Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L II USM Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: wyndspeed
(Intermediate)

Review Date
May 7, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.25 of 5,
8 votes

Review 1 of 3

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

Saying this thing is BIG is an understatement. It took me a whole day to even get comfortable pulling it out of its case. When I did, though, I was amazed by its handling. Autofocus is lightning quick, and the images it produces are some of the sharpest, most pleasing I''ve seen. If you need long glass, this thing puts the 300 to shame.

Strengths:

f 2.8! Sharp, contrasty, beautiful background blur. Focus preset helps capture MANY moments, focus limiters keep things quick - even faster AF than my 70-200 f/2.8 L!. Oh, and with a 1.4x converter on a 1D, this thing ROCKS for baseball!

Weaknesses:

Size, weight. It''s huge and difficult to lug around on a moped (imagine that!) while carrying other gear. Once I got used to it though, it only got bothersome after hours of holding it. The price is awfully steep for such a specialty lens, and for current digital cameras it''s a bit long for most circumstances. 300''s better for digital most of the time.

Similar Products Used:

ef 300mm w/ 1.4x converter - about half the weight and not quite the sharpness.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Paul Burgman
(Professional)

Review Date
April 30, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
4 votes

Review 2 of 3

Price Paid: $7000.00 from KJP Calumet

Summary:

Cracking piece of kit, used all the time, and the case is ideal for sitting or standing on.

Strengths:

THis lens is so sharp you could cut yourself, I use it principle for sport, however extremely usefull for doorsteps, and court sntaches, focussing is spot on, wide open I love it, with the 1.4 or 2x extender still works fantastically. I am now ditching my 300 F2.8, the 400 F2.8 and 200 F1.8 have made it redundant.

Weaknesses:

Very Very heavy, I have hand held it down to 1/125 on a DCS520 (makes it a 600 F2.8) but wouldn't want to hand hold it all through a football match. Hood Lugs keep coming loose, other than that none.

Similar Products Used:

200mm F1.8, 300mm F2.8 500mm F4.5

Customer Service:

Never failed in action, never required customer service

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Rating
Reviewed by: Geoff Crimmins
(Professional)

Review Date
July 22, 1999

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 3 of 3

Model Reviewed:
EF 400mm f/2.8L II USM

Summary:

It's big, it's heavy, and there's nothing better for sports. I use the Mk.1 version, which I would give a rating of 4 because it's not as sharp as the 300 2.8. I haven't used the Mk. II, but I hear it's even sharper, so I would give it a 5. Value rating of 4 because it's so dadgum expensive

Strengths:

It's sharp and fast. The focus preset and variable speed manual focusing are both great.

Weaknesses:

It's Heavy!

Similar Products Used:

None

Customer Service:

Canon Pro Service has excellent turn around time.

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