Product reviewsCanon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM Lens

Darp, lught and precice!

Must know: NO image stabilizer (IS).
Pro's:
1. Super sharp wide open (f/5.6), both on FF 21 mpix (5D II / III ), and cropformat, 7D II.

2. Fast autofocus. When setting focus limiter to 8.5 meters, super fast!

3. Using a really sturdy tripod, can get super-sharp results even with Extender 1.4x III on the 7D II !! This is actual focal lenght 560 mm, combined with cropfactor 1.6 = gets the same framing as using approx. 900 mm on a Full Frame...
(tested with 1/8s shutter time)
This setuo needs short shutter times (or ultra-sturdy tripod). And a camera with MFA (micro focus adjust). Depth-of-field is shallow, like when used for birding. Need to hit precise, then. But this lens can really NAIL it, yes!

4. Simply lightweight for its focal lenght. Shooting handheld no problem (fast shutter and/or some support to "calm" the virwfinder comes in handy at these 'magnification' rates, always)

5. Super solid, tested by time.

6. Manual focus super smooth and accurate, no problem focusing 'live view" with 10x magnification (use a tripod, yes!).

7. The integrated, retractable hood is really convenient.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: gulfcoastcamera

fantastic lens

I wanted a high quality telephoto lens. I owned the 70-200 f2.8 and used it with a 2x teleconverter on a 5D but the quality at 400 mm was poor.

I mostly use this lens with a 5D + tripod combination for skyline landscapes. This lens has an INCREDIBLE sharpness even at 5.6 which is the widest aperture. The quality compares totally with that of a 70-200 f2.8 L lens.

The weight is strikingly low - when I compare with my 70-200, the latter seems like a tank. The 400 5.6 is very light and handhold pictures are possible - but of course only with high shooting speed to avoid camera shake.

Compared to the price of all other long wider canon telephoto lenses, the 400 mm f5.6 has a HUGE quality-over price ratio...

I am very happy with it and will be for a long time ;) !Read full review...

Great lens, arrived in very good condition

400mm prime lens is very very sharp. Good for bird photography connected to Canon 7D mk ll. The lens is relatively lightweight compared to big zoom lenses which helps snap quick flying birds. Takes a little time to adjust to the 11.5 ft minimum focus length. Most birds require more space than that anyway. Overall the lens has helped take some of the sharpest shots I've ever taken.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: slick_rickplanes

Best value long L lens

This lens produces excellent sharpness and color saturation even wide open. AF is very fast on my 10D and 1D Mk II N. Its light weight is a bonus when hiking around a race circuit or wilderness.
r>I've used a 70-200mm f/2.8 L with 2x extender with good results, but Af was relatively slow and sharpness was compromised.

I've also used a Tamron 200-500mm, but was disappointed with sharpness in the 400-500mm range, and saturation was not as vibrant as either the Canon 70-200 w/2x or the Canon 400 f/5.6.

I've considered the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L, but opted for the 400 beacuse I wanted the sharpness of a prime lens.

The only thing I wish it had was IS, but the overall image quality, light weight and price have made me happy. I carry a $60 monopod to overcome the camera shake issues that IS would solve.Read full review...

An incredible prime super-telephoto L-series Canon lens.

This review is for the Canon L-series 400mm EF USM f/5.6L Prime Lens. This lens does not come with image stabilization at the time of this review (which would be its only drawback, honestly). The lens is known as a prime lens, which means it is not a zoom lens, rather it is a permanent 400mm lens. The clarity of a prime lens is always better than it's zoom counterparts. As this is one of Canon's L-series lenses, it is made of the best materials known, including super UD glass and boasts quiet and super fast internal focusing (This is great, so that the outside of the lens does not turn which can disrupt your polarizing filter setting). The lens is a slower lens, that is, it does not have a large aperture opening like the f/2.8, for example. However, with a tripod, you should be able to shoot anything you are aiming at. With a monopod, you can shoot freely in good light scenarios. I recommend getting at least a monopod. The lens has a tripod mount ring on it (the smaller screw type fits this mount) that you can rotate and lock into place. The image quality on this lens is amazing, with accurate color reproduction and rich contrast. This lens is proven to be much more crisp and accurate than the 100-400mm Canon L-series zoom lens at the 400mm mark. Just take a look at the MTF charts. Also, image quality is amazing at the wide-open aperture of f/5.6. What's more remarkable (and telling of a true high-quality professional lens like this) is that at higher f stops, like f/11, the difference in image quality when comparing the same image taken at an f/5.6 is literally unnoticeable. A great lens for nature photographers and those of you trying to catch those things that you just cannot get close enough to. Remember, this is a super-telephoto lens (not a macro lens). It's minimum focal distance is around 12 feet. I have the Canon 28-135mm IS, the Canon 50mm f/1.8, the Canon 100-300mm f/3.5-5.6, the original Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 and now this lens. It is, of course, the best of all of those lenses and quite impressive looking. I have already taken some ridiculously close-up shots of an elusive wren in my backyard. I could not be happier with this purchase. If you are considering getting a super-telephoto lens for nature/wildlife, you cannot beat this lens! Be sure to get a circular polarizing (rotating) filter or at least a UV filter for the lens to protect and enhance it. This lens is truly remarkable.Read full review...

Sharpest lens I’ve ever used

Just keep the shutter speed up and use long lens technique and this is a fabulous lens. Can a lens even be sharper? I don’t think so. It’s also light and very easy to handle. I love the built in hood. When I need a similar length zoom I use my 100-400 , which is also very good but I prefer the prime for handling and because it’s s super sharp even wide open.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: pipelinemaster

Another must have lens from Canon!

Another must have lens from Canon. If you need this focal length and shoot outdoors then this is your lens! I use mine mostly for auto racing but have also used it for birds and other long distance wildlife, and recently took some fantastic pics of the Moon. Great L build quality, excellent colors, sharp as a razor, and I can handhold it with ease although a lot of people use a monopod for this lens. Go and get one, its that simple!Read full review...

Best lens ever, it must be in every lens bag.

This is a very sharp and accurate lens. Some people see the lack of OS as a negative. However, for birding or shooting targets in movement you do not need it. In fact, if it had OS, one would have to turn it off before shooting birds in flight. For stationary target, the OS would help, but you can always maintain the shooting speed a bit higher. This lens is easy to carry, not heavy, and dangerously sharp. I do recommend it over the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6, unless you really need the zoom. This last one is also a great lens. Buy one if you can.Read full review...

Beautiful, professional, and legendary

First, I should note that this is my first L series lens. I make it a point to shoot with an oddball setup - a used olympus E-M5 mk1, Viltrox EF-M2, and this lens... Let's just say that WOW! The detail from the RAW images is among the highest I've seen. Anyway, here are some pictures. The second bird picture is the first one (taken from about 3 meters away) cropped waaay in to show the detail retained and the third shows the bokeh possible wide open.

I love to take it out and see the reactions from other photographers. This 400mm F5.6 Canon L glass is a time tested piece of kit. If you're on the fence, don't be - there's a reason why this 400mm F5.6 it's one of the most cherished lenses ever made by Canon. Read full review...

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Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: mpbcom

Best glass for tracking birds in flight.

I bought the Canon EF 400mm F/5.6 L USM Lens to work with my Canon 7d DSLR to capture birds in flight. In particular, I am interested in capturing Bald Eagles who come to my area of the Mississippi River Valley for the winter months. This lens enables me to track birds in flight extremely well. It focuses quickly and accurately. Though the lens is a bit on the heavy side, the benefits of 400mm throughout the lens and the excellent quality of the glass more than make up for it. I have been very pleased with the results and I am certainly pleased with the price that I paid to purchase this excellent lens. If you are a birder, I highly recommend this lens.Read full review...