Hi Dan,
Even Canon acknowledges that the IS version is not up to the level of
the 300/4L. In the technical report on the 300/4 IS, they say that
"optical performance is *almost* the same as the 300/4L" (emphasis mine).
However, it is necessary to remember that Photodo only tests a single
sample of each lens. It is possible that each model would have enough
variation that the best IS sample could be much better than the worst
non-IS. It is impossible to know.
I have the IS lens, and I can tell you that it is extremely sharp. I
often use it interchangeably with my 100 USM macro because 1. It focuses
to 1.5 meters (.24x) without an extension tube (the old one doesn't
focus nearly this close IIRC), 2. it provides greater working distance,
and most important, I can hand hold it down to about 1/50th sec.
reliably, which is better than I can do with the non-IS macro (Canon,
hurry up with that 100 Macro IS...).
Anyway, it is an incredible lens, and at with 100 ASA slide film, your
shutter speeds will often be slow enough that the IS version will have
the sharpness advantage due to camera movement with the non USM sample.
I would never trade mine in on a non-IS version--in fact, I am getting
ready to trade it, but only for a 300/2.8 *with* IS, even though I could
have got the non IS 2.8 much cheaper!
Just my opinions on it. Also, if anyone is interested in my 300/4 IS,
drop me a line. I am ready to sell it as I just ordered the 300/2.8.
Mike
Dan Honemann wrote:
>
> This has probably been addressed before, but I can't seem to find it
> in the archives.... Why does the IS version of the 300/4L score such
> low marks (3.4) compared to the older, non-IS version (4.3)? I
> thought they both used the same optical forumla; can the extra
> elements for IS really degrade performance _that_ much?
>
> Dan
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