In response to the great popularity of the original EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 USM lens Canon has developed a more affordable alternative. The new EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 II USM lens offers virtually all of the outstanding features of the earlier model, including compact size, light weight and high performance as well as a wide range of focal lengths-from medium telephoto to telephoto. What has brought down the cost of this new model are the refinements in the materials used for certain mechanical parts, changes to the micro ultrasonic motor drive circuitry, and a revamping of the entire production process. Substantial economies in these areas mean that Canon's superior optics and advanced autofocus technologies will now be available to a much larger audience of EOS SLR users.