as rear lens groups
• Equipped with a silent, responsive and fast Micro Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM)
• Incorporates internal focusing to prevent deterioration of the optical quality at close distances
• Use with Canon SLRs that are compatible with AF lenses

Reviews (3)

You get what you pay for
This lens in just ok.It is a little soft at the edges and at wide apertures.After using it for a few months I sold it to buy a Canon 17-40 f/4 L.The Canon is a stop slower and a couple hundred dollars more, but the images are sharper and it is weather sealed.I would invest the extra money in a Canon lens.

Good Lens, but Very Fragile
I was given this lens as a gift from my father after he'd used it for about 5 years.It broke on him twice before he gave it to me, and it broke on me shortly after he gave it to me--the aperture would stick and cause error messages on my EOS 10D.Between he and I, we've sent it off for repair service three times.When it works, it works well.It is sharp, had good color and takes good pictures.In fact, I really enjoy it.Be prepared to spend a lot of money on filters, though.At 82mm, good filters don't come cheap.This is a good lens, but it is likely to give you headaches.Consider buying Canon's 16-35mm or 17-40mm first; it may be worth the extra money.

One of the best Sigma lenses
Quite a sharp lens, did some very good shots until I replaced it with Canon 16-35 f/2.8. Overall I was very happy with it, the tiny little problem it is a very fragile lens (like most of Sigma lenses), and it needs a very special treatment, also the size of the filter is very big, makes it very expensive to buy 82mm C-PL for example. ... Read more

Features

• EF mount; standard zoom lens
• Internal focusing; full-time manual focus; aspherical lens; image stabilizer
• 28-135mm focal length
• f/3.5-5.6 maximum aperture
• Micro UltraSonic Motor (USM)

Reviews (57)

Never take it off
This is a great lens that can be used for almost everything.It is great if you only want to take one lens with you.Pictures are very sharp and the color is good.

Have been shooting with tis lens for about 5 months
This is the first IS lens that I've owned. I had trouble justifying the extra expense but am now quite pleased that I took the step up.
Excellent Walk-About Lens
I originally purchased a 30D with the low-end kit lens - to me the pricing didn't really make sense to get either the body or the higher-end IS kit lens. I was looking for a good all-purpose zoom with full-size sensor covereage in case I move up the Canon ranks to a new pro-level model in the future.
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Features

• 70-300mm focal length
• EF mount; telephoto zoom lens
• 3-stop Image Stabilizer for outstanding camera shake reduction
• Electro-magnetic diaphragm (EMD) helps create an attractive, even defocused background at large apertures
• Ring-type UltraSonic Motor (USM)

Reviews (19)

Fast AF, Excellent IS, good sharpness
I bought this lens to replace an EF 100-300mm (USM) that we had from my wife's film shooting days (not a common lens to have, apparently; the 75-300mm seems to be more widespread).That older lens produced some surprisingly good pictures (quite sharp), but handheld shots were hard to get right at long focal lengths.
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM Lens for Canon EOS SLR Cameras
Great company - delivered product on time. Tested out the lens in Mexico, Brazil, and Canada. When the automatic settings on camera (Canon 10D) were selected and pictures were taken outdoors with a lot of daylight, the background is overexposed. This results in things like clouds not being included in the picture. Manual settings and adjustments within the camera will remedy the problem. However, there is an expectation that lens from Canon should take quality pictures from the automatic setting. Otherwise the lens works great.

Canon 70-300mm IS Lens
This is a terrific lens, my new favorite.IS is an excellent feature; I wish all my lenses had it.Even with a 2X Teleconverter on, it is rock steady viewing and shooting. My images are sharp as a tack with great contrast and color.I'd have to pay three times this much to get any better telephoto images. ... Read more

Features

• Compact size and lightweight ultrasonic drive lens
• Compatible with Canon EOS SLR cameras
• Powerful 75-300mm zoom
• 9 elements in 13 groups
• Autofocus operation

Reviews (63)

Terrible choice, terrible resolution, terrible build quality
I bought this lens based on the super telephoto ability and low cost. You truly get what you pay for, and this thing isn't worth a plug nickel. I took a few shots on a tripod and could not believe how terrible this lens was @ 300mm (480mm on a Digital Rebel XT). Incredibly soft. Even stopped down, I would never want to make an enlargement from it. Stay away. Don't believe the fools who are novices, you will be disappointed with this lens. You're much better off to buy the older & used 100-300mm 5.6 (the L version costs more too) but both are so much better than this junker. You're even more crazy if you think you can take decent photo's with this lens handheld. Having switched from Nikon when switching to digital, I almost judged Canon from this one lens, which I'm glad I didn't. Don't waste your money or learn the hard way like I did. This lens also had terrible purple fringing, almost as bad as the kit 18-55mm. After extensive research and testing I now own and am happy with the following Canon lenses:
Excellent Budget Zoom
For the price, this is an excellent lens.On an APS sized sensor it is equivalent to 480mm at the long end.Some complain about it being a slow lense since the max aperture at full zoom is 5.6That just means you can't use it in low light and expect great results.If you want a fast lense at that length, however, be prepared to pay a lot of money.With the USM it focuses very fast.Works well for outdoor sports.My rating is based on what you get for the money.Of course it's not as good as L glass but it's way less money.

Nice but...
The lens is good for the price, but it comes with one problem that it drains the battery a lot faster because it is motor based zoom. Good for amateurs, if you have more money go for Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Zoom    2. EOS    3. Telephoto    4. (3)USM   

Features

• 24-105mm focal length excellent for reportage, event, travel, and celebrity photography
• EF mount; light zoom lens
• 3-stop Image Stabilizer for outstanding camera shake reduction
• Ultra-Low Dispersion glass (UD) element used to eliminate secondary chromatic aberrations
• Ring-type UltraSonic Motor (USM) employs ultra-sonic frequency vibrations to drive autofocus quickly and silently

Reviews (28)

Nice but...
Yes it is a very fine lens. IS and 105 mm long end are also appealing but after buying this I decided to sell it in favour of my EF 24-70 2.8L after 2 weeks of usage.
Superb lens for the XT/XTi
My first L lens and I'm sold. While I did spend a lot of time - a lot, this isn't a small purchase - on deciding between this and the 24-70/2.8, I feel I made the right decision. First, I took into account what I actually shot. Not what I thought about shooting or wanted to shoot, but what I really spent my time shooting. Then I backed that up by looking at the past six months' worth of photos. For me, this is the right choice.
Great lens which will stay on yourcamera
I own several Canon lens for my 20D and this is hands down the best.I had a 28-135 which was a very good lens regardless of some reviews, and I got many excellent photos with it - this is distinctly better in all ways.(Of course, it costs a lot more).Recently went with the grandchildred to Sea World and I got 100% good photos, with several really outstanding ones.It is light, accurate and has IS - what more do you want?You can replace a slew of lens with this one and perhaps selling the old ones will help pay for it.Bought it as soon as it was available and have not regretted it one moment.If you have one lens, this is the one. ... Read more

Features

• EF mount; ultra-wide zoom lens
• Super Ultra-low Dispersion glass; inner focusing; aspherical lens; full-time manual focus
• 17-40mm focal length
• f/4 constant maximum aperture
• Ring-type UltraSonic Motor (USM)

Reviews (35)

Excellent lens for APS-C cameras and full-frame alike
This lens produces magical images.I am stunned by its sharpness, contrast and color saturation.Simply amazing!This is a great option as a standard zoom for APS-C cameras and a great wide-angle option for full-frame.
Excellent sharpness, color saturation, and depth!
I am really glad that I bought this lens. It comes with hood which can be reversed when not in use so it is very useful. Leather pouch, front cap, and back cap is included. Focusing is super fast with USM.

Great color on any Canon camera
Don't listen to the reviews that claim that this lens is not a good choice for cropped sensor cameras (IE the 20D, 30D, Rebels etc) the Canon L lens are the best and this particular lens is no exception. I have had the lens for less than 24 hours now and am in love with the sharpness and color already.
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Editorial Review

The compact optical system of the Canon EF 70-200mm f4 L USM makes it a lightweight telephoto zoom lens. Its inner focusing ring and USM focus drive give it high speed, yet silent, autofocusing capabilities. The fluorite and super UD elements in the lens construction give you high image quality across all its focal lengths, and the nonrotating front lens makes it easy to use polarizing filters. ... Read more

Features

• EF mount; telephoto zoom lens
• Ultra-low Dispersion glass with Fluorite elements; inner focusing ring; full-time manual focus
• 70-200mm focal length
• f/4 constant maximum aperture
• Ring-type UltraSonic Motor (USM)

Reviews (61)

Just WOW
At first, I had a selection of third-party lenses. Nothing bad, just none that were spectacular. I was somewhat disappointed in the shots I got. Then I bought the 85/1.8 and saw the contrast and colors I was expecting. Since then, I've bought several Canon lenses and this one is my latest.
Amazing glass for the price
This is a great lens, amazingly sharp. Only thing I would say is if I had the money the 2.8 IS version would be even better and certainly something I'll consider as an upgrade in the future.
wow! what a lens
This is a great lens. I do not want to repeat all the good things other reviewers have written about this lens. It is not so heavy so I use tripod without using tripod collar (costs 119.99 in B & H). This is the best value I have ever got for a lens. Now I can't wait to get 17-40mm f4L too. You can get a very nice bokeh when wide open at any focal lengths, of course depending on the how far the background is from the subject.
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Features

• Compact and lightweight, this 4.3x autofocus zoom lens is ideal for candid shots, portraits, travel and sports photography
• Count on genuine Nikon optics for outstanding picture quality
• This is a G designated lens, not ED series -Nikon Part #1928
• Accepts 62mm filters (see sidebar)

Reviews (30)

Great Value - FYI
This lens is worth the few bucks it costs - no question about it - but it's true that it performs poorly in low light situations but for what it is supposed to do - it is a great value for a Nikon telephoto -I give it two thumbs up.There are many good tech specific reviews of this lens already posted here from those of us who use this lens and most of what was said,I agreed with.So the main reason I wanted to post my review was to give other future buyers of this lens a FYI.This very same lens is included in the "Nikon Zoom 300 SLR Digital Camera Accessory Kit 9983" -- which is what I purchased through Amazon.AND, if you can believe it, it costs about the same and you get more for your money.[a good nikon camera bag, an extended warranty for your camera as well as for the lens..]Anyway, I wouldn't have found this had another Nikon enthusiast not told me about it.So I wanted to pass on this tip -- in case anybody was interested in a few extra accessories with this lens.Hope the info helps.Yes, good lens and also the kit I mentioned is a fantastic buy.

Very nice zoom lens, not for low light or dark indoor though
First, I'm giving this 70-300mm lens a 5 stars rating partly because the price is inexpensive (which is good in my opinion). Usually you get what you paid for, however in this case you get much more than what you paid for.
you get what you pay for
I was amazed to find this lens for such a low price. I bought it with only a rudimentary knowledge of aperture.I only hand-hold my camera in a range of light settings from wedding ceremonies to outdoor parades, and every time I have used this, the images turn out fuzzy.I blame myself partially (of course!) but just wanted to mention to those of you out there who might be thinking about this that it is really only ok for outdoor situations where the light is bright and you are stable, shooting with a very steady hand. ... Read more

Features

• EF mount; standard zoom lens
• Ultra-low Dispersion glass with Fluorite elements; inner focusing ring; full-time manual focus; aspherical lens
• 24-70mm focal length
• f/2.8 constant maximum aperture
• Micro UltraSonic Motor (USM)

Reviews (37)

Compared to 24-105 4L IS
After using both lenses I think this is much better. Here are my reasons:
One of the best
This is a great lens. The pictures I take are very sharp and alive with color, and the brokeh is excellent. I am a big fan of keeping a shallow depth of field when shooting people or animals, so the f/2.8 helps out. Also dim wedding receptions are no problem with even the weak built in flash on my Rebel XT. The autofocus is practically silent, accurate and very fast.
The Best All Around? Maybe
I think it very well could be so I'm not going to differ with those who say it is.I bought this to use with a new 5D and itt's simply outstanding in every regard. So far, I've kept it on the 5D and can't bring myself to take it off.
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Editorial Review

The Canon EF 28-105 f/3.5-5.6 USM lens is a general-purpose wide-angle/zoom lens. Utilizing Canon's ultrasonic autofocus drive, the EF 28-105 canfocus on objects as close as 1.6 feet from any focal length. Utilizing the samehigh-quality optics as its predecessor (the EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM), theEF 28-105 features an updated housing design, which has a ring-type USM drivefor silent, high-speed autofocusing. ... Read more

Features

• EF mount; standard zoom lens
• Internal focusing; full-time manual focus
• 28-105mm focal length
• f/3.5-4.5 maximum aperture
• Ring-type UltraSonic Motor (USM)

Reviews (25)

marvelous lens from Canon
I'm very happy with this lens. It offer's an ample variety of options, high image quality and it is light.

Save your money for an l series lens
While this lens is a great improvement over the kit lenses the focus is often soft in raw modes and overal just not always tight. Color accuracy is very good, not perfect but very good. Of course color accuracy is more often a result of your paper (yes really - it is) than your lens after you get to a certain point. After using this lens for 2 months and shooting perhaps 20,000 shots with it I wished I had saved my money for the inevitable l series lens. If color accuracy is your main issue, be sure to look at your photo paper too. Hp, Kodak, and even low end papers from inkpress all do strang things to color and blur your images. Try someone like MOAB paper. You will be AMAZED at how much of a difference it will make in your color accuracy and detail. I just switched to Kokapelli from MOAB for commercial prints and am amazed by the results.
ALL ABOUT VALUE
I bought this lens to replace the kit lens on the Rebel XT. I find this lens to be a very good value, a very good value. I also have the canon 28-135 3.5 ... And find the 28-105 lens to be a very stong lens for the price. It might even be just a notch clearer then the 28-135 but at half the price. It's size is nice and light weight and fits nice on the Rebel since it is a smaller DSLR.
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Editorial Review

Canon raises the stakes for professional photography with its EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM telephoto lens with image stabilization. Thanks to a new triple-layered diffractive optical element (DO), this 70-300mm lens is less than 4 inches (10 cm) long. It can focus down to 4.6 feet (without rotating the front element) and a new zoom lock button keeps the lens safe and secure when not in use or used at the wide angle. A virtually silent ultra-sonic motor (USM) gives the lens extremely fast autofocus. The lens also includes Canon's Image Stabilization technology to dramatically reduce camera shake, compensating for approximately three stops in shutter speed without any perceptible increase in image blur. It's a great choice for professional photojournalists and serious advanced amateurs who need to contain the size and weight of equipment carried. Read more

Features

• Ultra-compact telephotozoom lens
• Incorporates Canon's Image Stabilization (IS) technology
• Super-fast and silent with a ring-type USM; focuses down to4.6 feet without rotating the front element
• Optimized to suppress ghosting and flaring, ideal for use with digital cameras
• Zoom lockbutton keeps the lens safe and secure when not in use or used at thewideangle

Reviews (11)

Great travel lens: light and small for a quality 70-300mm zoom
I bought this to have a good zoom to pair with my Rebel XT (350D) on backpacking trips. It weighs far less than the other options at the same size (particularly the L glass). Additionally, it is physically small for such a high power zoom. This combined with its being black makes it a fun lens to "walk around with" for candid shots since it doesn't draw much attention. As for backpacking, it is fabulous: light, small, and gives me a reasonable amount of reach for wildlife and nature shots. I've not yet paired it with a teleconverter, but, I intend to do so.
A excellent lens, compact, good traveler
I bought this lens at the same time I bought the 20D -- when the camera was first sold. It's not the lightest lens around, but it's compact, quick focusing and has few if any discernible faults. It doesn't stick out in a crowd, at least until you rack it out with the hood on.
A very well designed telephoto lens with more accessories
I like the DO (Diffractive Optics) of this lens. It's great to take pictures from a distance without using a long, bulky lens that makes me stand out like a sore thumb. Even though it is heavy, the IS (Image Stabilizer) compensates well for the shaking as I line up my shots. The dual IS switch for either full IS or panning shots (think following running players on a field) is a very nice feature.
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Editorial Review

EOS users looking for an all-purpose lens would do well to select theCanon EF 28-200 f/3.5-5.6 USM. The minimum aperture setting is f/22 at a focallength of 28mm, and the EF 28-200 has a minimum focus distance of 17.7 inches atany focal length. An inner focus ring allows the EF 28-200 to focus withoutrotating the outer half of the lens barrel, which is great for photographers whoutilize filters. The autofocus uses Canon's micro USM drive for smooth and quietoperation. ... Read more

Features

• EF mount; standard zoom lens
• Internal focusing; aspherical lens
• 28-200mm focal length
• f/3.5-5.6 maximum aperture
• Micro UltraSonic Motor (USM)

Reviews (12)

Good All-Purpose Lens
If you're a professional photographer, you can probably ignore this review. But then you probably won't be thinking about buying this lens anyway, as you'll be off to purchase a nice L series.
Abso-bloomin brilliant!
What a wonderful lens!!I'm purely a hobby shooter, but I do like to take nice shots.I took this to the zoo the other day and was able to take fantastic closeups of the polar bears, even through glass, and pick out the details on the butterfly wings.The lens is not as heavy as I had feared, and unlike some zooms it does not telescope out under its own weight, so it was comfortable enough to keep carrying all day.I'm using it on a Canon D60 and am nothing but pleased with the performance so far.

High Quality Lens
I purchased this lens for my Canon EOS 20D digital camera and so far I really like it.It focuses fast and produces very sharp, clear images.As with any longer lens you do have to be careful about camera shake; I've had a few images come out blurry but these are usually interior shots.I really like the 28-200mm focal length range and find the lens to be very versatile for framing wide shots of buildings or landscapes to zoomed in shots for portraits or close detail shots.The lens feels solid and appears to be well constructed, which is typical for Canon products.For the price range, this is an excellent lens.You can only do better by spending considerable more money on an IS lens. ... Read more

Features

• EF mount; telephoto zoom lens
• Ultra-low Dispersion glass; inner focusing; full-time manual focus
• 70-200mm focal length
• f2.8 constant maximum aperture
• UltraSonic Motor (USM)

Reviews (13)

If you're undecided over the f/2.8 or the f/4 version of this lens...
...there are two things that you should know.The first is that the f/2.8 version of this lens is big and heavy.The second is that the f/2.8 version of this lens is the more versatile and, therefore, the more useful of the two choices.
Holy Cow - now that's a lens
I forgot my wife's birthday and she subsequently hinted that she wanted a telephoto lens... I started by looking at the cheap ones, but decided, that I might as well do it right if I were going to do it at all. When it arrived, my wife took it out of the box and we were both stunned by how massive this lense was.It's heavier than you might think as well (which means that the mounting ring that come packaged with this lens is an absolute God-send).
This really is a great lens
I have a few 'L' lens, and this is by far my favorite. Reviews saying this is their favorite lens are not kidding. There are plenty of other reviews going over all the features, but I would like to add to the IS v Non-IS.
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Features

• Compact, lightweight G-type fast 2.9x telephoto zoom with Vibration Reduction
• VR operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed 3 stops (eight times) faster
• Holds fast and constant f2.8 maximum aperture through the entire focal range
• Built-in Single Wave Motor for ultra-fast, ultra-quiet AF operation
• Five ED glass elements for higher optical performance

Reviews (7)

A fantastic lens: Really!!
This lens is superb.It feels like a high quality pro lens (not surprisingly).The shots are just stunning; fantastic color, razor sharp, beautiful bokeh etc etc.I initially considered the 18-200(VR) until I saw comments about this lens.Look into it, from what I can tell there is very little (real) comparison between the two.I believe you will forget how much you paid as soon as you see the results.Did I mention this lens is superb....??

Fantastic experience at the British Museum with the 70-200mm VR
This lens has so many uses.Anytime I can position myself where my subject is more than five feet away, this is my lens of choice.I have the kit 18-70mm that came with the D70 and a 50mm prime (I have the 18-200 VR is on order, and if Nikon can ever get around to catching up with demand, that lens might surpass this one, due to the smaller weight - plus it is a lot cheaper).
The Bomb
This is it.I upgraded from the Sigma EX f2.8 80-200.I should have spent the money for the Nikon the first time.The Sigma is a very nice lens for less, and a good alternative, but if you want it all, go for the Nikon.Leave your tripod at home when you get this glass.I don't know how this compares, but I'm shooting hand held with 1/30s shutter at full zoom (35mm equivalent of 300mm).The VR is phenomenal, the wide aperature delivers beautiful blur, and the overall fit and construction is flawless.Tack sharp images too. ... Read more

Features

• EF mount; telephoto zoom lens
• 13 elements in 9 groups lens construction
• 75-300mm focal length
• f/4-5.6 maximum aperture
• Micromotor autofocus

Reviews (23)

Great Lens
This lens is a wonderful starter lens. A professional might want a little upgrade, but this is just right for someone starting out.

Good lens, but check out some others
This is a solid telephoto zoom for the amatuer photographer.However, the Canon EF 75-300 USM is a tad quieter, is exactly the same optics, and is often sold on Amazon at the same price as this lens (normally there is about $30 difference).
Is this lens as bad as some people say it is?
No it's not especially if you take into account its intended users. If you use a Canon digital SLR and are satisfied with the kit lens (18-55) then buying this lens can be the perfect next step for you. Practically speaking, you will be able to increase your zoom reach to the point where you can A) photograph birds in moderately distant trees, B) be able to zoom in on the other side of a valley and frame something of your interest. Those are just two examples. One thing you will NOT be able to do effectively with this lens, however, is to take sport shots with it. How so? Consider some of the following weakness:
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Features

• Compact 3.8X zoom covers portrait to wide view (76' at 18mm to 22 50' at 70mm)
• Optimized DX lens design is compatible with every Nikon D-Series digital SLR cameras
• Three Nikon ED glass elements, plus aspheric element for low distortion and minimized chromatic aberration
• Exclusive Silent Wave Motor for high-speed auto-focusing with accuracy and super-quiet operation

Reviews (7)

A Great Lens for the Price
I actually would have never bought this lens, but it allowed me to get my D200 back in December when they were hard to find and back ordered most places(I got the kit with the lens included which had less of a demand than just the single body w/o any lens).However I'm glad I have this lens now.It works as an all around mid-range zoom - the D200 focal magnification makes this a 28-105mm lens.The lens isn't as sharp, fast or sturdy as the pro lens that cost over $1000, however I've done serious work with lens with great results.And it is light and quick enough so it allows me to take my D200 everywhere.
Average Quality kit lens - overpriced and outdone by cheaper 18-55
This lens came with my D200 kit. I found its quality lacking, and prefer the Sigma 17-70 (same price) and the much cheaper Nikon 18-55 (see my review under that lens). There is significant barrel distortion at the 18 focal point, the lens is heavy, and both the Sigma 17-70 as well as the Nikon 18-55 produce sharper photos. The extra 55-70 focal distance adds little to the third-the-price, less than half-weight 18-55. This lens is what I consider a standard good "Kit" lens. If you are a Nikkor-brand snob, then it will suit you fine. If not, look a the Sigma 17-70 for the same focal distance, or the Nikon 18-55 for a general excellent quality light walk-around all-purpose lens.

Excellent kit lens
As most people I guess, I got this lens as part of the D70 kit. The D70 plus this lens make a great kit at a reasonable price. Things I liked -
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Features

• Compact, lightweight 5x telephoto zoom lens
• Vibration Reduction operation offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed three stops faster
• VR automatically detected during panning operation
• Three ED glass elements ensure superior optical performance
• Nine-blade rounded diaphragm achieves a natural blur for out-of-focus elements

Reviews (7)

Great Lens!
I have to agree with most of the reviews here. It's heavy and not particularly quick focusing, but makes great pictures. I moved up from a 70-300 Nikkor, and it was well worth it. Having the extra 100mm is wonderful (essentially it's like a 600mm lens on a 35mm). And the VR is fantastic. One of the best endorsements for it is the number of times I've heard "You took that handheld?". Closer minimum focusing distance would be nice, but I have no real complaints about this lens.
You love it you hate it
This is the absolutely best lens I have ever used but it can also be the most frustrating. After 6 months, with this lens on my D70 most of the time, I have hundreds of magnificent bird and animal photographs including hand held shots in fading light with an effective 35mm focal length of 600mm at f5.6 and 1/100 sec that are razor sharp thanks to vibration reduction. A bonus is that the magnification outweighs the longer focusing distance and you can actually get great close-ups of butterflies etc. As far as I can see you are never going to be able to fault the optics with a 6 Mpixel sensor. The VR technology gives you 2 stops most of the time and 3 stops enough of the time to be always worth a go. But there is a big cautionary tale. The focusing on this lens is slow! It can also get confused and seemingly refuse to focus for no good reason. (You have to refocus on something totally different and then switch back to your subject hoping it is still there!) I have lost a lot of shots while the focus motor is whirring backwards and forwards and then cursed the lens until I see the next really great shot and all is forgiven. It took me about 3 months and 1000 shots to get really familiar with the lens and the shooting techniques needed. On the D70 I generally push the ISO speed up to 400 when I mount the lens to compensate for the narrower f-stop range and I switch to central spot focus to get the best chance of controlling the slow focus problem. For the sort of subjects I like, aperture priority is usually the best approach - sometimes switching to full manual when there is time to set things up. Manual focus is always an option but the D70's "eyes" are sharper than mine so persisting with auto focus remains my preference. I use the focus limit option switch a lot and I leave the full VR option on nearly all the time. With my other lenses I generally keep about 1/3 of the shots I take, with this lens the ratio drops to about 1/4 or 1/5 but stick a big CF card in your Nikon and just take everything many times. This lens has revolutionized my photography and I love it much more than hate it.

A real winner
Bought for a safari in Africa in large part based on other Amazon reviews - and am very satisfied.Contrary to one of these reviews I find the lens quite light for what it does.Only issue is that it really is a bit slow and not ideal for very low light situations.
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Features

• For Canon EOS SLR cameras
• Offers true telephoto capability
• Ideal for a variety of applications including sports and wildlife shooting

Reviews (3)

Easily worth the price.
The auto focus is faster then I expected based on other reviews.The lens is pretty darn slow.Don't expect any decent shutter speeds for anything but very bright conditions.
Great low-cost lens
With lenses, the rule of thumb is, more often than not, "you get what you pay for" - having said that, this lens is an exception. This is a great price for a lens in this focal range. While I'm sure there are better quality lenses out there (if you want to spend a lot more money), for an under $200 lens, this one's great! Construction is solid and the lens feels sturdy and not at all cheap. Auto focus is reasonably fast and manual focusing feels quite comfortable. The level of sharpness and overall image quality from this lens has been just fantastic. I have no complaints at all and am very happy with this lens. I'd reccommend it to anyone looking for an inexpensive lens in this range.

Great for dummies!
I use this lense a lot for capturing wild life and the first time I used it I couldn't believe what I was seeing.The autofocus mode is quick for those split second opportunity shots.It also does well as a macro lense so it serves a dual purpose.Did I also mention that I am just an amateur photographer?This lense is really easy to use too! ... Read more