Canon L EF 200-400mm IS USM Extender 1.4x 400mm
The built-in 1.4x extender instantly shifts this 200-400mm f/4 lens to a 280-560mm f/5.6, offering unmatched focal length flexibility without swapping glass. Its optical design, incorporating one fluorite and four UD elements, delivers sharp, high-contrast images with minimal chromatic aberration. This lens is best for professional sports and wildlife photographers who need to rapidly adapt to changing distances in demanding outdoor environments.
Snapshot
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews - so you can see whether early praise held up.
- Q4 2013100/100
Buyers in Q4 2013 praise this lens as extremely sharp, versatile, and a worthy replacement for multiple primes. Handheld use is easy, and the built-in converter is highly effective.
- Extremely sharp throughout zoom range and with 1.4x extender engaged
- Versatile replacement for multiple primes (200-500mm) in one lens
- Easy to handhold, lighter than 500mm f/4, good for travel and field use
- Built-in 1.4x converter loses little image quality or focusing speed
- Q3 2013100/100
Buyers in Q3 2013 unanimously praise this lens as versatile, sharp, and exceeding expectations for sports and wildlife, despite its weight and cost.
- Exceptional versatility and optical quality
- Built-in teleconverter works seamlessly
- Fast and quiet autofocus, excellent IS
- Heavy but manageable with monopod or tripod
Based on 20 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Telephoto-zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 400 |
| Focal Length Max | 400 |
| Elements | 25 |
| Groups | 20 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/4 |
| Min Aperture | f/32 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Canon EF |
| Format | Full-Frame |
| Weight | 3.6 kg / 8.0 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 52 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 2000 |
| Max Magnification | 1:6.67 |
vs Competition
| Spec | Canon L EF 200-400mm IS USM Extender 1.4x 400mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN | Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 | Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | Panasonic LUMIX S S-E100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 400mm | 28-300mm | 18-50mm | 17-28mm | 16-50mm | 100mm |
| Max Aperture | f/4 | f/4 | f/2.8 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/2.8 |
| Mount | Canon EF | Sony E | Sony E | Nikon Z | Sony E | L-Mount |
| Stabilization | true | true | false | false | true | false |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weight (g) | 3620 | 590 | 290 | 450 | 107 | 298 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | VXD linear motor | stepping motor | Stepping Motor | Autofocus | Dual phase linear motor |
| Lens Type | telephoto-zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | macro |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon L EF 200-400mm IS USM Extender 1.4x 400mm | 53.9 | 77.9 | 5.2 | 37.7 | 92.8 | 66 | 91.2 | 33.6 | 44.3 | 82.4 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 98 | 77.9 | 65.1 | 85.8 | 96.7 | 66 | 91.2 | 97.7 | 55.8 | 82.4 |
| Sigma Contemporary 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Compare | 86.8 | 81.8 | 86 | 91.7 | 82.2 | 83.9 | 80.9 | 78.6 | 89.8 | 36.8 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 Compare | 86.8 | 87 | 75.2 | 85.8 | 88.2 | 83.9 | 91.2 | 68 | 69.8 | 36.8 |
| Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 53.9 | 75.4 | 98.5 | 43.9 | 68.3 | 77.3 | 63.7 | 83.3 | 81.1 | 93.3 |
| Panasonic LUMIX S S-E100 Compare | 98 | 87 | 85.8 | 82 | 83.4 | 83.9 | 80.9 | 33.6 | 65.7 | 36.8 |
Price
Value & Pricing
B&H Photo 1 offer From CA$13,784
We started tracking prices for this product on May 29, 2026. The chart appears once we have more data.
