Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM

• Specifications
• Reviews
• Sample Images
• Initial launch information.

One of Canon's more basic white lenses dates from 1993. Excellent optical quality and fairly light weight. The lack of image stabilisation does limit its use hand held somewhat.

Available from: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | B&H | Adorama

Lens specifications

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture	400mm 1:5.6
Lens Construction	7 elements in 6 groups
Diagonal Angle of View	6° 10"
Focus Adjustment	Inner focusing system with USM
Closest Focusing Distance	3.5m / 11.5 ft.
Filter Size	77mm
Max. Diameter x Length, Weight	3.5" x 10.1", 2.8 lbs. / 90.0 x 256.5mm, 1250g

A quick guide to MTF charts (which only measure contrast and resolution. Canon's guide to their MTF charts) Black lines reflect lens performance at widest aperture. Blue lines show the performance at f/8 Thick lines indicate lens contrast Thin lines indicate lens resolution Dashed lines: Lens performance with meridional lines. Solid lines: Lens performance with sagittal lines Closer sagittal and meridional chart lines indicate more 'natural' out of focus areas. Remember that MTF charts are good for comparing similar lenses, so comparing ones from the 14mm f2.8L and 300mm 2.8L won't tell you much at all, whilst comparing the EF14 2.8L with the EF14 2.8L II will show meaningful differences. Note that other manufacturers may have different ways of displaying such information that may or may not match up with the Canon figures.

Which 400mm? - a list of all versions

Canon EF 400mm
Attribute	f/2.8 USM	f/2.8 II USM	f/2.8 IS USM	f/2.8 IS II USM	f/2.8 IS III USM	f/4 DO IS USM	f/5.6 USM	f/4 DO IS II USM
Key features
Full-frame compatible	Yes
Image stabilizer	No		Yes				No	Yes
Ultrasonic Motor	Yes
L-series	Yes
Diffractive Optics	No					Yes	No	Yes
Technical data
Aperture (max-min)	f/2.8-f/32					f/4-f/32	f/5.6-f/32	f/4-f/32
Construction	9 groups / 11 elements		13 groups / 17 elements				6 groups / 7 elements	12 groups /18 elements
Aperture blades	8			9		8		9
Closest focusing distance	4m		3m	2.7m	2.5m	3.5m		3.3m
Max. magnification	0.11x		0.15x	0.17x		0.12x	0.11x	0.13x
Diagonal viewing angle	6 °
Physical data
Weight	13.44 lb / 6.1 kg	13.03 lb / 5.91 kg	11.83 lb / 5.37 kg	8.48 lb / 3.85 kg	6.26 lb / 2.84 kg	4.27 lb / 1.94 kg	2.8 lb / 1.25 kg	2.1 kg
Maximum diameter	6.57" / 167mm		6.41" / 163mm			5.03" / 128mm	3.54" / 90mm/	5.04" /128mm
Length	13.70" / 348mm		13.74" / 349mm	13.50" / 343mm		9.16" / 232.7mm	10.09" / 256.5mm	9.16" / 232.7mm
Filter diameter	48mm		52mm drop-in filter				77mm	52mm drop-in
Accessories
Lens hood	ET-161B II		ET-155	ET-155 (WII)	ET-155 (WIII)	ET-120	Built-in	ET120 (WII)
Case			400	400C	400E	400B		400D
Retail information
Release date	April 1991	March 1996	Sept. 1999	Aug. 2011	Sept. 2018	Dec. 2001	May 1993	Sept. 2014

EF 400mm f/5.6L USM reviews and articles

• Canon UK / US Information Page
• Amazon
• Northlight Images
• Canon CPN article
• Fred Miranda
• Lens Tip
• Digital Picture
• PhotoZone
• SLR Gear
• Lens Review
• ePhotozine

Written a review? Contact us and we'll add it to the list.

Sample images

None available

Product launch

No information available on the 1993 launch of this lens.