Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS Image Stabilizer USM Autofocus Lens USA

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

Like I did, you're probably reading reviews for this lens because you are trying to figure out whether a non L-seies lens is worth the price tag, and if this diffractive optics experiment was a good thing.

First, the weight reduction. As others have pointed out, it is several pounds lighter (in some cases half the weight) compared to other telephotos of comparable focal length. To be able to hand hold (especially in the field, if you're after wildlife shots) is great, and at this weight one could keep it up for extended periods. Using this on a 5D Mk II. Tracking a heron in flight was not an issue.

Second, it does not seem flimsy. Seals are more than adequate. Some have noted issues with the assembly coming loose, but I can't see it so far. Time will tell. IS works well.

Thirdly, and the big question: image quality. It's really, really good. Focus is quick and dead on. Colors are true. Detail is retained very well. Bumping contrast in your RAW program, or via your favorite Photoshop technique, fully compensates for any softening the DO might have caused. This point is largely overstated by detractors. No lens flare issues seen.

It's a wonderful lens, and I'm quite happy with it. On pins and needles from the order placement until my first trip out with it, but now that I've seen what it can do firsthand, I'm not looking back. This thing comes out with me on hikes from now on.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

Used for wildlife shoots

Pros: easy to handhold with 1.4x giving a 900mm equivalent.
Great IS
Relatively lightweight
very fast autofocus
Perfect for handheld wildlife shoots

Cons: price, price, price (oh - did I n=mention the price :))

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I'm using this lens for primarily wildlife photography. I wanted a lens which travels well including in small commercial aircraft. I'm using a 1.4 extender with a Mark IIID. While have not had a chance to use the lens in the field, I have been using it in a limited fashion. It appears to have the portability and clarity needed to perform the intended tasks. The clarity of the captures are remarkable. The carrying case is provides substantial protection.

I think overall Canon did it right with this lens. If it was lighter in weight I would be happier, but isn't that always the complaint with any 400 lens?

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

This lens is my very favorite for wildlife photography (mainly birds). I say this having owned Canon telephotos since the manual focus days (400mm f/4.5 SSC) and having tried many of Canon's current L Tele lenses (100-400mm L zoom, 300mm f/4 L, 500mm f/4 L).

The 400mm DO is very sharp and produces great color. the "knock" on this lens is that it produces lower contrast than non-DO Canon L telephotos and I do see this is my shots taken in flat light. However, this can readily be adjusted in Photoshop and is not an issue when shooting in contrasty light. Most importantly, the 400 DO will get you shots that larger and/or heavier teles will not allow you to get. The 400mm DO weighs 4.27 pounds, while the other Canon "big tells" are as follows:

Canon 300mm f/2.8 L: 5.61 pounds
Canon 400mm f/2.8 L: 11.81 pounds
Canon 500mm f/4 L: 8.53 pounds
Canon 600mm f/4 L: 11.8 pounds
Canon 800mm f/5.6 L: 9.9 pounds

Put simply, the 400mm DO is wonderfully hand holdable while the other lenses are not. Yes, the 300mm f/2.8 L is probably light enough but 300mm is usually not enough for the birds I am shooting. I find the 400mm DO is very easy to use when shooting birds in flight! In fact, I have frequently shot my 400mm DO alongside other photographers who were using the Canon 500mm f/4 L. More often than not, if the action requires to take the camera off the tripod, I get the shot and they do not. In summary, I cannot overemphasize how useable and portable this lens really is (easy to get in suitcase or on an airplane too).

The 400mm DO also does very well with the Canon 1.4x Extender III. This combination with on my 7D camera is just a joy to use.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I've only owned the lens a short time so it will worth a follow up review after a year or so. Initial impressions are favorable. It is a pleasure to use because of the size and weight. I have owned the 600 f4 and 500 f4. Probably not a better lens on the planet than the 600 but it's a monster :). I use this lens on a 50D (1.6 crop factor), which makes it seem longer than it is. For large and medium wading birds, it is great. For mammmals, great. Sharpness was excellent and I had no contrast problems. I process incoming RAW files in Lightroom 3.3 and it is easy.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I use this lens for bird photography with a Canon 7D and a 1.4x extender. I love its portability.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I bought this great lens with the idea of using it on my backpacking trips for wildlife. Before, it was my 600mm that came with me but as many are aware, it is a very heavy lens. The quality of my images are fantastic and I am looking forward to using it much more in the future.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I debated between this lens, the 500 f4, and 300 f2.8. I do a lot of walking around shooting wildlife and I have back issues so weight was a very big factor in my choice. I rented this lens first to test it out and then decided to purchase as this was the lightest weight of the three options. I find it very easy to carry in the field for long walks. The naked lens is very sharp. It also takes a 1.4x TC well. I have read reviews that the 500 f4 is sharper with the 1.4x TC but the 400 DO with 1.4x is still quite sharp enough for my taste.

The autofocus is very quick to lock on for birds in flight if the delimiter is set for the longer distance. This is true even with the 1.4x TC.

With the 11.5 ft minimum focusing distance I find with the 1.4x TC that I can still fill the frame with a subject as small as a chickadee.

I have owned the lens for 10 weeks and use it on a 7D body.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I have had a 500mm f/4 L for several years. However, it is really hard to hand-hold that lens for any length of time, and increasingly hard to travel with it with the increasing baggage weight restrictions on airlines. I got the 400 DO about four months ago, mainly for wildlife photography here and overseas and I love it. It is easy to handhold and pack for travel. Rather than trying to pack the heavy tripod & Wimberly gimbal I use for the 500, I rely on hand-holding & bean bag for the 400 + 1.4X TC, and if really needed, it is light enough to use my Velbon carbon-fiber spotting scope tripod. Because I have the lens with me, I am getting far more, super-sharp photos.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I've owned the 400 DO for 4 years opting for the light weight and easy handling. It replaced a 500 f4 IS Canon lens that was excellent but heavy for me.
The DO isn't as sharp as the 500 and that is my major complaint. I recently purchased a new 500 (like the one I sold for the 400) and am pleased with photo quality.

The switch for the A-F and IS project from the barrel and are easily moved during handling. Canon could fix this easily. The lens rotation in the mounting ring is inferior to Canon's other big tele's. For the price of the lens I would expect the same smoothness. There is no de-tent to "feel" when the lens is rotated 90 degrees, for instance.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

Why did I wait so long to get this lens? I have been using a Canon 100-400mm f/4-5.6 L zoom for my bird/wildlife shots up until now. This prime lens is superb. There is no comparison in sharpness, clarity, and image quality.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

Had been using the Canon 100-400 f:4-5.6 for several years, but the resolution was not perfect when it should have been (tripod mounted, shutter cable, mirror lock-up), so decided I needed a fixed focus lens, and was doubting between the 400mm f:4 DO and the Canons 500mm F:4 and 300 f:2.8. Two firends have the 300 and praise about the image quality, but they use it with the converter most of the time, and since I need a longer range decided against this seemengly fabolous lens, plus they complain about the weight. Another frend has the 500mm but often he leaves the 500 in the car or house because of the weight, and on a boat trip we did, he didn't take any picture while I used my 100-400 extensively. So after checking the review of recent copies of the 400 DO, and playing with it at Canon, decided to purchase it.
I do not regret a bit, it is very sharp, sharper than the 100-400. With the 1.4 TC the pictures are still quite sharp, when with the 1.4 TC on the 100-400 the resolution decreases significantly. See no difference in the contrast between both lenses. The increase in weight from the 100-400 is minimal so I carry the 400 DO all the time.
My friend with the 500mm is now selling it to purchase the 400mm DO.
The one thing I don't like is the lens cover, it is not very practical, plus the lens with cap does not fit in my Lowe Pro Compu Trekker with the rest of the equipment, so I carry it without cap. This, however, is true for all the Canon long lenses.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

Pros: I use this lens mostly for bird photography, perched and in-flight. The lens is super sharp, lightweight compared to equivalent EF L lens with IS. I find myself using this lens more and more. Adapts well to Canon's 1.4X TC with little loss of IQ, although AF speed suffers a tiny bit. Never need a tripod with this baby!!

Cons: A bit expensive and a bit of contrast adjustment necessary in many images but this is not a big deal!

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I was looking for a high performance super telephoto without the weight of the 400f2.8. This lens is compact and light enough to carry on extended hikes and the 1.4X and 2.0X tele-converters extend the range to 800mm. Image stabilization makes hand holding feasible except with 2.0X tele-converter. I use with the 5D MarkII with good results. Occasional color fringes are removed with the provided Mark II software.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I too procrastinated for some years over whether to buy the 400mm 2.8L, or to ignore all the critics in favour of weight & price. Now I wonder just why I waited at all! This is a superb lens for animal & bird work, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I also have the 300mm f/2.8L IS, and without doubt it deserves all the accolades it receives, but to my mind, the difference in image quality I'm getting from this new DO is negligible. I was asked why I didn't just add the 1.4x converter to the 300mm, and the reason being is that it is just not a walk-around set-up like this 2kg, being far too bulky and significantly heavier. I've been in this game for over 40 years, and I can tell you without a moment's hesitation that this is a cracking good lens, and worth every cent. Forget the nay-sayers..... they've probably never owned one for long enough to find its true value.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I and my wife both own one of these incredible lenses. I print 24 x 36 prints with this lens attached to a 1D Mark III, and even with a 2x extender at 800mm, this lens picks up the folds in the skin under the eyes of the birds we shoot. The great thing is that you can walk around and hand hold the lens which allows you to capture a lot more action since you aren't tied to a tripod. I also have the 600mm, but it's far too heavy to hand hold. This lens is far more practical if you like walking around with your lens, as compared to the 400 2.8 which I bought and returned in 2 days. That thing is a beast.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I hemmed and hawed and put off buying this controversial lens. After 2 years of hesitation I bought a used one. WOW! It is SHARP and contrasty and focuses fast on my 1Ds2. Now I wonder what all the negativity is about. Very lightweight for a 400f4 and the IS seems to work exceptionally well. Biggest lens I can handhold and I can do it as easily as my 300f4. I will keep my 500f4 but will be substituting this lens w a 1.4tc whenever weight and/or bulk is a factor. It is very sharp with the 1.4 tc.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

Although I must admit I only borrowed this lens from Canon temporarily to test it out...and compare to the 300 f2.8 IS USM I own, it does stand up to the test! Might be VERY SLIGHTLY less sharp than the 300 (but then EVERY other lens is less sharp), it is still very acceptable and good compromise of weight and usability.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

The early DO's were sketchy in clarity. This lens is not. Another reviewer posted that pre-2002 models may have hadproductions problems, which is probably the source of manyof the early bad reviews for this piece of glass. If youcan stand the trade-off in f-stop, this lens is worth it'sprice in terms of weight, size and convenience.I have never been able to find any traces of the concentricaberration that some claimed plagued the DO's, in backlit,high-contrast, and unusual lighting situations.The green band could easily be a red one. This lens is akeeper.

Expertise: Professional

Problems Encountered: No problems. Price is on the steep side, but you get whatyou pay for.

Previous Equivalent Item Owned: 70-200 IS f2.8L, 70-300 DO IS, 500mm f4L, 24-70 f2.8 L, 17-40 f4L

Items I Recommend: A good tri or monopod.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 400mm f/4.0 DO (Diffractive Optics) IS USM AF Lens:

I have owned 2 of these lenses. Both were excellent. Theselling features were weight, size and general portability. While you do give up some degree of perceived sharpness(relative to the non-DO super-telephotos) the images werequite sharp IMHO.This lens was used for wildlife photography and took the1.4x teleconverter well. Many of the mixed reviews one mayread online come from early production models. I have readthat there were some production issues prior to 2002,however they have long since been resolved. However if youare buying used equipment, you'll want a post 2002 build.For hiking & wildlife photography I would highly recommendthis lens.

Problems Encountered: None - other then the price. I wish it were less expensive.

Previous Equivalent Items Owned: 300mm 2.8, 100-400mm IS, 70-300mm DO

Items I Recommend: 1.4X Teleconverter