Lens Reviews / Canon Lenses i Lab tested

400mm	$6,899 average price

SLRgear Review
01/19/2015
by William Brawley

Ah, one of the rare Canon L-series lenses not to sport that distinctive red ring. Indeed, the newly redesigned Canon EF 400mm ƒ/4 DO IS II USM, like other Canon "DO" lenses, uses a green ring to denote the use of special Diffractive Optics. The original model was released back in 2001, and this updated "Mark II" version not only gets subtle cosmetic updates, but also a notable redesign in its optical formula aimed at increasing image quality and reducing flare.

Why use Diffractive Optics? Telephoto lenses for DSLR cameras reaching into the 300mm, 400m and beyond often necessitate very large sizes. These supertelephoto lenses often wind up weighing pounds upon pounds with price tags hitting five figures. Take the Canon 400mm ƒ/2.8L IS II lens, for example. This large lens is over 13 inches long and weighs over eight pounds -- and costs over $11,000. Of course, one of the big factors to its size and price is the bright ƒ/2.8 aperture. But for those who don't need as large an aperture, a 400mm lens with DO optics offers significant weight reductions while still keeping a decently-wide aperture, built-in IS and, most importantly, that long, 400mm focal length.

While the new Canon EF 400mm ƒ/4 DO IS II USM might not be as pricey as the 400mm ƒ/2.8, this new telephoto prime is a very serious lens with a retail price of $6,899. With your purchase, the lens ships with a Canon locking 400D hard case with keys, cloth lens cap, metal lens hood, tripod mount with removable foot, lens strap, strap case, and of course, a standard rear lens cap.

But is the lens actually any good? Read on to find out…

Sharpness
On a full-frame body, the Canon 400mm DO II is sharp, though not as tack sharp as the 400mm ƒ/2.8 II; still, the 400 DO II is quite good. Being a longer focal length lens, the sharpness is very uniform across the frame, without any noticeable corner softness, even wide-open. The lens displays optimal sharpness both wide-open and stopped down, with diffraction limiting softness coming into play at around ƒ/22-ƒ/32. On a sub-frame camera, the sharpness is only marginally improved due to the smaller image circle, but overall we found the same pleasing results as with the full-frame camera. Again, diffraction-related softness starting coming into effect around ƒ/22-ƒ/32.

Seeing as this lens is ideal for wildlife, sports and even a great choice for birds-in-flight and airshows, we felt that many photographers would be interested to see how this lens performs with a teleconverter. We just so happened to have access to a Canon 1.4x TC II and tested it. On a full-frame camera, we saw a slight dip in image sharpness when using the teleconverter, but performance overall is quite above par. We also found similarly impressive performance on our sub-frame test camera as well. Diffraction-related softness at the extremely small apertures (now down to ƒ/32-ƒ/45) is more significant than on the bare lens.

In the end, while the 400mm ƒ/4 DO II is not as sharp as the 400mm ƒ/2.8 II lens, the substantial savings in both size and weight, as well as sheer cost, more than make up for it.

Chromatic Aberration
As one would hope from a nearly-$7000 lens, chromatic aberration is very minimal. On both full- and sub-frame cameras, CA was very low, and despite our graphs indicating a slight increase in CA on sub-frame cameras at smaller apertures, our test images displayed barely any perceptible CA, both wide-open and stopped down.

With the Canon 1.4x II TC attached, both full-frame and sub-frame cameras display increased CA, though still very minor. This is often one of the expected compromises when using teleconverters. When looking at some of our test images, you can see very faint blue/magenta fringing on high-contrast edges out in the corners.

Shading (''Vignetting'')
Like CA, vignetting on this telephoto lens is very, very low. On a full-frame camera, we did register some slight corner shading -- to the tune of around 0.25EVs of light falloff -- at ƒ/4. Vignetting steadily decreased, dropping to about half that at ƒ/8, and then reducing even further as you stopped down more. As expected, vignetting is barely perceptible on a sub-frame camera. Wide-open, the vignetting we observed on a full-frame sensor is cut in half at ƒ/4, and stopping down, even a stop or so, nearly completely eliminates corner shading. Adding on the 1.4x teleconverter, we saw similar vignetting characteristics to the bare lens, on both sensor sizes.

Distortion
As you expect from a long, telephoto lens, geometric distortion on the Canon 400mm DO II is practically nonexistent, for both full- and sub-frame cameras. Adding the teleconverter does increase barrel distortion somewhat, but overall, it's a very minor effect, especially on a sub-frame camera.

Autofocus Operation
The Canon 400mm DO II lens uses Canon's Ultrasonic Motor for super-fast, quiet autofocus, as well as full-time manual focus override of AF. In our tests, the AF performance on this lens was superb, with quick, precise focusing taking under one second to rack from minimum distance to infinity focus.

Like many other Canon supertelephoto lenses, the 400mm DO II is outfitted with a focus preset system, which lets the user pre-program focus at specific distance and then quickly recall the lens to automatically focus at that particular mark. To do this, simply autofocus normally using a half-press or manual focus, press the "SET" button on the side of the lens, and then when needed, rotate the thin, "gear-like" toggle ring (called the "playback ring" in Canon lingo) in front of the focus ring to the left or right to snap the lens into focus at your preset distance.

The lens also is equipped with a focus limiter switch, allowing for quicker autofocusing by limiting the range in which the lens elements have to move in order to achieve focus. Focus limiting options on the 400 DO II are 3.3m to 8m, 8m to infinity, and the full range of 3.3m to infinity. There are several focus 'hold' buttons on the rubberized front collar of the lens, allowing autofocus to be temporarily paused if needed.

Following the lead of the "Mark II" versions of the 300mm ƒ/2.8 and 400mm ƒ/2.8 lenses, the new 400 DO II also includes PF (''power focus'') mode, which allows for electronically controlled autofocus. This is useful for video recording where you'd want smooth, precise focus pulling rather than relying on the large manual focus ring. Using the same bi-directional playback toggle ring previously mentioned with focus presets, Power Focus allows for constant speed focus pulling, with two speed settings available.

Macro
The 400mm ƒ/4 DO II isn't designed for macro style shooting, offering just 0.13x magnification and a minimum focusing distance of 3.3 meters (just a bit over ten feet). Close focusing performance is slightly better with this Mark II version compared to its predecessor, which needed a minimum of 3.5m (11.5 ft.) to focus.

Build Quality and Handling
While it might not have an "L" in the model name, the Canon 400mm ƒ/4 DO II, not surprisingly, is considered part of Canon's L-series line of top-quality, professional lenses. Finished in classic Canon white, this large lens is, as they say, "built like a tank." The build quality is simply impressive, as are Canon's other L-series lenses. As expected, the Canon 400mm DO II is fully weather-sealed like many of Canon's other big telephoto lenses, including a rubbery gasket on the lens mount.

The solid, all-metal construction feels great in the hands, and when comparing this lens side-by-side with the 400mm ƒ/2.8L IS II it's amazing how much lighter and more balanced this DO lens actually is. Weighing in at 4.6 lbs., the Mark II lens is actually just a hint heavier than the Mark I version (which weighed 4.6 lbs.) and is significantly lighter than the ƒ/2.8 option, which tipped the scales at around 8.5 lbs. The physical dimensions of the 400 DO II, however, are identical to the old Mark I lens.

Mounted on a large 1D-series camera, the 400mm DO II is very well-balanced and very usable handheld. The 400mm ƒ/2.8 on the other hand feels very front-heavy due to those large glass front elements. The 400 ƒ/2.8 can be handheld comfortably for short periods, though it's more at-home atop a monopod or tripod. The 400mm DO II feels almost featherweight in comparison -- a great option for fast action, birds-in-flight or other subject matter where a more stationary setup would be awkward or frustrating.

Optically, the Canon 400mm DO II lens features notable changes compared to the previous version. The biggest improvement centers around the DO elements themselves. The Mark II uses a new gapless, dual-layer DO element design. While the first version uses a single diffraction grating, the Mark II version features two elements with separate diffraction grating sandwiched together to help cut down on excessive light rays. (See Canon's article on multi-layer DO elements.)

Furthermore, the Mark II lens places the DO element farther back into the lens barrel itself rather than toward the front as with the first version. This helps reduce flare issues that were reportedly a big issue with the original model. (Note: we have never had an opportunity to review the original version.) Overall, the 400 DO II uses a total of 18 elements situated in 12 groups and includes one aspheric element and UD element. The front and rear lens elements feature fluorine coatings.

On the exterior, the lens features a number of switches, buttons and dials as well as a standard focus distance window. The vast majority of buttons and switches are located along the left-hand side of the lens. Right up near the lens mount sit the AF/PF/MF slider switch for selecting focus mode (AF, MF or Power Focus), and below that the three-way focus distance limiter switch.

Further up the lens barrel, there is a switch for Image Stabilizer settings. The 400 DO II includes the usual Mode 1 and 2 options, as seen in a number of other Canon IS lenses. The lens's IS system is tripod-aware. Mode 1 is the general-purpose option for horizontal and vertical stabilization, while Mode 2 is reserved for panning motions. The Mark II lens also includes a Mode 3 option, which is a newer mode introduced on Canon's newer telephoto lenses and "Mark II" supertelephoto updates. This option is like Mode 1, but enables I.S. only when you fully press the shutter button, as opposed to activating the stabilizer during a half-press. Canon states this is beneficial for fast action and sports shooting where you're moving the camera around sporadically, and can therefore avoid the distracting jump or jitter seen in the viewfinder when IS engages (this would also presumably help save battery power as I.S. is only enabled when absolutely needed).

We tested the IS system on this lens with a full-frame camera, and it was fantastic. Click on the I.S. Test tab at the top for the results.

Toward the front of the lens sits a large rubbery-ridged focus ring, and in front of that, is the "Playback ring." This thin, notched toggle ring is used both for Focus Presets, to snap the lens to a previously set focus distance, and for use in Power Focus mode. This ring only rotates a few degrees left and right, so for Power Focus, for instance, you rotate and hold to focus closer and the other direction for farther away. And finally, there's a second rubberized ring near the front of the lens, however this one does not rotate. It's actually primarily a comfortable handgrip area, and the grip ring also includes a handful of AF Stop buttons, that are used to temporarily pause AF operation.

The front element of the 400mm is too large for traditional screw-on filters, and uses 52mm drop-in filters that fit into the removable slot in the rear of the lens next to the mount. The included tripod mount is very sturdy and features carrying strap mounting lugs and a removable foot should you desire to substitute it for a different style, such as an Arca-Swiss-type.

Alternatives
There's actually quite a bit of competition and alternative for Canon shooting looking for a lens in the 400mm range:

Not surprisingly, the most apt alternative the Mark II lens is the original Canon 400mm ƒ/4 DO IS lens. The lens keeps the same size and weight as the new model, however, the optical construction is very different and the lens reportedly had issues with flare and the DO element did cause some image quality degradation compared to it's non-DO counterparts. While we never had the opportunity to test the original 400mm DO lens, Roger Cicala at LensRentals did an Imatest comparison and confirmed that the new models produces significantly sharper images.

Another main competitor would be it's big ƒ/2.8 brother. The Canon 400mm ƒ/2.8L IS II is a massive lens (less massive, though, than its own Mark I predecessor) and twice as heavy as the 400 DO II. The bright ƒ/2.8 aperture and traditional (non-DO) optical construction make for a very large, heavy lens. However, the ƒ/2.8 version is very sharp -- sharper than the DO MkII lens. It's also more appropriate for shooting in low light. Unfortunately, it's also significantly more expensive at around $11,000+.

Canon does offer a rather "budget-friendly" option for a 400mm prime lens: the 400mm ƒ/5.6L. Going for around $1,300-1,400, this lens is by far, much more affordable than the DO and ƒ/2.8 versions. The ƒ/5.6 model maintains great L-series build quality and image quality performance, but it lacks some weather-sealing and most importantly, Image Stabilization. The ƒ/5.6 aperture is not the brightest, so this lens is most appropriate for outdoor, daytime shooting or for use on a tripod.

Lastly, Canon also offers a 100-400mm ƒ/4.5-5.6L IS lens. At 400mm, the lens is essentially the same as the 400mm ƒ/5.6L lens, but with the added benefit of image stabilization. Unlike these other primes lenses, though, the 100-400mm offers the versatility of a zoom. It might not be as sharp as the 400mm primes, at least wide-open, but it a much more convenient option if you need more focal lengths. Canon recently announced a Mark II version of this year, and while we haven't had the chance to review it, we are eager to do so.

Conclusion
The Canon EF 400mm ƒ/4 DO IS II USM is a fantastic, professional-level supertelephoto lens. As a significant upgrade optically compared to the original version, the 400mm DO II is an even more attractive option over the heavy, expensive 400mm ƒ/2.8L IS II. For professional and serious wildlife, sports and action photographers who don't want or need a fast, low-light-friendly ƒ/2.8 supertelephoto prime, the 400mm DO II version offers healthy savings in both cost and weight. Image quality is very good, and the built-in I.S is extremely impressive. I.S. a very welcome feature for such a long lens -- a notable benefit over the ƒ/5.6L version in Canon's 400mm lens lineup. Solid as a rock, new Canon EF 400mm ƒ/4 DO IS II USM is one heck of a lens that would do very nicely at your next outdoor sporting event or wildlife safari.

Product Photos

Gallery Images

See gallery photos shot with this lens by photographer Jeremy Gray
in his Canon 7D Mark II Field Test.
Look for images with "400mmDOII" in the filename.

Sample Photos

The VFA target should give you a good idea of sharpness in the center and corners, as well as some idea of the extent of barrel or pincushion distortion and chromatic aberration, while the Still Life subject may help in judging contrast and color. We shoot both images using the default JPEG settings and manual white balance of our test bodies, so the images should be quite consistent from lens to lens.

Still Life shot

VFA target

As appropriate, we shoot these with both full-frame and sub-frame bodies, at a range of focal lengths, and at both maximum aperture and ƒ/8. For the ''VFA'' target (the viewfinder accuracy target from Imaging Resource), we also provide sample crops from the center and upper-left corner of each shot, so you can quickly get a sense of relative sharpness, without having to download and inspect the full-res images. To avoid space limitations with the layout of our review pages, indexes to the test shots launch in separate windows.