I own the 30D currently and cannot stand the stock lense!

Rebates end July 15, IIRC.

Took these with it. I would like something with a bigger opening but I guess its good for the money and since I dont have much of that then I will stick with what I got.<ul><li><a href="http://forums.audiworld.com/photo/msgs/7162.phtml">http://forums.audiworld.com/photo/msgs/7162.phtml</a></li></ul>

<a href="https://www.web-rebates.com/canon/graphics/CIWC-SP06.pdf">Canon rebate pdf</a><ul><li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home</a</li></ul>

I still don't understand why they are that white color (noob, I know) does it mean or signify anything such as flagship series? I just want a blurry glaussin background for shots so that the part of car I focus in on is all that comes out. Simply put lol.

3.9 rating at photodo.com
Powerful, sharp, very affordable. See link below the picture.

For the rare occasion you really need an even longer lens, add the Sigma 1.4x or the 2x converter for this lens.

I just bought this lens and am very happy with it. The 2x converter is on its way.

I took this picture a day or two ago with the Sigma at 200 mm. It is a crop (approx 1/4 of total image).

<img src="http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e363/Sharpshooter1/Bird2.jpg"><ul><li><a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci=1&amp;sb=ps&amp;pn=1&amp;sq=desc&amp;InitialSearch=yes&amp;O=R ootPage.jsp&amp;A=search&amp;Q=*&amp;bhs=t&amp;shs=sigma+70-200&amp;image.x=8&amp;image.y=10">Sigma 70-200 at B&amp;H</a

these guys are absolutely legit - I bough the 120-300 2.8 from them a year or so ago.

Their lenses are "gray market" and come with Sigma's 1 year warranty instead of usual 4, but Sigma USA is pretty good about covering them even after the 1 year...

A word of caution about Sigma lenses with Canon bodies - beside the fact that they may have to be rechipped in a few years in order to work with future Canon cameras:

If you do a lot of AI Servo tracking, Sigma lenses that I've used are not as consistent as Canon lenses.<ul><li><a href="http://www.sigma4less.com/sess/utn;jsessionid=1544560f805a86a/shopdata/0020_Lenses/0010_Zoom/0040_Tele+Zoom/product_details.shopscript?article=0210_Sigma%2B70-200mm%2Bf%3D26slash%3D3B2%3D252E8%2BEX%2BDG%2BAPO% 2BHSM%2Bfor%2BCanon%2BAF

Canon's official explanation: white color is to protect the fluorite lens elements from overheating. Canon started painting their supertele lenses white from old FD mount days in the eighties.

In reality, not all Canon's white lenses have fluorite elements in them. Of course there's a marketing spin to this as well - Canon's white lenses are immediately recognizeable in photo pits at major sporting events etc.

To answer your question about the background blur - if that's important to you, go for a "faster" lens, meaning the lens with a larger maximum aperture (smaller F number, i.e. f/2.8 instead of f/4) - from the same distance to the subject, the larger the aperture, the more blurred the background will be...

He just got the 70-200 2.8 IS and the 1.4x extender, so he doesn't need his 70-300 anymore. He keeps all of his stuff in mint condition. Let me know if you're interested.

70-200
Slightly better image quality - professional L series lens
Internal focusing
Fixed f/4 aperture throughout the zoom range
White
Better resale (due to the L label)

70-300
Longer reach
Image Stabilization
Slightly lighter and smaller
Not white (less conspicuous)

70-200

better build
better seal against weather/dust
no moving barrels
hood comes standard
can accept a tripod mount ring (if you need that kinda thing)