Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x Review (dpreview)

EF 200-400mm

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS Extender 1.4x
Amazon | Adorama | B&H
rent it at Borrow Lenses

dpreview published their review of the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS Extender 1.4x lens. They reviewed the lens together with the folks at DxOMark. Some excerpts from the conclusion:

  • […] it’s clear that the 200-400mm is exceptionally good
  • On full frame it’s near-flawless, and there’s practically no perceptible sharpness penalty for using the extender
  • AF with static subjects is very fast and extremely accurate
  • […] unique among top-end super-telephoto zooms
  • […] absolutely stellar optics and innovative design earn the lens our top award

The EF 200-400mm f/4l IS 1.4x got dpreview’s Gold Award. DxOMark says about the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x:

[…] the Canon 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X offers image quality that’s close to the best in class, along with the convenience and versatility that’s otherwise lacking with those fixed focal length equivalents.

ef 200-400mm
Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x DxOMark scores without (left) and with (right) activated extender (Image credit: DxOMark)

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x Available For Rent At Borrow Lenses

 EF 200-400mm
Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS Extender 1.4x

Want to try out Canon’s new super-telephoto-zoom but can’t afford to pay the price of a small car (>$11.000)? You can rent the lens at Borrow Lenses (click here). Better to hurry up since you have to reserve the lens.

I featured a couple of reviews of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x:

Canon Explorer of Light Peter Read Miller had the opportunity to test the lens at the London Olympics 2012 (source: pixsylated). He says:

So, how does the lens perform? The copy I had was fantastic. I’m not an empirical tester—I just shot the lens daily at the London Olympics for 16 days on my EOS-1D X bodies, almost always wide open and usually under challenging lighting conditions. I think without the extender the sharpness is a match for any Canon prime telephoto and with the extender the performance is as good or better than any prime lens plus extender combination I have ever used. The auto-focus speed on the 1D X body is on a par with the latest Series II lenses. The image-stabilization allowed me to make a sharp photo of the Queen during the opening ceremonies at a shutter speed of 1/100 of a second at 560mm on a monopod.

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS Extender 1.4x can be purchased/pre-ordered at Amazon | Adorama | B&H

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM 1.4x Review (PetaPixel)

 EF 200-400mm f/4L

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS Extender 1.4x
Amazon | Adorama | B&H

Product description (from B&H’s product page)

  • High-Performance Telephoto Zoom Lens
  • Canon EF Mount
  • Aperture Range f/4-32
  • Built-in 1.4x Extender
  • Three-Mode Optical Image Stabilization
  • Ring USM Autofocus & Internal Focusing System
  • Power Focus Mode for Smooth Focus Shift
  • One Fluorite and Four UD Lens Elements
  • Fluorine Front & Rear Lens Coating
  • Highly Resistant to Dust and Water

PetaPixel reviewed Canon’s new super-telezoom monster that costs like a small car, the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS Extender 1.4x. Lots of sample images, also to test the built-in 1.4x extender. Some excerpts from the review:

  • The image quality of the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L is, in a word, excellent. Even when shot wide-open at f/4 or f/5.6, the contrast and sharpness of the lens is very good.
  • Autofocus is very fast and decisive, even on the EOS 5D Mk IIIbody
  • “Sharpness” is the middle name of the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L.
  • […] the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens is very sharp, very fast with autofocus and very versatile in terms of focal length.
  • Crisp, tack sharp and contrasty, the photos are what [you] would never have expected from a super telephoto zoom with an extender.
  • […] Canon priced the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens at exactly what it is worth.
Ef 200-400mm f/4L
Three stabilizer modes (image courtesy: PetaPIxel)
EF 200-400mm f/4L
The EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x has “Power Focus”, good for videography (image courtesy: PetaPixel)
[via PetaPixel]

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x Starts To Ship (and reviews and Canon DLC article)

EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x

It appears that Adorama and B&H started shipping pre-orders of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x lens. The lens has a price tag of $11,799 – just like a small car. Nevertheless, I am sure this lens will sell well with professional photographers.

There are some good reviews about the 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x. Canon Explorer of Light Peter Read Miller had the opportunity to test the lens at the London Olympics 2012 (source: pixsylated). He says:

So, how does the lens perform? The copy I had was fantastic. I’m not an empirical tester—I just shot the lens daily at the London Olympics for 16 days on my EOS-1D X bodies, almost always wide open and usually under challenging lighting conditions. I think without the extender the sharpness is a match for any Canon prime telephoto and with the extender the performance is as good or better than any prime lens plus extender combination I have ever used. The auto-focus speed on the 1D X body is on a par with the latest Series II lenses. The image-stabilization allowed me to make a sharp photo of the Queen during the opening ceremonies at a shutter speed of 1/100 of a second at 560mm on a monopod.

French site Le Monde de la Photo posted a in-depth review (Google translated) of the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x.

EF 200-400mm f/4L
Image courtesy: Le Monde de la Photo

B&H also posted their own review:

The lens is certainly aimed at those who need the ability to work quickly and deftly, and aside from the handling and speed afforded by it, the lens is also capable of producing imagery of the highest quality. The array of low-dispersion elements, fluorite and USD, coupled with the optimized optical structure and lens coatings resulted in imagery that left little to be desired. As with other L series lenses, the quality of imagery, overall performance, and design of the lens is suitable for any working situation, and the added benefit of this lens being able to produce such imagery with the convenience of both a zoom design and integrated 1.4x extender make it truly an effective tool that is ideally situated for sports, wildlife and nature photography.

Finally, for those who want to know the technical background of the lens, there is an article by Canon Digital Learning Center.

The lens should soon be available for rent at Borrow Lenses.

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS 1.4x: Amazon(click here) | Adorama (click here) | B&H (click here)