Canon EF 400mm f/4 DO IS ii USM lens review with samples (Full-frame & APS-C)

I've been wanting to test this lens ever since I first met it at Photokina in 2014. That was a little while ago now, though - let's see if it's all it's cut out to be on modern, high resolution cameras.

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All pictures shot by me on Canon 6D, Sony a7R II, and Canon EOS M6 Mark ii cameras.

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Music:
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

[anand-iyer]

I have this lens and it pairs perfectly with my 5D4. Great combo for wildlife. You get amazing subject separation at F4 and is very useful in lower light situations where I found that the 100-400ii 5.6 would struggle a bit.

[stephenbarlow]

An interesting comparison would be to test the 300mm f2.8 IS. Either version. This has a reputation of being Canon's sharpest lens. The II version is only slightly heavier than the 400mm f4 DO II, and with a 1.4x extender creates a 420mm f4. The prices are similar for the 2 lenses and the 300mm f2.8 lenses have a reputation of being very sharp with teleconverters. I suspect that the 400mm DO might just be a tiny bit sharper than the 300mm f2.8 IS II with the the 1.4x extender, and the AF a bit faster - but not the bare 300mm f2.8 without the 1.4x extender. But I doubt there would be much in it, and the 300mm f2.8 would be more versatile, because of course it is also a 300mm f2.8.

[debissanuressa]

Anybody else press the like button and then watch Christopher’s video because you already know it’s going to be great?

[aldodefalco]

If you like this lens, Nikon makes a Phase Fresnel (diffractive) 300mm f/4 that’s super sweet, you should test it on the Z7. It’s amazingly compact, the size of a 24-70, and a lot more affordable than this, though still quite expensive

[DeputyNordburg]

I own, and Loooove this lens. It's so small and light vs a 400mm f2.8.

[RogerZoul]

The DO can sometimes yield some rather nervous bokeh for certain backgrounds. It doesn’t happen often for me, but it does happen from time to time. It would be easy to miss this if you only use the lens for a short time.

[jamesseward]

Thank you for doing more expensive lenses. Can you also test them with the tele converters attached? Thanks 😊

[tonyjedioftheforest]

Great review Chris as usual. I have bought loads of lenses on your recommendation and have been very happy with them all but unless I win the lottery I will have to give this one a miss. I must ask however how did your wife get that black eye?

[vikmanphotography]

The DO lenses are super cool, theoretically. Wish manufacturers still pursued the concept.

[maximpowers]

Ohh man... you are the best lens dude :)
Keep up the work, Love your revs...

[marklivesey]

Another great video one thing I would like to see you do is a comparison of a crop camera with a lens like this verses a full frame with the same lens but with a 1.4x tele converter in place to bring the image magnification to around the same as the crop and then the full frame without the 1.4x and images cropped down to around the same to see what works out best 👍👍👍

[mcunner]

I own an Ai-S 400mm f2.8 at 5.2KG and is manual focus which makes it difficult to hand hold and focus but is possible.
I love old manual lenses but would love a Nikon 400mm f4 with autofocus.

[KJulian]

Hi Christopher! Would you ever review the sony 70-200 GM? Love your reviews as always!

[HeroShotz]

Just like you said these type of lenses are to much for normal photographers. Thats why i love the 600 f11 despite the hate it gets. Anyone that uses it will love it the only ones that hate it never even used it lol.

[mohamedwalele]

Hi Chris, great review as always! Please could you re-test the sigma 18-35mm but on the m6 mkii with the 32.5mp sensor

[yixuz]

I have this lens (used, $4k...)!!! I also owned 300mm f2.8 is ii before, and my personal experience is the 300 mm is slightly sharper, especially with 2X extender.

[dangernba]

Amazing lens and great review as usual. Art Wolfe used the 400 DO (mark I) in Travels to The Edge, so I suppose that lens is really robust.

[RogerZoul]

My DO is very sharp on my 90D, so I am wondering if something is off with your copy. I have also used it a lot on a range of other bodies from the 7D mark 2, the 5DSR, and now the R5. Of course, the 90D has the highest pixel density. I have also used my 90D and the DO with a 1.4X teleconverter as well, and excellent sharpness was the result.

[mjaymilkyway]

the first to watch. Thanks for your dope work as usual, Christ.

[MrPedalpaddle]

I’d be interested in a comparison with the Canon 400 f/5.6. A stop slower, but 1/6 the price and lighter, more manageable.