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Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM · Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF400mm f2.8L IS USM Front Slant w hood.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.
Canon · RF
RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM
A full-frame 400 mm f/2.8 telephoto prime with ring-type USM autofocus, optical stabilisation and a 52 mm drop-in filter system. It uses two fluorite elements and accepts Canon RF extenders.
- Mount
- Canon RF
- Focal length
- 400 mm
- Max aperture
- f/2.8
- Stabilisation
- Yes
- Weight
- 2,890 g
What reviewers say
Both praise sharp results at f/2.8, confident autofocus and smooth background blur, while treating cost and carrying weight as substantial drawbacks. Short handheld sessions are practical. Cameralabs finds little reason for existing EF Mark III owners to switch and criticises the lack of an Arca-Swiss foot; Digital Camera World reports strong results with both RF extenders.
From cameralabs.com, cameralabs.com and digitalcameraworld.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specOptics
- Lens type
- Prime
- Focal length
- 400 mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/2.8
- Minimum aperture
- f/32
- Optical construction
- Seventeen elements in thirteen groups
- Special elements
- Two fluorite elements and one Super UD element
- Coatings
- Super Spectra and ASC; fluorine coatings on front and rear elements
- Aperture detail
- Maximum f/2.8; minimum f/32
- Diaphragm
- Nine blades
- Angle of view
- Full-frame diagonal 6°10′
Mount and compatibility
- Mounts
- Canon RF
- Image circle
- Full frame
- Compatibility
- Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R cameras
- Teleconverter support
- Compatible with RF 1.4× and RF 2× extenders
Focus and stabilisation
- Autofocus
- Yes
- Minimum focus distance
- 2.5 m
- Maximum magnification
- 0.17×
- Optical stabilisation
- Yes
- Autofocus detail
- Ring-type USM with Power Doubled Focus Drive on compatible cameras; full-time manual override
- Focus distance detail
- 2.5 m minimum focus; two stored focus presets and variable-speed manual focusing
- Magnification detail
- 0.17× maximum magnification
- Stabilisation detail
- Canon rates optical IS at 5.5 stops with EOS R or EOS R5 under CIPA yaw/pitch conditions; modes 1, 2 and 3
- Video features
- Aperture control in 1/8-stop increments; power-focus mode for controlled focus transitions
Design
- Dust and moisture resistant
- Yes
- Filter diameter
- 52 mm
- Maximum diameter
- 163 mm
- Length
- 367 mm
- Weight
- 2,890 g
- Controls
- Focus ring, playback ring, focus-preset controls and customisable lens-function buttons; no custom control ring (Cameralabs)
- Filter detail
- 52 mm drop-in screw-type filter holder 52 (WIII), supplied with a clear Protect filter; optional circular polariser and gelatin holder
- Weather resistance
- Dust- and moisture-resistant construction with heat-reflective white paint
- Dimensions detail
- 163 mm maximum diameter × 367 mm length
- Weight detail
- Approximately 2,890 g lens
- Tripod mount
- Rotating built-in foot with 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch threads; no Arca-Swiss dovetail (Cameralabs)
- Lens hood
- ET-155 (WIII) included; shorter ET-155B optional
- In the box
- Lens, RF dust cap, drop-in screw-type filter holder 52 (WIII) with 52 mm Protect filter, E-180E soft cap, ET-155 (WIII) hood, LS400 soft case, Lens Wide Strap B and user manual
- Release detail
- July 2021 Japanese first release, confirmed retrospectively by Canon's March 2022 announcement and Camera Museum
Pros and cons
Pros
- f/2.8 maximum aperture
- Optical stabilisation
- Compatible with RF 1.4× and 2× extenders
Cons
- 2,890 g lens weight
- 367 mm barrel length before the hood
- No custom control ring
Closest rivals
Model | Mount | Focal length | Max aperture | Stabilisation | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon RF | 600 mm | f/4 | Yes | 3,090 g | Jul 2021 | |
| Canon RF | 800 mm | f/5.6 | Yes | 3,140 g | May 2022 | |
| Canon RF | 600 mm | f/11 | Yes | 930 g | Jul 2020 |
Sources
- canon.co.uk/store/canon-rf-400mm-f2-8l-is-usm-lens/5053C005
- downloads.canon.com/nw/lens/rf400mm-F2.8-L-IS-USM/RF400mm_F2.8L_specifications_…
- global.canon/en/c-museum/product/rf506.html
- global.canon/en/news/2022/20220328.html
- cameralabs.com/canon-rf-400mm-f2-8l-rf-600mm-f4l-review
- cameralabs.com/canon-rf-400mm-f2-8l-rf-600mm-f4l-review/3
- digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/canon-rf-400mm-f28l-is-usm-review
- Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM lens, standing front view: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM lens, standing side view showing the controls: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM lens, standing front view with the rear cap attached: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM lens, standing side view with the tripod foot attached: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM lens, three-quarter view with the lens hood and tripod foot attached: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM lens, alternate hood configuration with the tripod foot attached: Canon (official UK Store product photograph)
- Canon RF400mm f2.8L IS USM Front Slant w short hood, official press photograph: Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF400mm f2.8L IS USM Front Slant w short hood.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.
- Canon RF400mm f2.8L IS USM Front Slant w tripod ring, official press photograph: Canon Asia Photo Library; official press archive member RF400mm f2.8L IS USM Front Slant w tripod ring.jpg; complete supplied canvas and white background retained.