EF 400mm f5.6 L USM

This lens is the answer to a lot of peoples questions.
Sharp.focus is fast and accurate.
Lack of IS can be solved by using high shutter speed.
No complaints and previous reviews all say the same thing.
Highly recomended.

I smile a bit when I read some reviewer's complaints about "only" being f5.6 or not having image stabilization. There is a solution to both, buy a much more expensive, much heavier version of Canon super-telephoto.

Though I also would like to have IS, I'm sure when/if Canon comes out with a 400 f5.6 IS it will be nearly twice the price. This lens, for the money cannot be beat. In the meanwhile I would suggest using a tripod ;^)

Great results if the light is good. Lack of IS can be a problem but you gets what you pays for. Overall very good and probably worth the money - no Canon L lens is cheap but some cost less than others.
Can heartily recommend the Sigma 120-300 F2.8 EX DG OS HSM at around 1500 (Clifton Cameras). Heavy (but not too heavy) : superb once you get accustomed to it.

I've been using one of these on and off for almost two years. Though I usually have my 500/4L IS (version I) with me as that is THE best all around lens IMHO.

The 400/5.6L USM is very light and the AF is lightning fast in good light. Easy to handhold all day if one has to, the only drawback for me is the lack of IS, which means handholding in low light is not a very good option. I don't like using tripods if I can help it so that's one negative for me. Overall though, it is a fantastic lens capable of making super clear and sharp, well defined, images in the right hands. A truly affordable super telephoto lens. I highly recommend it!

I just got a preowned copy 2 days ago. The recent weather here hasn't been good for photography, so didn't get a good chance to try it out as much as I'd like. However from the few test shots I did, the clarity and detail of the IQ stand out. I will post later when I have had more time, but initial impressions are great.
BTW this is my first post on the forum!

I love this lens! I have regularly used a friends 300 2.8 on his 5D2. I compare this to my 60D and the 400 5.6 and I prefer my rig. His rig cost around 10K and mine 2K ($A). Mine is far lighter I get more shots as keepers with my rig - especially birds in flight. After lugging the big rig around all day I need anti-inflamatories. I can hand hold the 60D and 400 with no problem.
Have a look at a few shots taken with this lens - it did take me a couple of months work to really get to know it.

http://stevekeeling.smugmug.com/Nature/Canon-400mm-56-Birds/21331962_kmvCMF#!i=1786201655&k=B5BRLsr

Little to add to the above reviews except to say that I trekked around the Alps for a month with this lens - something I wouldn't have done with the f4 500L. Lack of IS is listed as a "con", but IS would add to the weight in an unacceptable way for my needs. And when attempting to hit birds in flight, my shutter speeds are high enough to keep the image sharp (generally!)

I've used the 100-400 zoom, and found the IQ wasn't as good as this lens - and I was using it at 400 for the majority of the time. Given the reported dust issues with the zoom, this prime is my weapon of choice. (I couple it with the 70-300L.)

With my 7D, this gives a reach of around 640mm. the AF problems with teleconverters don't worry me: given the pin-sharp IQ, heavy cropping is likely to give the same results.

Call me fussy but although I found this lens sharp in good light, there were very few keepers in low light. In fact at at times almost unuseable in low light unless very high ISO with horrible attendant digital noise. I sold it and risked all with a mint 2nd hand 600mm f4 L non-is, but what a difference. I'm now getting sharp birds again, virtually all keepers.

Advantages

1. Light in Weight - the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM Lens is light in weight compared to the other Canon telephoto lenses . This is a huge advantage for bird photography, easy to maneuver when taking flight shots, not too tiring when trekking.
2. Excellent Optical Performance - as a member of the Canon L Lens Series, the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM Lens' overall optical performance is outstanding.
3. Fast focusing - thanks to the Ultrasonic Motor (USM), the 400 f/5.6 L internally focuses very fast and very quietly.
4. Sharp Images - the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM Lens performs superbly in the sharpness department. Even wide open, the 400 f/5.6 produces very sharp images.
5. Good Vignetting Performance - even the corners of full fame shots remain evenly colored without displaying any tendency to vignetting.

Disadvantages

1. Image Stabilisation - one of the compromises of this budget lens is that it doesn't have image stabilisation (IS). It can still be very successful for "handheld" or so-called "grab-shots" provided that a short exposure time and/or a higher ISO is used. When used together with the high quality EOS DSLR's recently introduced by Canon, this disadvantage can be compensated.
2. Water Resistance - another disadvantage of this lens is that it isn't 100% water resistant like its more expensive cousins.

Conclusion

The Canon EF 400mm f/5.6 L USM Lens is hugely successful for bird and wildlife photography and especially for flight shots. It offers a good level of performance at a relatively low price. Check out the quality of sample images on Ken Billington's Bird & Wildlife Photography

I have this lens and the more I use it the better it gets, I have gotten some very very sharp pics. I LOVE IT

Stellar lens that never disappoints

To Mike the Tamron 1.4x tele retains AF most of the time with this lens, the Canon almost never does. In any case I would not use it with a tele, you're killing the great quality.

There's nothing better than this for a hobbyist. If u want sth significantly better, u'll have to pay 4 times more. However, that too won't be for better IQ rather for more reach, low light performance and IS.

So, just grab it and keep on shooting. In good light from reasonable distance; nothing like it. I have it and love it.

Brillant,sharp,sharp,sharp. this lens is a pleasure to use,

outstanding value,a wonderfull product.

Most will understand what F 5.6,so do'nt expect to use thos early in morning,

or on dusk.this lens is reputed to be the best BIF in the world.

I have taken some stunning pics with this lens,at higher speeds,this lens is

just devine o,very little PPP needed.

Enjoy!

This lens is worth every penny, IMHO. One of the best lenses on the market for its price.

First, thanks to all previous reviewers who convinced me that this was the lense for me. I've had it for just a few days and it's a real delight to use! I'm still on the learning curve with regard to exposure times, higher ISO, etc. but I'm convinced I made the right choice.
Mike

A light, hand holdable, top quality product from Canon. An utter joy to use. Makes the 100-400 seem a heavy expensive unsharp waste. You shoot at high exposure so IS is an un necassary waste of time. Its a prime so its as sharp as a sharp thing. No sharpening needed if you do it right. Build quality as expected.

Down side is its not waterproof and its f5.6 so expect to use it in good light or up the ISO and spend time in Photoshop removing the noise.

All in all, you wont be dissapointed. Compare ISO exposures with the 100-400 at the-digital-picture.com then see why pros like primes. Yes they are harder work but boy are they good when you get it right.

Mick

This lens is the main reason I switched from Nikon to Canon, because Canon had this type of lens at an affordable price (less than GBP1000 at the time of purchase, in July 2008) and Nikon did not.
I am currently abroad and this lens has been invaluable for bird shots that I would otherwise not have got with my old Nikon D80 and Sigma 170-500mm set up.
There are two negatives (minor ones): the widest aperture is f5.6 but this can be overcome by use of higher shutter speeds and using 500 ISO instead of 200 ISO (for example), and the minimum focussing distance is 3.5 metres (I missed a male sunbird shot the other week because he was too close!) but these should not put off anyone thinking of buying one of these fantastic lenses.
If you're starting out in bird photography and you are on a budget (or even if you are not on a budget!) then I'd definitely recommend going the Canon route and getting one of these brilliant little lenses.

I have just purchased this lens and today I had the first real opportunity to try it on field. It's a very light lens and I could walk for 2 hours holding it, without feeling its weigth. Focusing is very fast. Sharpness seems to be very good. I like the lens hood, that can be locked in its operating position. I was not sure about rating the picture as 10 or a little less, meaning that I would have liked to have the same lens with an IS. Still I must say that until last week I was a Nikon-only photographer, but a rather unhappy one, because Nikon does not produce a convenient and portable 400mm f 5,6 and I was still using the manual focus one...you bet how happy I was today when I realized I could follow all those flying birds without going OOF!

Have only had it for a couple of months, but, WOW! what a great lens this is. Highly recommended.

I use the canon 400 and the sigma 170-500 the canon is a lot sharper and opticaly is a better lens.

iT is an absolute pleasure to use and if you purches this lens for birding you wont be dissapointed it is great,and i reccomend it to anyone wanting a good birding lens.