Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM is widely regarded as a professional-grade 'gold standard' zoom lens, praised for its exceptional sharpness, robust build quality, and fast autofocus. While it is an older EF-mount lens, it remains a top recommendation for wildlife and bird photography, even when adapted to mirrorless systems. Its primary drawback is its significant weight and 'hefty' profile compared to newer RF alternatives.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness and image quality, often compared to prime lens performance
- Professional 'L' series build quality with weather sealing and durability
- Excellent performance when paired with 1.4x teleconverters
- Fast and reliable autofocus that remains competitive on modern mirrorless bodies
- Significant value for money when purchased used or refurbished
Cons
- Heavy and bulky (approx. 1.5kg to 1.7kg), which can be fatiguing for handheld use
- Manual focus ring is prone to accidental bumps due to its placement
- Mechanically linked manual focus ring cannot be disabled via camera settings in AF mode
Caveats
- Requires an EF-to-RF adapter for use on Canon R-series mirrorless cameras, which adds to the overall length and weight
- The 400mm reach can feel 'short' on full-frame bodies for certain wildlife applications without a teleconverter
Best for
- Wildlife and bird photography
- Photographers who prioritize image quality and build over portability
- Users looking for a professional-grade telephoto zoom on a budget (via the used market)
Avoid if
- You require a lightweight, 'walk-around' telephoto lens
- You want to avoid using lens adapters on a mirrorless camera body
- You primarily shoot in very low-light conditions where a faster prime is necessary
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence comes from 30 selected mentions with a median age of 309 days, primarily from the r/canon community.
Sentiment
45 positive (88%) · 5 mixed (10%) · 1 negative (2%)
Trust + time weighted score: +85% · raw score 86%
What redditors said (10 of 51)
Nice! Is that a 100-400 II? Loved that lens.
Works great, performance is excellent, it’s just a hefty package. ... the only negative is the weight. It’s 1550g, 1700 with tripod ring and lens hood, plus RF adapter. RF 100-400 is 665g, and while there’s an IQ difference, I notice that I grab the RF 100-400 way more often, especially to pair with R50, it’s a bit overwhelmed by the chonk of EF 100-400 L ii.
Someone else mentioned EF 100-400 L ii as an option, I’ll just share that I love that lens, it was my first really great long lens, it remains one of the best and sharpest handheld daylight zooms available…
The EF 100-400 L ii was one of the best handheld wildlife lenses in the world when introduced, and remains a contender in that category.
The EF 100-400 II is a much better lens in all aspects than the RF 100-400 IMHO. ... while both lenses are excellent performers in their own right, the EF II has a brighter aperture range (not by very much but every bit counts). The build quality of the EF II is much better but then also weighs a lot more so if weight is a major point for selection then the RF wins hands down here.
The EF is faster, more robust, weather sealed, and has a bit better sharpness from what I've seen.
The EF 100-400 II is not a prime - but without TC and under 300mm it's hard to tell, if at al. It's at the top end of lenses that fit in my handbag with body attached. Definitely worth the extra cost.
if you’re primarily concerned with image quality then yes, the EF ii is superior image quality (and the focusing difference is nonexistent). ... the image quality and extra stop of light is a decent trade off.
I currently have the EF 100-400 II and love using it with a 1.4 iii TC. This combo has served me well
My 100-400 ii lives on it most of the time these days
Compare
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM vs Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STMCanon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM vs Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USMCanon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM vs Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Related
- Canon EOS R7 · related · 750 mentions
- Canon EOS R8 · related · 736 mentions
- Sennheiser HD 600 · related · 638 mentions
- R6ii · related · 611 mentions
- Canon EOS R50 · related · 602 mentions
- Canon EOS R10 · related · 453 mentions