Lenses:

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

Class:: Zoom Super Telephoto
Part number:: 2577A002
Introduced:: 1998

Similar Lenses

Canon	EF	75-300mm	f/4.0-5.6					$159.95	Details
Canon	EF	75-300mm	f/4.0-5.6				USM	$189.95	Details
Canon	EF	100-300mm	f/4.5-5.6				USM	$279.95	Details
Canon	EF	70-300mm	f/4.0-5.6			IS	USM	$559.95	Details
Canon	EF	70-200mm	f/4.0	L			USM	$584.95	Details
Canon	EF	70-200mm	f/2.8	L			USM	$1,139.95	Details
Canon	EF	70-300mm	f/4.5-5.6		DO	IS	USM	$1,149.95	Details
Canon	EF	70-200mm	f/4.0	L		IS	USM	$1,249.00	Details
Canon	EF	100-400mm	f/4.5-5.6	L		IS	USM	$1,399.95	Details
Canon	EF	70-200mm	f/2.8	L		IS	USM	$1,699.95	Details

Thoughts

This is Canon’s longest telephoto zoom. It’s an L-series lens, has the characteristic build and image quality, and the characteristic price-point.

Sharpness is good, as is contrast. There is noticeable vignetting near 400mm at f/5.6. It’s certainly not as sharp or fast as the 70-200 Ls, but most will find it acceptable.

This is a slower lens. Starting with f/4.5 at 100mm, it goes to f/5 around 135mm, and f/5.6 just after 200mm. The image stabilizer offers three extra stops of correction, which allows shots at 400mm to be handheld down to around 1/50. The image stabilizer helps stop camera shake for static subjects, but does nothing for motion—given the maximum aperture, this lens is clearly not designed stop action indoors. That said, for outdoor use, the 100-400mm gives plenty of reach.

For the price, this lens offers a lot of versatility. It’s not as sharp as the long L-series primes or the 70-200s in their native focal ranges. However, it’s the only zoom that goes to 400mm without teleconverters, and is sharper than any 70-200 with a teleconverter.