Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM : Specifications and Opinions

Reviews

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The following opinions have been automatically translated with Google Translate.

Fotonico Dametto

sent on 24 Febbraio 2022

Pros: BOKEH, sharpness, speed, construction

Cons: weight, dimensions, handling

Opinion: The 400 2.8 is a spectacular lens that every sports photographer must have in his kit... if well used it offers really sharp images and with a fabulous detachment of the planes. This optics is lucky enough to find it used at a much more affordable price than the second and third series, obviously the weight is not from its ... freehand for more than 20 minutes it is impossible to manage it and having it together for a whole day / several days in a row is tiring (and I am quite performing physical being an athlete), but with a modopod you can improve the situation, obviously it is less manageable but on the other hand it allows you to save on medical care caused by the weight ;) jokes aside, it is a really beautiful optics, I use it for outdoor sports and allows me to get excellent results (even customers are happy) Having the budegt I would immediately go to series iii which has a really ridiculous weight (I have seen colleagues use it freehand all day and have hung it on our shoulder as if it were nothing ...)

Pietro Guberti

sent on 16 Marzo 2021

Pros: Brightness, bokeh, exceptional sharpness already at full opening, af

Cons: Weight and difficulty in finding any spare parts

Opinion: If you are an exception for weight, which after a day of freehand makes itself felt (which is why I often prefer to use it on monopiede) is a flawless optics. Despite the weight I also used it duplicated for shots on the fly with excellent results. Unreastable clarity already open even in very bad light conditions, which allows you to enhance any detail. Wonderful bokeh that blends any background giving a crazy prominence to the subject. And then the brightness: at dawn or sunset it is spectacular, sometimes a real march more than other fixed (and I speak also having the 500 4). If it is short in bird life (often use with 1.4 it becomes necessary unless you shoot to powered subjects, without being affected by af or image quality) for ungulates it is perfect. After two years of intensive use vote 9.5.

Albycbr

sent on 06 Aprile 2020

Pros: Sharpness, blurring, detachment of planes, autofocus

Cons: The weight, but was born to be used with monopod in sport or on tripod or beanbag in naturalistic photography

Opinion: The sharpness of this dream lens is amazing at full-time, which is even more incredible considering it's a 1999 project. I own the 300 2.8 IS of the same series and I had the 500 f/4 IS, but this lens I would say that in sharpness it is even higher. With multipliers it performs very well but not like the 600 f/4 series II. At 1.4 the autofocus remains fast while slowing down with the 2X but the sharpness remains very good and improves by closing by a stop. The blurry that it produces at 2.8 leaves you speechless, the backgrounds look like silk, the detachment of the subjects is incredible. It is a lens that has a unique charm and should be used smooth to take advantage of all its qualities.

Franz67

sent on 10 Marzo 2016

Pros: fantastic lens with sharpness and Out of fabulous plans. high quality pictures even with the multipliers.

Cons: Weight without stand and on the go

Opinion: After using with satisfaction the various tele f4 Canon 300, 400 and 300 f5.6 f2.8 is I bought a few months the 400 f2.8 is used on the market. The first approaches were quite difficult due to the weight and size that slow down a bit 'fully operational and movements. Then the yield and operating speed to the great reward small initial sacrifices fact just everything is ready the lens pulls all his grit. If you use the stand the weight is not a big deal either with rocker heads with a ball head, which I personally prefer. The lens, slightly soft up to 3.2, shows all its character by closing a little 'the diaphragm: it takes only one stop even with the multiplier to obtain excellent results. I think the use of the natural differences in yield compared to the new version could be minimal. With this lens are obtained high level results in every situation of light. Saw the second-hand price the 400 is 2.8 is super recommended.

user25280

sent on 16 Luglio 2015

Pros: Practically everything, sharpness, blur autofocus, image quality even duplicate, etc. etc. etc.

Cons: The weight, but it is subjective

Opinion: I bought to replace the 500 F4 L IS USM, at first I was very puzzled, because of the size and weight, but after a first initial period to "adapt" to this "beast" say no ifs and buts that I could not do without it. Sharpness, color, blur, image quality even duplicate (I use it with the Canon duplicator series 3) AF speed, image stabilization, all the top. The only drawback may be the weight in the long run is felt, personally alternate, sometimes on a stand and sometimes I use freehand also a whole day and I enjoy my part to grande.rnDa the vote was a nice 10. rn

Luca Filidei

sent on 31 Agosto 2013

Pros: Sharpness, contrast, speed of AF with 2x, blurred

Cons: No one but the weight is irrelevant since it is always used to stand

Opinion: The rival was the F4 500 ... eventually after many tests I chose this ... has something more than the others .. exceptional quality even when used with the 2x, keeps all cross-type points and is fast! Gives great satisfaction ... I use it exclusively for birds mainly of the shed, and from the conviction that my subjects to be as close as possible, for my needs is the TOP! RnUna exceptional lens that I highly recommend to anyone who wants a yield amazing!

Mmulinai

sent on 12 Ottobre 2012

Pros: Virtually all of the amazing qualities of perspective

Cons: Excluding the weight that I think is subjective ... no

Opinion: I use it in tandem with the 600 and there is nothing to do ... has a Narcia in most, af guncotton, virtually even with the 1, 4 is embarrassing the speed of operation, incision at the top, the top color, detail a wagon, a very important feature to keep the cross-type points with cameras with minimum aperture f4, the minimum distance of focus and the potential use of an extension tube allows macro backgrounds unthinkable. It has nothing to envy to the new weight and if you do not stab IV January But for everyday use on a tripod is a lack more theoretical than practical. Attached smooth offers untold rewards .... Okay can suffice.

Stefano Savini

sent on 24 Settembre 2012

Pros: sharpness, immaggine quality, speed, can be used with all 2 duplicators canon (not together).

Cons: weight (allows few shots freehand and not without afanno), with the arrival of the new you can find it at a good price that otherwise was very high. is a perspective to be taken after several experiences with other lenses smaller.

Opinion: Although out of production, remains a fantastic optics that nothing is missing (perhaps as it makes the new). X to operationalize it takes a few minutes x because of the weight that can slow you down, but once ready is a real satisfaction in any shooting situation, even in the evening or night, where the immaggini surprise to very large openings (4 or 2.8 ). I tried with the 7d and the dupl.2x and in low light conditions without regretting the results. Only real flaw is the weight that may seem minor, but put together with the rest of the equipment (II machine, other optical and flash more trip and monopod) has an impact considerably, so that canon has made a new one of "only" 3.8 kg compared with 5.4 kg of this model. Even a 450 would look good with optics of this caliber.

Gabriele Busi

sent on 22 Novembre 2011

Pros: excellent sharpness and contrast color at room temperature stabilizer beautiful

Cons: Obviously the weight and price, but finding it can be used almost halved.

Opinion: There is little to say about this wonderful lens produces sharp images with color and contrast exciting. The interesting thing is that pretty much is a 3 in 1, 400/2, 8 - 600/4 - 800/5, 6, therefore suitable for every situation. Works great with multipliers, although it is better to close one stop, especially with the 2x. The weight at the end is not a big problem, just a single foot. However, some handheld shooting permits thanks to the efficient stabilizer. When I leave home regret it forever!