The 300mm f/2.8 IS is one of Canon's very best lenses. Optically it's about as close to perfect as you'll find. It's not too heavy, and the excellent Image Stabilization system delivers 3 stops of anti-shake compensation, so it's very popular with sports photographers. It can be used hand-held, but a tripod or monopod is recommended.

This lens works very well with Canon Extenders (teleconverters) and it will still deliver superb image quality. The 1.4x Extender makes it a 420mm f/4 lens and the 2x Extender makes it a 600mm f/5.6 lens; both of these combinations will autofocus on all EOS cameras.

Suggested extra: You might find the Manfrotto MN393 long lens bracket useful when mounting this lens on a monopod or tripod.