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Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM

Canon EF Autofocus OIS

Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM

Focal length
500 mm
Aperture
f/4
Weight
3190 g
Filter diameter
52 mm
Min. focus distance
370 cm
Length
383 mm

At a Glance

This 500 mm telephoto prime for Canon EF full frame has an f/4 maximum aperture and an optical stabilizer with several modes. It weighs 3.19 kg, is dust and moisture resistant, and has fluorite elements and a drop-in filter slot. Minimum focus distance is 3.7 m. It is a fit for wildlife, birds and sports.

Good for

  • Wildlife
  • Birds
  • Sports

Worth knowing

  • At 3.2 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
500 mm
Max. focal length
500 mm
Max. aperture (min. zoom)
f/4
Max. aperture (max. zoom)
f/4
Min. aperture
f/32
Elements
16
Groups
12
Weight
3,190 g (7.03 lb)
Filter diameter
52 mm
Min. focus distance
370 cm (145.67 in)
Max. magnification
1:6.7 (0.15×)
Length
383 mm (15.08 in)
Diameter
146 mm (5.75 in)

Manufacturer data: global.canon, canon-europe.com

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 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM fit?

The Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II 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 800 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 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM compared

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

LensCanon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USMCanon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS USMSigma 500mm F4 DG OS HSM SportSigma 500mm F4.5 EX DG HSM
Focal length500 mm500 mm500 mm500 mm
Max. aperturef/4f/4f/4f/4.5
Weight3,190 g3,870 g3,310 g3,150 g
Filter diameter52 mm52 mm46 mm46 mm
Min. focus distance370 cm450 cm350 cm400 cm
Length383 mm387 mm380.3 mm350 mm
Autofocusyesyesyesyes
Image stabilizationyesyesyesno
Open these lenses in the comparison and add more

Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM: FAQ

Does the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM have autofocus?

Yes, the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM has autofocus.

Does the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM have image stabilization?

Yes, the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM has optical image stabilization.

How much does the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM weigh?

The Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM weighs 3,190 g. It is 383 mm long with a diameter of 146 mm.

What filter size does the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM use?

The Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM takes 52 mm screw-in filters.

How close can the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM focus?

The minimum focus distance of the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM is 370 cm, measured from the sensor plane.

Is the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM a full-frame lens?

Yes, the Canon EF 500mm f/4.0L IS II USM covers full frame. On APS-C cameras its field of view equals 800 mm in full-frame terms.

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