Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens Review
The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens is the ultimate Canon professional field/track sports lens.
The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens has many striking features.
The first hits you when you put the 400 f/2.8 IS in your shopping cart - the price.
At this time, the 400 f/2.8 IS Lens is the second-highest-priced Canon EF lens made.
This purchase will set you back a significant 4 figures.
The second striking feature hits when you take the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens out of the box.
This lens is big and heavy.
Weighing 11.8 lbs, the 400 f/2.8 IS is 10g heavier than the
Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS USM Lens.
The 400 f/2.8 IS weighs 3.3 lbs more than the
Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
and 6.2 lbs (more than twice as much) as the
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens.
This 400 is definitely in the heavyweight class.
Size measurements are 6.4" x 13.7" (163.0mm x 349.0mm) without the included ET-155 lens hood installed.
What you get for the size and money is equally as striking.
Build quality is exceptional - the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens is at least as well built
as any Canon L Lens currently produced.
The 400 f/2.8 IS is definitely made to take the rigors of professional sports photography.
Weather sealing protects against dust and moisture - either of which is often present in the situations this lens is suited for.
The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens' superior optical quality will not disappoint.
Overall optical quality is simply excellent - color, contrast ...
Distortion is negligible, CA is extremely well controlled, vignetting is minor.
The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens is razor sharp corner-to-corner wide open and stopped down.
There are few lenses this sharp wide at their wide open apertures.
Sharpness in actual wide open shots is impressive.
Adding a Canon 1.4x Extender
to the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens yields a still-fast 560mm f/4 IS Lens
with only slight sharpness and contrast degradation and some additional CA and barrel distortion added.
Adding a Canon 2x Extender
will result in an 800mm f/5.6 lens that will autofocus on all Canon EOS bodies but will result in a bit more sharpness and contrast loss.
Combining 400mm telephoto compression with a fast f/2.8 aperture allows the subject to be isolated from a completely blurred background.
Look at the pictures in a professional sports magazine - In many shots, the background will be smooth blur of color - allowing the subject to clearly stand out.
Then look at the lenses being used on the sidelines of these games -
The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens will likely be the most-used lens there.
This lens is as good as lenses get for field sports (and other similar-distance-to-subject action sports) photography in this respect.
Very fast and very accurate focusing is another important attribute in an action sports lens.
The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens is a big winner in this respect as well.
Focus acquisition occurs very fast - and quietly.
AI Servo performance for action sports is excellent.
This 400 has a focus hit rate as high or higher than any similar sports lens I've used.
Ring USM (Ultrasonic Motor) has a part in this feature - FTM (Full Time manual focus) is enabled.
This lens includes a Focus Preset feature.
Set the Focus Preset to a specific distance - when your shooting needs require that specific distance, press the Focus Preset button.
A 3-position focus limiter switch allows focusing distances to be limited to a specific distance range - or to be unlimited (3 to 10m, 10m to infinity, 3m to infinity).
Limiting the focus distance range can improve focus lock times.
Autofocus Stop buttons near the objective lens allow autofocus to be temporarily stopped.
As you can derive from the focus limiter switch numbers, the 400 f/2.8 IS has a relatively long minimum focus distance of 9.8' (3m).
This focal length at this distance yields a not-too-exciting .15x maximum magnification.
An extension tube can help this issue, but maximum magnification is extended to only .19x and .23x with 12mm and 25mm
extension tubes respectively.
Image stabilization (IS) is another excellent feature in the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens.
Although not as important for stopping action in a sporting event,
IS is excellent for many other situations the 400 f/2.8 might be useful for - such as wildlife photography.
Wildlife tends to be most active in the low-light hours of the day.
The 400 f/2.8 IS's wide aperture, long focal length and IS make it an excellent wildlife lens.
The IS version installed in this lens is tripod-sensing.
The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens knows that a tripod is being used when vibrations go below a certain level.
Keep IS turned on when mounting this 400 on a tripod to take advantage of this secondary IS mode - reducing mirror slap, shutter and tripod vibrations.
Mode 1 and 2 (panning mode - 1 axis of stabilization only) stabilization are included.
Even though it has IS, do not expect to carry the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens around your neck and shoot it handheld as you wish.
Unless you are much stronger than most of us, you will find it too heavy for this type of use.
You will likely want to carry this lens in a backpack or over your should while attached to a sturdy
monopod or
tripod.
When in use, some form of support is generally desired.
Sports photographers often employ monopods
and wildlife photographers often employ tripods.
Even though a good tripod head such as the Arca-Swiss B1
is rated to hold far more weight than the 12 lb Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens, lens flop is a situation that can easily occur.
When adjusting the tripod head, a heavy lens can quickly fall forward - which then can topple the tripod - resulting in an expensive repair.
I highly recommend using the superb Wimberley Tripod Head II with this lens.
When properly attached to the Wimberley Head, the 400 f/2.8 IS can be positioned using only two fingers.
This head makes using a lens of this size/weight a simple endeavor.
I am using a Wimberley P50 Lens Plate on this lens as well.
Aren't they beautiful?! Pictured above from left to right are the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 IS L USM Lens, Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 IS L USM Lens and Canon EF 500mm f/4 IS L USM Lens. Stacked on the right side from top down are the lens hoods from the 300, 500 and 400. All lenses are pictured with optional Wimberley Lens Plates.
Pictured above from left to right is the
Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 IS L USM Lens,
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 IS L USM Lens and
Canon EF 500mm f/4 IS L USM Lens.
Like most of Canon's other super telephoto lenses, the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens comes in a nice
Canon hard lens case/trunk (overpriced at $500 or so if required to be purchased separately - unscrupulous retailers may omit this feature).
The Canon Lens Case 400 (about 11" x 12" x 23" / 25.74mm x 28.08mm x 53.82mm) is slightly larger than the Canon Lens Case 500.
This case should be small enough to qualify for a carry-on with most airlines - check with your specific airline before you leave home.
Also included is a neck strap and leather-like lens cap.
Also like most of Canon's super telephoto lenses, the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens utilizes 52mm drop-in filters.
Included is a drop-in gel filter holder with a glass filter installed.
This glass filter is also a nice way to catch dust before it drops deep inside the lens.
A protective objective lens element can be replaced relatively inexpensively should something unfortunate happen.
| Model | Dimensions w/o Hood | Weight | MFD | MM | |||
| Canon EF 200mm f/2 L IS USM Lens | 5.0 x 8.2" | (128 x 208mm) | 5.6 lbs. | (2,520g) | 6.2' | (1.9m) | |
| Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens | 5.0 x 9.9" | (128 x 252mm) | 5.6 lbs. | (2,550g) | 8.2' | (2.5m) | .13x |
| Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens | 6.4 x 13.7" | (163 x 349mm) | 11.8 lbs. | (5,370g) | 9.8' | (3.0m) | .15x |
| Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM Lens | 5.0 x 9.2" | (128 x 232.7mm) | 4.3 lbs. | (1,940g) | 11.5' | (3.5m) | .12x |
| Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS USM Lens | 5.8 x 15.2" | (146 x 387mm) | 8.5 lbs. | (3,870g) | 14.8' | (4.5m) | .12x |
| Canon EF 600mm f/4 L IS USM Lens | 6.6 x 18.0" | (168 x 456mm) | 11.8 lbs. | (5,360g) | 18.0' | (5.5m) | .12x |
| Canon EF 800mm f/5.6 L IS USM Lens | 6.4 x 18.1" | (162 x 461mm) | 9.9 lbs. | (4,500g) | 19.7' | (6.0m) | .14x |
If 300mm is enough focal length for you, I recommend you purchase the Canon EF 300mm f/2.8 L IS Lens. It performs similarly optically and physically but weighs and costs much less.
If you need more than 300mm of focal length and need an f/2.8 aperture to stop action in low light, the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens is the perfect lens. Track and field, soccer, football, baseball ... or anything else requiring a fast 400mm lens. The 400 f/2.8 IS L is simply an excellent sports and wildlife lens.
If wildlife (including small subjects such as birds) is your subject, consider the Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS Lens as well. Although you loose 1 f-stop, the 500mm f/4 IS L costs significantly less and is easier to take with you.
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens Sample Pictures ...
Recommended Shopping Resources
(Using these links to make your purchase supports this site)
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens at B&H Photo
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens at Amazon.com
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens at Adorama (Imported)
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens at Adorama
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens at 17th Street Photo
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens at J&R
Find the best price on the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
Rent the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens
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Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens at LensRentals.com
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM Lens at LensProToGo (Price includes round trip shipping)
* If out of stock, ask the rental company if they can accommodate your need.
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