Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM review - Summary

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Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM

29 December 2009

Arkadiusz Olech

11. Summary

Pros:

high build quality,
splendid or very good image quality in the frame center at all focal lengths and apertures,
very good frame edge performance,
low chromatic aberration,
negligible distortion,
low coma,
low astigmatism,
low vignetting at all focal lengths,
silent, quick and accurate autofocus,
rich accessory kit included.

Cons:

weak performance against bright light,
image stabilization not efficient by today’s standards

If the Canon 100-400 mm USM IS was equipped with the second generation stabilization system, allowing to work with 4 EV efficiency, and a bit better coatings we would pronounce it to be an ideal lens – for many applications even unique. I think the rumours about its withdrawal from the market and launching its successor are very real. We would have a move similar to the case of an L 70-200 f/4.0 lens, where Canon added IS to the old model and very good optical properties transformed into outstanding optical properties. Here the changes can be even smaller – a slight optics and stabilization improvement will give you a market hit for sure. Of course as long as Canon don’t go over the top with the price…

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Sample shots:


Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 400 mm, f/7.1, exp. 1/1000 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.3 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 300 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/500 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 350 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/400 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.0 MB

Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 350 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/800 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.7 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 135 mm, f/7.1, exp. 1/1000 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 400 mm, f/7.1, exp. 1/800 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.8 MB

Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 365 mm, f/7.1, exp. 1/500 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.4 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 400 mm, f/7.1, exp. 1/400 sec., ISO 800 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.9 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 200 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/6400 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.5 MB

Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 100 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/1000 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.5 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 100 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 1600 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.3 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 130 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/100 sec., ISO 800 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.0 MB

Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 100 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/100 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.7 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 300 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/500 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.2 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 100 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/320 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 4.3 MB

Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 400 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/2000 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.1 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 200 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/2500 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.7 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 400 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1600 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.7 MB

Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 135 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/125 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 100 mm, f/4.5, exp. 1/200 sec., ISO 200 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.7 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 100 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/80 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.0 MB

Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 400 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/50 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 170 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/400 sec., ISO 400 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.6 MB	Camera: Canon 20D Parameters: 100 mm, f/4.5, exp. 1/100 sec., ISO 100 File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.3 MB