Canon EF 5,6 100-300mm L

On the hunt for an affordable telephoto zoom:
For the longest time, I was looking for a decent 100-300mm (or 400mm) lens. In the process, I completely overlooked the glass from the dawn of the Canon EF era, which is ironic, considering I started my career working in camera retail as a young man and knew these early models incredibly well.

For an earlier trip to Norway, I bought a Minolta AF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 APO to adapt to my Sony A7 III, but its underwhelming image quality left me disappointed.
 

But then I saw it: an "L-series" lens for under €200? A 100-300mm telephoto zoom? I didn't hesitate for a second and snatched it up in an auction. In the official Canon Camera Museum, the lens is highlighted with these specs:

"High-performance lens with 3x telephoto zoom ratio. Synthetic fluorite in Group 1 and UD glass in Group 2 achieve low refraction and low dispersion, effectively correcting chromatic and other aberrations. Resolution is high throughout all focal lengths, delivering sharp, crisp images. 0.25x magnification is possible at the 300mm focal length."

I’ve now put together two detailed videos about this hidden gem below. In the first clip, I analyze its optical performance on a modern 24-megapixel mirrorless body, the Sony A7 III, alongside a breakdown of its mechanics and autofocus speed.

On my most recent adventure through Varanger National Park in Norway, I pushed this classic lens to its limits on the Canon EOS 5DS R, Canon's absolute powerhouse of a 50-megapixel DSLR. Have fun watching, and I’m sure you’ll walk away with some fascinating insights about this lens!

Don't forget to check out the image gallery as well, featuring real-world sample photos shot entirely with the Canon EOS 5DS R and the Canon EF 100-300mm f/5.6L.