Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM Super Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras 

by Canon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4 x 3 inches ; 13.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 14 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00006I53U
• Item model number: EF 400MM f/4 DO IS USM
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 22, 2002

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

An entirely new optical technology for SLR camera lenses, Multi-Layer Diffractive Optics, makes possible a 400mm super-telephoto lens that’s about 1/3rd shorter and significantly lighter. Diffractive Optics don't end there--combined with a small Fluorite element, they permit almost total elimination of chromatic aberrations, and at the same time are able to combat spherical aberrations. Combining portability and easy handling, Image Stabilization, weather-resistant construction, superb optics and incredible AF performance, the 400mm DO IS lens is ideal for photographers who want super-telephoto power along with good lens speed in a hand holdable package.

See a Different Dimension
A super telephoto lens can make an ordinary scene into an extraordinary one. Its ability to see surpasses that of the human eye. It can compress images and make them look as if they come from another dimension. It opens up new realms of photographic expression. All EF super telephoto lenses are L-series lenses to provide the highest quality. The USM provides quiet and high-speed autofocusing. These lenses promise outstanding delineation and put your imagination to the test.

Product Description

Perhaps the best 400MM lens money can buy / Incorporates Diffractive Optics, Image Stabilizater & Ultrasonic Motor technologies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best 400mm lens to carry outback, November 14, 2006

By 

Mark W. Bohrer "Technology Writer & Documenta... (Saratoga, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM Super Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras  (Electronics)

This is my lens for handheld images of birds in flight. It's sharp and exhibits no color fringing or other chromatic aberration. By comparison, my Leitz 400mm f/6.8 Telyt shows a fair amount of color fringing outside the center region. To be fair, the Telyt is a much simpler design.

The Telyt does have higher contrast than the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS, but a levels layer in Photoshop can fix that.

The 400mm f/4 DO IS is much lighter than any 400mm f/4 lens with conventional optics. DO lenses have a diffraction element that compensates for the color dispersion of spherical lens elements. It also reduces optical complexity and size.

The f/4 speed makes autofocus faster, and allows even better isolation of subjects using narrow depth of field. While bigger and heavier than Canon's 400mm f/5.6L, the f/4 lens is light enough at 4.3 pounds that it's still easy to carry. I've used mine on hikes above 10,000 feet to photograph bighorn sheep.

IS definitely makes a difference handheld, and on a tripod below 1/125 second. Canon's 400mm f/5.6L is a non-stabilized lens.

I've taken some of my sharpest wildlife images with this lens - you can see every feather in some bird shots. Highly recommended if you can afford one.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful lens! You'll take it with you everywhere., November 7, 2008

By 

Marcelo Clerici "Marcelo C." (Palo Alto, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM Super Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras  (Electronics)

I hesitated for weeks before buying this lens. It's expensive (only $1,000 or so cheaper than the wonderful 400mm 2.8 Canon lens), it's 4.0 instead of 2.8, it's not an L lens (since it uses the less common diffractive optics), and the user reviews of the early production lenses were mixed (the latter reviews are much better). However, I finally decided to buy because I needed a 400mm lens for a mix of sports and outdoors photos, and I knew that I would rarely use the much heavier and longer 400mm 2.8 lens. It is true that the 400mm 2.8 has photographic advantages over the 400mm 4.0 DO, but those don't mean anything if you don't have the lens with you when you need it!

In the month or so I've had the 400mm DO, I've taken it with me on trips--in planes, inside the cabin, with enough space for two camera bodies, and 24-70mm and 70-200mm zoom lenses--and I've shot sports handheld _exclusively_. The autofocus is very fast, the image quality is _astounding_, and I can only say good things about this lens. Perfect 10 for me!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Light enough for a walk-around, August 22, 2008

By 

crusader (Seattle, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM Super Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras  (Electronics)

This is an often maligned lens, due to its high cost and the lower contrast compared to regular lenses. Both are true and the latter is easily fixable in the digital workflow. The upside that no other lens can compete with is, that one can carry it for miles without undue strain, handhold for substantial periods of time, like waiting a few minutes for some wildlife to move into position, or for some sports action to happen. Obviously, there are even lighter 400mm lenses, but those have typically no image stabilization and a very small maximum aperture.
At this point for me, this is my one size fits all super telephoto lens. There are sharper lenses, longer lenses, faster lenses, etc. but this one can do almost everything, and do it good enough.