The Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens In-Depth Review

[@edwardtye4119]

I bought one of these yesterday, I found it sharpest at f/6.3 - my copy is perfectly pin-sharp, and I'm extremely pleased with it.

[@edwarddoyle5585]

Great review, my new Canon 100-400 zoom lens arrives on Monday. I bought a refurbished mark II for $1619 USD, the most expensive lens in my bag. I'm taking it to Pensacola for the Navy airshow starring the Blue Angels so I'm sure it will get plenty of use. I bought this lens mainly for birding and airshows. Your video confirmed my opinion of this lens.

[@costindan6180]

You got the IS modes wrong, 1 is stabilizing vertically and horizontally, starts when shutter button is pressed halfway, 2 is detecting the panning direction and stabilizing only in an axis perpendicular to the panning direction, starts the same as 1 and 3 is like 1 and 2 combined (if panning stabilized only on the perpendicular axis to panning, if not panning stabilizes both axis) but it only works during the actual exposure, when shutter button is pressed halfway it only starts stabilization computation, not the actual movement of the glass inside the lens thus making it easier to track subject before the photo is taken.

[@StefanZivkovicMedia]

Absolutely fantastic review, you should get more recognition

[@bobyktm]

Thanks, I purchased mine, will get it tomorrow!!!

[@lawrencelam1820]

Hi James, someone said that the lens' tele-end is shorter than 400mm by significant percentage, do you have any comment on the same? I'm considering a purchase between the lens and RF100-500.

[@diederikmuld3r]

Mode 2 is for panning..

[@mvp_kryptonite]

Also mode 3 is for IS at the point of image capture so you have a unstable view finder

[@PatHouseworth]

My new one just arrived yesterday, pricy for sure, but I hope it fills the bill for my needs...

[@lmallard3788]

I bought mine new from canon on sale for $1800 usd, a couple of years ago. I had heard one youtube video where the focal range was tested and they said the lens does not go to a field of view of 400mm, but rather a 320? mm. I have not been able to see if anyone else agrees with that assessment.

[@djking9828]

Well done, thanks!

[@RICHARDPAUL-jn5hv]

Great review, I actually purchased a Sigma 100-400mm lens which I am generally pleased with, especially the lighter weight. I however I found the autofocus tracking/image stabilisation to be disappointing with several blurred images of aircraft at airshows. In my mind the Canon 100-400m lens is a much superior lens and had better muscle strength and stronger finances existed I would definitely have bought the Canon lens instead.

[@adude394]

Sounds similar to me. I had a Sigma 100-400 as well, which I used with my 1DX Mk III and 7D Mk II. While it certainly wasn't a bad lens, I decided to try to keep all of my gear Canon, so I traded in the Sigma and got the Canon, which just came yesterday. I've already taken several hundred shots with it using the 1DX, and I do feel it's a definitely step up from the Sigma.

[@RICHARDPAUL-jn5hv]

Enjoy, I am sure that the Canon lens will serve you very well. I shall continue to use my Canon EOS 90D + Sigma 100-400 for the foreseeable future although my dream kit would be an EOS R5 camera + RF 100-500 L series lens.

[@martinbyrne6643]

Great review I have this lense , can you tell me how much a canon 400 f 2.8 mk1 is worth nowadays as I also have one of them and do not use it due to its sheer weight and size .

[@magiccarpetrider4594]

check out ebay for pricing

[@merged2481]

8:46 - 400mm on full frame is 8x magnification, not 4x.

[@edwardtye4119]

400/100=4x magnification.

[@kseverens]

It's actually not a heavy lens at all if you compare it to most other tele-zoom lenses.

[@papabear7875]

Does it make sense to upgrade from Canon 400mm L F/5.6?

[@Случайныйсвидетель-ш5ж]

Фиксированный объектив всегда лучше по части резкости и контраста. ☝

[@BDNADLER]

I am considering this lens for an upcoming total solar eclipse; July 22, 2028, in Sydney, Australia.

[@Случайныйсвидетель-ш5ж]

Не хочу 100-400 , хочу 400 .

[@dialectixemcee2428]

good review but you got the modes.wrong, mode 2 corrects panning in both vertical and horizontal, mode 3 only activates on shutter press