Canon RF 400mm F2.8 L IS USM
Launch MSRP
$11,999- Weight
- 2,890g
- Filter
- —
- Min focus
- 2.50m
- Max mag.
- 0.17×
- Formula
- 17E / 13G
- Released
- 2021
Specification sheet
Optical construction
- 2x Fluorite
- 1x Super UD
- ASC
- Fluorine Coating
- Aperture range
- f/2.8 — f/32
Physical & ergonomics
- Weight
- 2,890g
- ⌀ × length
- 163.0 × 367.0mm
- Filter
- —
- Weather sealed
- Yes
- Aperture ring
- No
Autofocus actuator
- Stabilisation
- Optical
- Teleconverter
- 1.4x · 2.0x
- AF speed score
- 9.6 / 10
Close-up performance
- Min focus distance
- 2.50m
- Max magnification
- 0.17× (1:5.9)
Optical character
Canon's fastest super-telephoto prime in RF mount, built for sports and wildlife. Optically it is the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III design (17 elements in 13 groups with two fluorite and one Super UD element, plus ASC coating) with a built-in RF mount instead of an adapter. The fluorite elements keep the weight to 2,890g and improve the balance, and one reviewer notes that the F-mount rival is about a kilogram heavier.
The RF version rates IS at 5.5 stops and supports 1/8-stop aperture steps for video. With the RF 1.4x and 2x extenders it becomes a 560mm f/4 or 800mm f/5.6 with AF and AE retained. A heat-shielding coating keeps the barrel cooler in sun, filters go in a 52mm drop-in holder, the rings, switches and other moving parts are sealed against dust and drips, and the front element has a fluorine coating.
Reviewer consensus
We summarise professional reviews only after reading at least two independent ones. Not enough have been published or verified for this lens yet.
Owner sentiment
An owner who pairs it with the RF 800mm f/5.6 for wildlife calls it the sharpest of Canon's big white lenses and values the f/2.8 aperture for dawn and dusk light. They report excellent results with the RF extenders, much lighter handling than older EF versions, and faster focus acquisition and an extra half stop of IS compared with the EF III on an adapter.
The main caveat is weight: it can be handheld for a while, but not comfortably all day.
Strengths, weaknesses & performance
Strengths
- +Fast f/2.8 at 400mm
- +2,890g, light for a 400mm f/2.8
- +Works with RF 1.4x and 2x extenders, AF retained
- +5.5-stop IS
- +Heat-shield coating, dust and drip resistant
Weaknesses
- −Very expensive
- −Same optics as the EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III
- −No built-in extender
- −Drop-in filters only
Six-axis rating
Ratings are published once at least two independent professional reviews have been read.
Technical specifications
| Mount | Canon RF · full frame |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 400mm |
| Category | Super-Telephoto |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/32 |
| Construction | 17 elements in 13 groups |
| Special elements | 2x Fluorite · 1x Super UD · ASC · Fluorine Coating |
| Aperture blades | 9 |
| Focus type | Autofocus |
|---|---|
| Drive | Ring USM |
| Minimum focus | 2.50m |
| Max magnification | 0.17× |
| Stabilisation | Optical |
| Teleconverters | 1.4x, 2.0x |
| Weight | 2,890g |
|---|---|
| Diameter × length | 163.0 × 367.0mm |
| Filter thread | None |
| Weather sealing | Yes |
| Aperture ring | No |
| De-clickable aperture | No |
| Release year | 2021 |
| Launch MSRP | $11,999 USD |
Sources
Verified against the pages below. Specifications come from the manufacturer; summaries only reflect reviews and owner reports we actually read.
Specifications
- canon.com.cn/product/rf400f28lisusm/spec.html
- canon.com.cn/product/rf400f28lisusm/
- global.canon/en/c-museum/product/rf506.html
Launch price
- canonrumors.com/canon-officially-announced-the-rf-400mm-f-2-8l-is-usm-and-r
Professional reviews
- digitalcameraworld.com/reviews/canon-rf-400mm-f28l-is-usm-review
Owner reports
- amazon.com/dp/B091R4HCG4
Similar focal length alternatives
- VSRF 400mm F2.8 L IS USM vs RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
- VSRF 400mm F2.8 L IS USM vs RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- VSRF 400mm F2.8 L IS USM vs RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM
- Canon
RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM
200–800mmF6.3–9- WT
- 2,050g
- FLT
- ⌀95mm
- MFD
- 0.80m
- MSRP
- $1,899
AFSTABWR - CanonL
RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
100–500mmF4.5–7.1- WT
- 1,370g
- FLT
- ⌀77mm
- MFD
- 0.90m
- MSRP
- $2,699
AFSTABWR - Canon
RF 100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM
100–400mmF5.6–8- WT
- 635g
- FLT
- ⌀67mm
- MFD
- 0.88m
- MSRP
- $649
AFSTAB
