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Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

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  1. User ratingsUser ratingsratings of product added by Productz users
  2. Expert ratingsExpert ratingsexperts ratings from editorial reviews
  3. Consumer ratingsConsumer ratingsratings from the biggest online stores worldwide
Legend
  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Poor
  4. Average
4.4
based on all reviews
User ratings:
37
4.2 out of 5
37 user ratings
5 stars
37 %
4 stars
48 %
3 stars
8 %
2 stars
5 %
1 stars
0 %
Editorial reviews:
10
  1. See more
4.5 out of 5
4 user ratings
5 stars
100 %
4 stars
0 %
3 stars
0 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews

Pros

  • vignetting is very well controlled
  • 100-400 works great for sports photography in decent light
  • color and contrast are very good

Cons

  • a slow (narrow max aperture) lens
  • friction too tight and zooming becomes difficult
  • the viewfinder is very dark and autofocus is not supported by

Key specs

  • Zoom
  • 17
  • Internal, Rear
  • yes
  • Full-frame (35mm)
  • 100, 400 mm
  • yes
  • Telephoto

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM - Pros & Cons

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Pros

  • vignetting is very well controlled
  • 100-400 works great for sports photography in decent light
  • color and contrast are very good
  • it is easy to capture candid shots of people from longer distances
  • the sharpness delivered is simply excellent
  • It is great for safaris as well
  • The focusing action is very smooth
  • Sharp
  • Excellent Image Stabilisation
  • Very Well made
  • and

Cons

  • a slow (narrow max aperture) lens
  • friction too tight and zooming becomes difficult
  • the viewfinder is very dark and autofocus is not supported by
  • the push-pull design sucks in dust which
  • autofocus is apparently slower
  • Color fringing is also noticeable at the short end
  • of barrel distortion at short zoom settings
  • little filter hole is a pain in the ass
  • poor resolution and consistently missed focus
  • zoom was soft
  • the second one is really heavy

Canon - Video Reviews (5)

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Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM - Full Specifications

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General
Lens typeTelephoto
Lens mountCanon EF
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Aperture
Aperture max4.5-5.6
Aperture min32-40
Aperture ringno
Number of diaphragm blades5
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Optics
ConstructionZoom
Elements17
Groups14
Special elements / coatings
  • Fluorite element
  • UD element
Power zoomno
Zoom methodPush/Pull
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Dimensions
Weight47.97 oz
Diameter3.62 in
Length7.44 in
Filter size3.03 in
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Image properties
Max Format size
Full-frame
Focal length100 - 400
Maximum magnification0.2 x
Image stabilisationyes
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Focus
Focus method
  • Internal
  • Rear
Autofocusyes
Autofocus motor typeUltrasonic
Full-time Manual focusingyes
Closest focusing distance1.80
Distance scaleyes
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Design
Colour of product
  • Black,White
  • White
Body materialsMagnesium
Zoom lockyes
Tripod collaryes
Hood suppliedyes
Filter threadyes
Sealingyes

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM - Q&A

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Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon - Editorial Reviews (10)

4.5
Based on 10 reviews
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 USM L IS - Review / Test Report
www.photozone.de logo
www.photozone.de
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 USM L IS - Review / Test Report

OpticalLimits - Lens reviews and beyond!

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Review
Imaging Resource logo
Imaging Resource
Published: 10.10.2005
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Review

Looking for a Canon 100-400mm lens review? Read on to find out what we uncovered in our objective optical lab tests.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM review
digitalcameraworld logo
digitalcameraworld
Published: 15.02.2022
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM review
4.5

The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM breathes new life into a classic DSLR tele zoom

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 USM L IS - Full Format Review / Test Report
www.photozone.de logo
www.photozone.de
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 USM L IS - Full Format Review / Test Report

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 USM L IS Review

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Review
PCMAG logo
PCMAG
Published: 29.06.2015
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Review
4.5

The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM is a telezoom lens with a compact design and incredibly sharp optics.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Upgrading a classic: Canon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Mark II review
DPReview logo
DPReview
Published: 01.03.2016
Upgrading a classic: Canon 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM Mark II review
4.5

The king is dead, long live the Mark II. After 15 long years, Canon finally upgraded one of the biggest-selling telezooms of all time - the 100-400mm F4.5-5.6L IS USM. Is it a worthy successor to the venerable, but still very capable original? Read more

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM II Review - DustinAbbott.net
DustinAbbott.net logo
DustinAbbott.net
Published: 04.02.2015
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM II Review - DustinAbbott.net

Dustin Abbott reviews the new Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM II lens in an extensive, real world review. Includes side by side comparisons and photos

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM lens review: Still a good all-round choice
DXOMARK logo
DXOMARK
Published: 28.01.2014
Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM lens review: Still a good all-round choice

A favorite of wildlife and action photographers, Canon’s EF100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM is a well-specified and versatile model. However, as it approaches sixteen years in production, is it still capable of competing with more modern offerings? Read on to find out.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Review | Photography Blog
photographyblog.com logo
photographyblog.com
Published: 19.01.2015
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Review | Photography Blog
4.5

The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM is a new professional telephoto zoom lens for full-frame DSLR cameras. Is this the perfect do-it-all super-telephoto zoom lens for wildlife and sports photographers? Read our Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM review to find out...

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Canon EF 100 400mm f/4.5 5.6L IS USM 35mm Zoom user reviews : 4.5 out of 5 - 64 reviews - photographyreview.com
Camera News and Reviews logo
Camera News and Reviews
Canon EF 100 400mm f/4.5 5.6L IS USM 35mm Zoom user reviews : 4.5 out of 5 - 64 reviews - photographyreview.com

Canon EF 100 400mm f/4.5 5.6L IS USM 35mm Zoom user reviews : 4.5 out of 5 - 64 reviews - photographyreview.com

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