Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens with Internal 1.4x Extender Officially Announced w/ Pricing and Shipping Dates

The long-awaited Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM lens with built-in 1.4x extender is now officially official and can be purchased for $11,799. Better yet, it should start shipping in a couple of weeks at “the end of May.”

The Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM can be pre-ordered here at B&H Photo and here at Adorama.

Based on the hype surrounding this lens, including the rave reviews from Olympic photographers, expect there to be some pre-orders stacking up, which could lead to some delays in meeting the demand.

A hard case for the lens is sold separately for $699. Check it out here at B&H Photo and here at Adorama.

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Lens Specifications

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture	Built-in extender at 1x: 200–400mm, 1:4.0 Built-in extender at 1.4x: 280–560mm, 1:5.6
Lens Construction	Built-in extender at 1x: 25 elements in 20 groups (incl. 1 rear filter) Built-in extender at 1.4x: 33 elements in 24 groups (incl. 1 rear filter)
Diagonal Angle of View	Built-in extender at 1x: 12°–6°10′ Built-in extender at 1.4x: 8°50’–4°25′
Focus Adjustment	Inner focusing system
Closest Focusing Distance	6.6 ft. / 2m
Filter Size	52mm drop-in
Max Diameter x Length, Weight	5.0 x 14.4 inches, 127.7 oz. / 128 x 366mm, 3620g

 

Complete details on the new lens in the official press release below.

MELVILLE, N.Y., May 14, 2013 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced a dynamic new super-telephoto zoom lens, the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x. Designed for use with all Canon EOS Digital SLR cameras, the new L-series lens has an integrated 1.4x focal length extender and high-performance Image Stabilization technology, offering exceptional shooting flexibility and range, ideal for sports or wildlife photography.

The new EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x zoom lens features an optically matched built-in 1.4x extender that increases the maximum focal length to 560mm, simultaneously preserving image quality and enabling the seamless capture of distant, moving subjects. With a simple switch, photographers can easily increase zoom range, which is extremely useful when it’s difficult to change lenses quickly, and helps protect delicate equipment like a DSLR camera’s image sensor in environments with dust, high humidity or other extreme environmental factors.

Peter Read Miller, an award-winning sports photographer and Canon Explorer of Light, recently used the new lens while shooting various worldwide sporting competitions.

“I had the opportunity recently to use Canon’s new 200-400 lens at a number of sporting events,” said Miller. “I found it to be incredibly versatile, replacing several different prime lenses that I would usually carry. The zoom allows me to control my framing; the autofocus has speed equal to or faster than most fixed focal length telephoto lenses and the ability to engage the 1.4 extender without taking my eye away from the camera is a unique feature not found in any other telephoto lens available today.”

To help deliver beautiful, soft, image backgrounds, the lens features a 9-blade circular aperture. The lens also utilizes inner focusing, ring USM, a high-speed CPU and optimized AF algorithms for fast and accurate autofocusing. Quiet and smooth focus shifts – essential for filmmaking – are made possible with Canon’s Power Focus mode.

Using advanced optical materials such as fluorite crystal and UD glass, the new lens provides excellent correction of chromatic aberration throughout the entire zoom range, and delivers high-quality images with high levels of resolution, color fidelity and contrast. With three image stabilization modes, (standard, panning, and during exposure only) and stabilization effective up to four shutter speed steps, the new EF 200-400mm lens provides excellent results for a wide range of subjects and shooting scenarios. The new lens also includes dust- and water-resistant construction designed for extended usage under harsh conditions.

“The EF 200-400 along with the Canon EOS-1D X camera body is my new ‘go-to’ combination for shooting sports,” concluded Miller.

The EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x zoom lens is expected to be available at the end of May for an estimated retail price of $11,799.00.