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

An incrediblly sharp lens

Strengths: versatile: 100-400 zoom range; sharpness, f value needs to by 1 stop over 5.6 at 400mm. push-pull zoom

Weakness: none

I have this lens for almost 3 months. It is a very versatile lens for sports and bird photography. I especially like the push-pull zoom. It took me a while to get used to it. But as soon as I am comfortable with it, it is more effecient to capture the object and zoom in without loosing sight of it. The lens is also very sharp. However, at 400mm, I found I have to go half stop down from 5.6 in...
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I have this lens for almost 3 months. It is a very versatile lens for sports and bird photography. I especially like the push-pull zoom. It took me a while to get used to it. But as soon as I am comfortable with it, it is more effecient to capture the object and zoom in without loosing sight of it. The lens is also very sharp. However, at 400mm, I found I have to go half stop down from 5.6 in order to reach the best sharpness. yeah, it is a little soft at f/5.6 @400mm. For the price I paid, I have no complaint at all.

By spf - Feb 23, 2006

Another amazing 'L-glass' lens from Canon!

Strengths: Everything about this lens is great! Canon L-glass is as good as it gets - ever notice how many white lenses you see on the sidelines at NFL games, NASCAR events, etc.?

I use this lens for aviation photography...like thouands of others around the world. A little over a year ago, I borrowed a friend's 100-400mm L for about a month and decided very quickly that if I wanted to keep up with other top-notch photographers I was going to have to get one for myself. I know several other photographers that own this lens and none of us have ever had any complaints about...
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I use this lens for aviation photography...like thouands of others around the world. A little over a year ago, I borrowed a friend's 100-400mm L for about a month and decided very quickly that if I wanted to keep up with other top-notch photographers I was going to have to get one for myself. I know several other photographers that own this lens and none of us have ever had any complaints about it. If you are curious, see if you can rent one from a local high-end photography store and use it for a day. You'll end-up wanting one.

By mattbna - May 26, 2006

Fabulous lens

Strengths: The optics are incredibly sharp. You can see eyelashs on hippos 100 feet away.

This is a no brain investment for anyone doing serious photography. We have traveled four continents with this lens over the past four months and it hasn't hiccupped once. We shoot on average 125 images a day with this lens alone. The images are so sharp. The image stabilization is fabulous, especially at 5.6 @400 mm full extension. Very few blurry images. This lens is so clear, it makes our...
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This is a no brain investment for anyone doing serious photography. We have traveled four continents with this lens over the past four months and it hasn't hiccupped once. We shoot on average 125 images a day with this lens alone. The images are so sharp. The image stabilization is fabulous, especially at 5.6 @400 mm full extension. Very few blurry images. This lens is so clear, it makes our 28-70 zoom look a bit soft. Incredible bargain for professionals.

By debgrooms - Dec 8, 2005

maybe the best affordable 400mm lens

Strengths: 100-400mm, fast focusing USM, IS, "affordable"

Weakness: no weather sealing, pull-push, only 2 stops of IS

Pull push zooming by itself actually is not a weakness at all. But I can feel it pumps a lot of air inside and out the lens. While the lens does not have weather sealing, the pull push mechanism will probably bring a lot of dust in the lens barrel as well. Sharpness is good, and color is great. Overall picture quality is great, but of course can't compare to 70-200 or any another primes. With...
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Pull push zooming by itself actually is not a weakness at all. But I can feel it pumps a lot of air inside and out the lens. While the lens does not have weather sealing, the pull push mechanism will probably bring a lot of dust in the lens barrel as well.

Sharpness is good, and color is great. Overall picture quality is great, but of course can't compare to 70-200 or any another primes.

With 400mm, IS, and USM, it is the only choice in the market thus far.

By huichook - Jun 20, 2008

I Love this lens

Strengths: Quick, precise autofocus, quiet. Push pull zoom

Weakness: None so far

I have only had this lens for a short time but I have NO complaints. I was a little reluctant to buy it because I have read that it is quite heavy but I do not find that a problem and I am a real weakling! VERY quick focus. This lens is able to isolate and focus on birds up in the trees better than any of my previous lenses. Very sharp images. I thought the price was a little high but all camera...
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I have only had this lens for a short time but I have NO complaints. I was a little reluctant to buy it because I have read that it is quite heavy but I do not find that a problem and I am a real weakling! VERY quick focus. This lens is able to isolate and focus on birds up in the trees better than any of my previous lenses. Very sharp images. I thought the price was a little high but all camera equipment seems to be! Overall, I love it.

By betsntom - May 19, 2006