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Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM

Canon EF Autofocus

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM

Focal length
400 mm
Aperture
f/5.6
Weight
1250 g
Filter diameter
77 mm
Min. focus distance
350 cm
Length
256.5 mm

At a Glance

At 1.25 kg, this 400 mm telephoto prime for Canon EF full frame is compact. The maximum aperture is f/5.6 and there is no stabilizer. It comes with a built-in lens hood, a focus range selector, ring USM and a removable tripod mount. It suits wildlife, birds and sports where reach matters.

Good for

  • Wildlife
  • Birds
  • Sports

Worth knowing

  • No optical stabilizer: on DSLRs without sensor stabilization, short shutter times or a tripod are needed.

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/5.6
Max. aperture (max. zoom)
f/5.6
Min. aperture
f/32
Elements
7
Groups
6
Weight
1,250 g (2.76 lb)
Filter diameter
77 mm
Min. focus distance
350 cm (137.8 in)
Max. magnification
1:9.1 (0.11Γ—)
Length
256.5 mm (10.1 in)
Diameter
90 mm (3.54 in)
Released
May 1993

Manufacturer data: global.canon

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

Simulate depth of field and angle of view

Compare with other lenses

Which cameras does the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM fit?

The Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L 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/5.6L USM compared

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

LensCanon EF 400mm f/5.6L USMCanon EF 400mm F4 DO IS II USMCanon EF 400mm f/4.0 DO IS USMCanon EF 400mm F2.8L IS III USM
Focal length400 mm400 mm400 mm400 mm
Max. aperturef/5.6f/4f/4f/2.8
Weight1,250 g2,100 g1,940 g2,840 g
Filter diameter77 mm52 mm52 mm52 mm
Min. focus distance350 cm330 cm350 cm250 cm
Length256.5 mm232.7 mm232.7 mm343 mm
Autofocusyesyesyesyes
Image stabilizationnoyesyesyes
Open these lenses in the comparison and add more

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM: FAQ

Does the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM have autofocus?

Yes, the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM has autofocus.

Does the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM have image stabilization?

No, the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM has no stabilization of its own. On cameras with in-body image stabilization (IBIS) the image is still stabilized.

How much does the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM weigh?

The Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM weighs 1,250 g. It is 256.5 mm long with a diameter of 90 mm.

What filter size does the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM use?

The Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM takes 77 mm screw-in filters.

How close can the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM focus?

The minimum focus distance of the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM is 350 cm, measured from the sensor plane.

Is the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM a full-frame lens?

Yes, the Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM covers full frame. On APS-C cameras its field of view equals 640 mm in full-frame terms.

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