Canon L EF 200-400mm IS USM Extender 1.4x 400mm
The built-in 1.4x extender instantly shifts this 200-400mm f/4 lens to a 280-560mm f/5.6, offering unmatched focal length flexibility without swapping glass. Its optical design, incorporating one fluorite and four UD elements, delivers sharp, high-contrast images with minimal chromatic aberration. This lens is best for professional sports and wildlife photographers who need to rapidly adapt to changing distances in demanding outdoor environments.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong optical (93rd percentile) 93rd
- Strong user sentiment (91st percentile) 91st
- Strong stabilization (83rd percentile) 83rd
- Strong bokeh (78th percentile) 78th
Cons
- Below average build (6th percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q4 2013100/100
Buyers in Q4 2013 praise this lens as extremely sharp, versatile, and a worthy replacement for multiple primes. Handheld use is easy, and the built-in converter is highly effective.
- Extremely sharp throughout zoom range and with 1.4x extender engaged
- Versatile replacement for multiple primes (200-500mm) in one lens
- Easy to handhold, lighter than 500mm f/4, good for travel and field use
- Built-in 1.4x converter loses little image quality or focusing speed
- Q3 2013100/100
Buyers in Q3 2013 unanimously praise this lens as versatile, sharp, and exceeding expectations for sports and wildlife, despite its weight and cost.
- Exceptional versatility and optical quality
- Built-in teleconverter works seamlessly
- Fast and quiet autofocus, excellent IS
- Heavy but manageable with monopod or tripod
Based on 20 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Telephoto-zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 400 |
| Focal Length Max | 400 |
| Elements | 25 |
| Groups | 20 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/32 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Canon EF |
| Format | Full-Frame |
| Weight | 3.6 kg / 8.0 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 52 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 2000 |
| Max Magnification | 1:6.67 |
vs Competition
| Spec | Canon L EF 200-400mm IS USM Extender 1.4x 400mm | Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN | Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 | Sony G SELP28135G.SYX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 400mm | 17-70mm | 17-28mm | 16-28mm | 12-60mm | 28-135mm |
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/4 |
| Mount | Canon EF | Fujifilm X | Nikon Z | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E |
| Stabilization | true | true | false | false | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 3620 | 544 | 450 | 450 | 320 | 420 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | RXD | Stepping Motor | Stepping AF Motor | linear motor | SSM |
| Lens Type | telephoto-zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon L EF 200-400mm IS USM Extender 1.4x 400mm | 53.7 | 78.4 | 5.6 | 36.6 | 92.9 | 67.1 | 90.8 | 33.3 | 41.3 | 83.4 |
| Tamron Di III 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Compare | 53.7 | 87.4 | 69.6 | 85.9 | 91 | 84.6 | 63.3 | 89.3 | 85.1 | 83.4 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 87.4 | 87.4 | 75.9 | 85.9 | 88 | 84.6 | 90.8 | 67.3 | 68.8 | 37.8 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN Compare | 87.4 | 87.4 | 75.9 | 77.8 | 97.2 | 84.6 | 75.5 | 68 | 62.7 | 37.8 |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit H-ES12060 Compare | 98.1 | 87.4 | 84.6 | 51.9 | 91 | 84.6 | 44.2 | 93.1 | 67.8 | 83.4 |
| Sony G SELP28135G.SYX Compare | 94.4 | 78.4 | 77.7 | 34.1 | 88 | 67.1 | 63.3 | 92.4 | 55.7 | 93.4 |
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
