Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM EF Mount Lens {77} with Tripod Foot

Canon's proven 100-400mm L-series telephoto zoom for serious reach.

The 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM covers the telephoto range that wildlife, sports, and airshow shooters actually need. The push-pull zoom mechanism gives you rapid focal length changes without rotating the barrel, useful when a bird changes direction or a sprinter cuts across the frame. Fluorite and Super UD elements keep chromatic aberration in check at 400mm, where lesser glass starts to show color fringing on high-contrast edges.

Canon's IS system takes the edge off handheld shooting at longer focal lengths, and the USM autofocus is fast enough to track erratic subjects without hunting. Full-time manual focus override means you can fine-tune focus without switching out of AF mode. The included tripod foot balances the rig properly when mounted on a head, and the 77mm filter thread is a standard size that shares with much of Canon's L lineup. Native to Canon EOS bodies and adaptable to Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Fuji X, and L-Mount systems, this lens has outlasted several camera generations for a reason.

Who It's For

Wildlife photographers working at distance get 400mm reach with IS to compensate for field movement, plus a tripod foot that properly balances a long setup on a gimbal head. Sports shooters covering sidelines benefit from the push-pull zoom for quick reframing without barrel rotation. Birders and aviation photographers will find the USM autofocus quick enough for unpredictable subjects. Canon EF users who also shoot Sony E or Canon RF mirrorless can run this glass on multiple bodies via adapter without buying into a second telephoto system.

Key Features

• 100-400mm focal range with f/4.5 maximum aperture
• Push-pull zoom mechanism for single-hand focal length adjustment
• Image Stabilization for handheld shooting at longer focal lengths
• USM autofocus with full-time manual focus override
• L-series optical design with fluorite and Super UD elements
• Canon EF mount with 77mm filter thread and included tripod foot

FAQ

What's the actual advantage of the push-pull zoom over a rotating barrel?

You adjust focal length with one hand while keeping your shooting hand on the camera body, and you never rotate the front element - critical if you're using a polarizer or ND filter that needs to stay in a specific orientation.

How does the IS system perform at 400mm handheld?

You can shoot at shutter speeds 2-3 stops slower than the rule of thumb (1/focal length) suggests, which matters when you're in low light or using small apertures for depth of field. It's not a replacement for a tripod at fast burst rates, but it keeps single shots sharp.

What are fluorite and Super UD elements doing in this lens?

Fluorite matches glass refraction across wavelengths to reduce chromatic aberration, and Super UD (ultra-low dispersion) glass does similar work across the spectrum - at 400mm, you avoid the color fringing that budget zooms show on high-contrast subjects like a bird against sky.

Will this lens work on modern Canon cameras?

It's native to EOS DSLRs with EF mounts. You can adapt it to Sony E, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Fuji X, and L-Mount systems with third-party adapters, though AF speed depends on the adapter's electronics.

How fast is the USM autofocus for tracking moving subjects?

USM motors are efficient and responsive without being the fastest motors Canon makes - good for wildlife and sports where subjects aren't moving erratically, adequate for airshows if you're not chasing something cutting hard turns.

Does the tripod foot come off easily for handheld work?

Yes, it's a standard L-series tripod foot with a quick-release mechanism. You leave it mounted when the lens is on a tripod head and remove it or rotate it out of the way for handheld shooting.