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Canon 200-400mm f/4 L IS
with integral 1.4x extender - free!

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Canon 200-400mm

Canon 200-400mm f/4 L IS.(works on every Canon EOS SLR and DSLR, 52mm drop-in filters, 127.7 oz./3,620 g, 6.6'/2 m close focus, about $11,799). enlarge. My biggest source of support is when you use any of these links, especially this link directly to it at Adorama, when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. It helps me keep adding to this free website when you get yours through these links — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you buy elsewhere. Thanks for your support! Ken.

 

May 2013   More Canon Reviews   Canon Lenses   All Reviews

 

Introduction         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

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This Canon 200-400mm f/4 IS is unique in having a built-in, hot-swappable 1.4x extender. This means that with a flick of a button you can pop-in the extender, without taking your eye from the the finder.

200-400mm is a weird and quite limited zoom range. Personally, I prefer the superior utility of the Canon 100-400mm, however if you need f/4 instead of f/5.6 at 400mm or need 560mm instead of 400mm, this is your lens.

This 200-400mm is obviously a lens for full-time sports shooters, and is built to take the beating these guys belt out.

Few people buy these for themselves; most are owned by news organizations or loaned-out by Canon at sports events.

 

Specifications         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

 

Name

Canon calls this the CANON ZOOM LENS EF 200–400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X.

EF means "electronic focus," meaning that there is an autofocus motor in the lens itself. All Canon lenses since 1987 have been EF.

L means only as expensive as L.

USM means ring-type ultrasonic (silent) autofocus motor.

Extender 1.4X means you merely have to move a lever to kick-in the extender, making this a 280-560mm f/5.6 lens.

 

Optics       top

25 elements in 20 groups, including one rear filter.

Fluorite crystal and UD glass, too.

Kick-in the extender, and it has 33 elements in 24 groups, including one rear filter.

Internal focusing.

Multicoated, branded as "Optimized Super Spectra Coating."

 

Diaphragm        top

9 curved blades.

 

Focal Length        top

200-400mm or 280-560mm.

On 1.3x Canon cameras it will see angles-of-view similar to what a 260-520mm (or 365-730mm) lens would see on a 35mm camera.

On 1.6x Canon cameras it will see angles-of-view similar to what a 320-640mm (or 450-900mm) lens would see on a 35mm camera.

 

Angle of View (on 35mm and full-frame cameras)

12º - 6.1º diagonal.

8.8º - 4.5º diagonal, when extended.

 

Close Focus       top

6.6 feet (2 meters), specified, from the image plane.

 

Top, Canon 200-400mm

Top, Canon 200-400mm.

 

Focus Scale       top

Yes.

 

Infrared Focus Index      top

Yes.

 

Depth-of-Field Scale       top

No.

 

Size       top

Canon specifies 5.0" (128mm) diameter by 14.4" (366mm) long.

 

Weight       top

Canon specifies 127.7 oz. (8 pounds or 3,620 g.).

 

Caps       top

E-145C front cap.

Standard EOS cap rear, included.

 

Filters       top

Drop-in 52mm filters.

Use the 52II holder for screw-in 52mm filters.

Use the WII holder for gelatine filters.

The PL-C WII is a drop-in circular polarizer.

 

Case       top

Canon 200-400mm Lens Case

Canon Lens Case for the 200-400mm.

The hard case is included.

It's also available as a replacement for $800.

 

Included       top

Lens with built-in 1.4x extender.

Drop-In Gelatin Filter Holder 52 (WII)

Lens Cap E-145C

Lens Dust Cap E

Lens Wide Strap B

Monopod Mount

Lens Hood ET-120 (WII)

Lens Case 200-400

Strap for Hard Case

Instruction Manual

Canon Warranty

 

Announced as Development       top

07 February 2011: Canon Inc. today announced the development of a new super-telephoto lens, the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER l.4x, for use with all EOS SLR cameras. A prototype of the new lens will be exhibited at the CP+ tradeshow, held in Pacifico Yokohama, from February 9 - 12, 2011.

The EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM EXTENDER l.4x is being developed as an L-series super-telephoto lens with an integrated 1.4x extender and high-performance Image Stabilizer technology. The new lens will offer exceptional flexibility by incorporating a built-in 1.4x extender that increases the maximum focal length to 560mm for sports and wildlife photography. High-quality images with high levels of resolution and contrast will be possible through the use of advanced optical materials such as fluorite crystal. The new lens will also include dust- and water-resistant construction designed for extended usage under harsh conditions.

 

Announced as Product      top

14 May 2013.

 

Promised for Delivery      top

End of May 2013.

 

Canon Item Code        top

5176B002.

 

Price, USA        top

2013 May: $11,799.

 

Performance         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

Sharpness should be extraordinary, as it always has been with all of Canon's ultratelephotos.

Canon 200-400mm MTF
Canon 200-400mm MTF
MTF at 200mm.
MTF at 400mm.

 

Canon 200-400mm MTF
Canon 200-400mm MTF
MTF at 280mm (including extender).
MTF at 560mm (including extender).

 

Compared         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

Let's be honest: even if you gave me one of these, since I prefer to travel light, I'd never use it. I'd use the Canon 100-400mm instead because it's so much smaller, less than half the weight, focuses a bit closer, and most importantly, zooms as wide as 100mm, not 200mm.

 

Recommendations         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

You people know who you are. This is a lens for a very narrow segment of people. Most of us shooting in the field where we have to carry this prefer the Canon 100-400mm, but if you don't have to carry it all day and have someone else providing the equipment, by all means this should be a spectacular lens. Just don't expect anything awesome when sighting through the finder; a 200-400mm zoom doesn't do very much as you zoom in and out, and it's only half as bright as 70-200mm f/2.8.

If you've found all the time, effort and expense I put into researching and sharing all this, My biggest source of support is when you use any of these links, especially this link directly to it at Adorama, when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. It helps me keep adding to this free website when you get yours through these links — but I receive nothing for my efforts if you buy elsewhere.

Thanks for your support!

Ken.

 

More Information         top

Intro   Specs   Performance   Compared   Recommendations   More

Canon USA's page on the 200-400mm.

 

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Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.

 

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