Canon L EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM 400mm
The combination of fluorite and Super UD elements with a bright f/2.8 aperture delivers exceptional clarity and color accuracy while isolating subjects against beautifully rendered bokeh. Its relatively light 2,900g build and 5.5-stop image stabilization make handheld shooting viable, a rare feat for a 400mm super-telephoto prime. This lens is best for professional sports and wildlife photographers who need uncompromising sharpness and fast autofocus in a weather-sealed, portable design.
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong stabilization (98th percentile) 98th
- Strong af (94th percentile) 94th
- Strong optical (92th percentile) 92th
- Strong bokeh (86th percentile) 86th
Cons
- Below average build (6th percentile)
- Below average macro (25th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th 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.
Based on 26 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | super-telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 400 |
| Focal Length Max | 400 |
| Elements | 17 |
| Groups | 13 |
| Aspherical Elements | 2 |
| ED Elements | 3 |
| Coating | Super Spectra and Air Sphere Coatings |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Canon EF |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 2.9 kg / 6.4 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 52 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | USM |
| Stabilization | Yes |
| Stabilization Stops | 5.5 |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 2500 |
| Max Magnification | 1:5.9 |
vs Competition
| Spec | Canon L EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM 400mm | Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS | Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 | Tamron Di III-A 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD | Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame STM Auto Focus Prime | Nikon Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 400mm | 16-300mm | 28-200mm | 17-70mm | 50mm | 55-200mm |
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/1.8 | f/4 |
| Mount | Canon EF | Sony E | L-Mount | Fujifilm X | Panasonic Sigma L | Nikon F |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | true | true | true | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 2900 | 615 | 413 | 544 | 297 | 255 |
| AF Type | USM | HLA | Autofocus | RXD | STM | Silent Wave Motor |
| Lens Type | super-telephoto | zoom | macro | zoom | prime | telephoto |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon L EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM 400mm | 93.9 | 86.2 | 6.4 | 24.6 | 91.9 | 83.9 | 34.1 | 53.5 | 98.2 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7 DC OS Compare | 54.8 | 84.3 | 57.7 | 86.5 | 98.8 | 77 | 99.6 | 83 | 99 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S S-R28200 Compare | 54.8 | 78 | 73.7 | 89.4 | 90.9 | 71.5 | 95.6 | 75.4 | 99.4 |
| Tamron Di III-A 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Compare | 54.8 | 86.2 | 63.9 | 84.2 | 89.9 | 83.9 | 89.8 | 83 | 80.5 |
| Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame STM Auto Focus Prime Compare | 85.5 | 96 | 71.1 | 96.2 | 57.2 | 93.1 | 34.1 | 49.9 | 80.5 |
| Nikon Nikkor 55-200mm f4-5.6G ED AF-S DX Compare | 54.8 | 69.9 | 76.4 | 81.7 | 65.3 | 71.5 | 85.3 | 83 | 92.3 |
Price
Value & Pricing
B&H Photo 2 offers From $13,399
Adorama 2 offers From $13,399
Amazon 1 offers From $13,399
Price History
Usage Scores
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
