When Would You Use a 70-300mm Lens?

If you have been capturing photos for a while, you should look into more professional lenses on the market. One of these is a telephoto lens with a range of 70-300mm. Before you make the purchase, you might wonder, when would you use a 70-300mm lens?

When Would You Use a 70-300mm Lens?

You would use a 70-300mm lens while primarily capturing wildlife or sport photos thanks to its high magnification rate of 4.29 and zoom range. Because this is a telephoto lens, its zoom range is versatile enough to be used for other types of photography, such as portraiture.

70-300mm Lens Features

The 70-300mm lens is a telephoto lens with a variable focal length which gives you a lot of flexibility. It has an aperture range of f/4.5-5.6. Its lens construction consists of 17 elements in 12 groups allows you to capture sharp images.

It weighs 26.3 ounces and has dimensions of 3.1 x 5.6 inches. This is lighter than most lenses and allows you to capture photos for extended sessions without getting tired. Moreover, this lens comes with a Vibration Reduction technology as well as a silent focus motor that can help capture action and wildlife photography.

Wildlife Photography

The 70-300mm lens is an ideal lens for photographing wildlife. While a focal length over 300mm is sometimes preferred for wildlife photography (to get a closer zoom in on the animal), 300mm is also a great choice as it allows you to zoom in on the animal with a magnification of 4.3x.

Moreover, its extremely silent autofocus, thanks to the silent focus motor technology, helps you stay hidden and capture the animals in their natural habitat. If you have to capture photographs while being on the move, the Vibration Reduction (VR) technology reduces camera shake by offering a shutter speed 2.5 stops faster.

This lens’s narrow aperture allows you to capture very sharp images of the animals. Also, the VR technology allows you to capture at a lower shutter speed while reducing chances of motion blur. Furthermore, you can capture blurred backgrounds with this lens, which can make for great animal photos.

Using a Teleconverter During Wildlife Photography

This lens does not have the magnification range of a professional wildlife photography lens, and this can be improved by using a teleconverter. A teleconverter allows you to increase the magnification of a lens and give a better magnifying effect.

Therefore, you can use a teleconverter to improve wildlife photography with this lens by being able to capture photos from further away. However, it might take time for you to attach this to your camera and take it off during the photography session.

Sports Photography

This lens can be used for sports photography due to its ability to zoom. This allows you to capture players from far away. Also, its accurate autofocus and VR technology allow you to capture action photography while minimizing motion blur.

Moreover, its stepping motor technology even allows you to capture high action videos. This technology drives the autofocus and allows you to focus quietly.

Portraiture

While some might consider this an unconventional use of a 70-300mm lens, it can be used to capture portraits too. While the narrow aperture does not allow you to capture much bokeh, you can still capture sharp, contextual portraits at the 70mm focal length. This refers to capturing the background as well as the subject.

Disadvantages of Using a 70-300mm Lens

Even though the 70-300mm is a versatile lens with a wide variety of uses, it has the following disadvantages:

• Non Durable: This lens has a plastic body that is prone to breakages if dropped. This is likely while capturing photos in the wild.
• No Weatherproofing: There is no weatherproofing on this lens which can cause damage if water seeps into it. This is especially harmful considering that this lens has to be used outdoors most of the time.
• Poor in Low Light Conditions: This lens has a narrow aperture range. This allows less light to enter the camera which means this lens performs poorly in low light conditions. You have to increase the ISO levels, which can result in grainy images.
• Heavy: This lens is heavy at 26.3 ounces and is pretty bulky. This reduces portability and means you get tired if you use it extensively.

Related Questions

How Far Can You See With a Lens With a Focal Length Range of 70-300mm?

You can see and capture 15 to 56 yards away with a lens with a focal length range of 70-300mm. You can see even further if you have a teleconverter, depending on its range.

Is a 70-300mm Range Good for Street Photography?

A 70-300mm range is not good for street photography because it does not have a wide field of view. Moreover, it cannot perform under low light conditions, so you cannot easily capture street photos at night.

Conclusion

You would use a 70-300mm lens mostly for sports and wildlife photography. This is due to accurate autofocus and VR technology. However, this lens has some downsides, such as poor durability and being heavy.