Skip to content
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM

Canon EF Autofocus OIS

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM

Focal length
400 mm
Aperture
f/2.8
Weight
5370 g
Filter diameter
52 mm
Min. focus distance
300 cm
Length
349 mm

At a Glance

The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM is a 400 mm telephoto prime for Canon EF full-frame cameras, with an f/2.8 maximum aperture and an optical stabilizer. At 5.37 kg it is very heavy. It is dust and drip resistant, and the minimum focus distance is 3 m. Its long reach suits wildlife, birds and sports.

Good for

  • Wildlife
  • Birds
  • Sports

Worth knowing

  • At 5.4 kg it is heavy: a monopod or tripod helps for longer sessions.

Derived from the manufacturer data, not from our own tests. How we check

Technical Specifications

Min. focal length
400 mm
Max. focal length
400 mm
Max. aperture (min. zoom)
f/2.8
Max. aperture (max. zoom)
f/2.8
Min. aperture
f/32
Elements
17
Groups
13
Weight
5,370 g (11.84 lb)
Filter diameter
52 mm
Min. focus distance
300 cm (118.11 in)
Max. magnification
1:6.7 (0.15×)
Length
349 mm (13.74 in)
Diameter
163 mm (6.42 in)
Released
September 1999

Manufacturer data: global.canon

Last checked: October 13, 2026 (against the manufacturer data) · How we check

Simulate depth of field and angle of view

Compare with other lenses

Which cameras does the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM fit?

The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM is a full-frame lens for Canon EF cameras. On full-frame bodies it uses the whole sensor; on APS-C Canon EF cameras its field of view equals 640 mm in full-frame terms.

Canon EF cameras

With the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R the lens can also be used on Canon RF cameras.

With the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS M the lens can also be used on Canon EF-M cameras.

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM compared

Key specs side by side with the most similar Canon EF lenses.

LensCanon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USMCanon EF 400mm F2.8L IS III USMCanon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USMCanon EF 400mm F4 DO IS II USM
Focal length400 mm400 mm400 mm400 mm
Max. aperturef/2.8f/2.8f/2.8f/4
Weight5,370 g2,840 g3,850 g2,100 g
Filter diameter52 mm52 mm52 mm52 mm
Min. focus distance300 cm250 cm270 cm330 cm
Length349 mm343 mm343 mm232.7 mm
Autofocusyesyesyesyes
Image stabilizationyesyesyesyes
Open these lenses in the comparison and add more

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM: FAQ

Does the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM have autofocus?

Yes, the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM has autofocus.

Does the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM have image stabilization?

Yes, the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM has optical image stabilization.

How much does the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM weigh?

The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM weighs 5,370 g. It is 349 mm long with a diameter of 163 mm.

What filter size does the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM use?

The Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM takes 52 mm screw-in filters.

How close can the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM focus?

The minimum focus distance of the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM is 300 cm, measured from the sensor plane.

Is the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM a full-frame lens?

Yes, the Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM covers full frame. On APS-C cameras its field of view equals 640 mm in full-frame terms.

Mastodon