Canon EF 300 mm f/2.8 L IS II USM
4. Image resolution
Before we discuss the results the tested lens got in our test, it is worth reminding here how other fixed-focal telephoto lenses, produced by Canon, fared. For example the Canon EF 135 mm f/2.0L USM reached a maximum value of 43.2 lpmm. The EF 200 mm f/2.8L USM II was a bit better as it went as high as 43.8 lpmm. These are quite old instruments which might have difficulties in breaking any resolution records. Let’s look at definitely newer Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro, which is additionally a macro lens as its name indicates, and such devices are often among the sharpest one. The maximum result, reached by it, is sensational indeed and amounts to 46.2 ± 0.6 lpmm.
Now let’s check how the new Canon 2.8/300 compares here.
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What can be said, just one word comes to your mind – a revelation! Already at the maximum relative aperture the lens gets to simply brilliant level of 43 lpmm. It’s worth emphasizing that this value is more or less the same as the maximum results of such classic instruments like the 135L or 200L, mentioned before. What’s more, the maximum value, reached by f/4.0, amounts to as much as 45.0 ± 0.7 lpmm. It is a bit lower than in the case of the EF 100L Macro but you should remember that those two results overlap each other within the margin of error. What’s more, “telephoto” lenses usually have a bit lower MTFs than lenses with shorter focal lengths because of a bigger distance from a testing chart and their greater susceptibility to interferences. Taking all those into account you can boldly say that the resolution values of the Canon 2.8/300 are on a level which is very close to records.
The edge of the frame is as good. At the maximum relative aperture, on the edge of the APS-C sensor and on a very demanding edge of full frame as well, the results are excellent. In the case of the former the lens gets to almost 38 lpmm and in the case of the latter – to 37 lpmm. Such a performance is really beyond reproach and any attempts to find weaknesses would be tantamount to picking holes. A round of applause!
Below we present crops of our resolution testing chart, taken from JPEG files which were saved alongside with RAW files, used for the analysis, posted above.
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