By Tati Taylor 20 days ago, Cameras & Lenses
What is a 400mm lens used for?
If you need to find a perfect 400mm lens that won’t make your camera too heavy, make sure to read these reviews. I have tested the best options available on the market. Some of them allow you to take wide-angle photos, while the rest of the models are suitable for a wide variety of tasks.
400mm lenses will be especially useful when you need to take photos of moving vehicles, airshows or animals in their natural habitat. If you have a full-frame camera, you will appreciate a 400mm zoom. These lenses can be used with various DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
Mount: Sony E | Diaphragm blades: 9, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.98 m | Max magnification: 0.12 to 0.35 x | Filter thread: 77 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 93.9 x 205 mm | Weight: 1395 g
⊕ Stunning bokeh effect
⊕ Impressive stabilization
⊕ Compatible
⊕ Quick performance
⊖ A hefty price
⊖ Bulky
This super-telephoto lens is great for taking full-frame photos. It features a quick AF and has compact shape. Just like all the Sony’s G Master lenses, it delivers impressive resolution. This lens is suitable for both professional photographers and novices.
It will be especially helpful for those who take photos of sports events and animals. This 400 mm lens has advanced adjustment settings and controls that allow using it for a wide variety of purposes.
For instance, you can use a zoom ring to adjust magnification quickly. As it’s quite stiff, you don’t need to worry that your settings will incidentally change.
Mount: Canon EF | Diaphragm blades: 9, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 2.8 m | Max magnification: 0.2 x | Filter thread: 95 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 105 x 260.1 mm | Weight: 1830 g
⊕ Oil-resistant coating
⊕ Doesn’t weigh much
⊕ Small-sized
⊕ Advanced usability
⊖ Too bulky
The Sigma 150-600 millimeter 5-6.3 DG HSM OS was designed with a photographer’s comfort in mind. It’s quite compact and meets high image quality standards. As it doesn’t weigh a lot and has a variable aperture, you can use it for taking long-reach photos.
While making the most out of Sigma’s technology, it features Hyper Sonic Motor and a cutting-edge optical stabilizer with an accelerometer. With this 400mm zoom lens, you can take pro-level photos of birds, wild animals and cars.
Thanks to a convenient lock switch, you can fix your focal length settings. There is also a manual override switch for better focus adjustment.
Mount: Nikon F | Diaphragm blades: 9, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 2.6 m | Max magnification: 0.16 x | Filter thread: 40.5 mm (Drop-In) | Dimensions (WxL): 159.5 x 358 mm | Weight: 3800 g
⊕ Convenient manual focus
⊕ Super-telephoto prime
⊕ Great max aperture
⊕ Nano Crystal Coating
⊖ Overpriced
Thanks to an aperture number of f/2.8, the AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8E FL ED VR has impressive light-gathering capabilities. With its help, you can achieve a stunning bokeh effect. Unlike a cheap 400 mm lens,this option has 4 stops of correction which accounts for great image stabilization.
It is perfect for handheld shooting and allows take pro-level photos of sports events without any signs of a blur. An electromagnetic diaphragm mechanism is great for achieving consistent exposures when you take pictures at high frame rates.
The fluorite elements are quite lightweight. A lens barrel is made of a magnesium alloy, the total weight is almost 2 lbs. If you often need to take photos in severe weather conditions, you will appreciate that the lens has a dust- and moisture-resistant sealing. It’s also fluorine-coated for better protection.
Mount: Canon EF | Diaphragm blades: 9, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 1.6 m | Max magnification: 0.26 x | Filter thread: 67 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 86.4 x 182.3 mm | Weight: 1160 g
⊕ Compatible with APS-C
⊕ Small-sized
⊕ 4-year warranty
⊕ Multi-usage
⊖ Unreliable
The Sigma 100-400mm 5-6.3 DG HSM OS Contemporary is a compact telephoto-lens that delivers stunning picture quality. Thanks to Sigma’s signature optical stabilizer, the image stays clear and detailed. The lens is pretty lightweight if you compare it to similar options. A Hyper Sonic motor makes it easier to use AF and the zoom.
You will also appreciate that this 400mm camera lens has a 1:3.8 macro feature. The brass mount has a rugged design and allows for better precision. As it’s quite durable as well, the lens will serve you for years to come.
Mount: Canon EF | Diaphragm blades: 9, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 0.98 m | Max magnification: 0.31 x | Filter thread: 77 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 94 x 193 mm | Weight: 1640 g
⊕ Compact
⊕ Powerful performance
⊕ A great telephoto zoom
⊕ Perfect balance
⊖ Heavyweight
The EF 100–400mm f/4.5–5.6L IS II USM lens has a solid build and amazing resolving power, which will be especially helpful for sports and wildlife photographers. The lens consists of 1 fluorite and one super-UD element, which accounts for top-notch contrast and high resolution without significant chromatic aberration.
Canon’s native Air-sphere coating virtually eliminates any signs of ghosting and flaring. The AF system with a .31x max magnification allows you to focus more quickly. It ensures great accuracy down to 3.2 ft.
This 400mm telephoto lens is dust-proof and water-resistant, which makes it suitable for harsh outdoor environments. All in all, this lens delivers a solid performance.
Mount: Canon EF | Diaphragm blades: 9, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 1.5 m | Max magnification: 0.28 x | Filter thread: 67 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 86.2 x 199 mm | Weight: 1135 g
⊕ Great AF performance
⊕ Perfect image clarity
⊕ 6-year warranty
⊕ eBAND lens coating
⊖ Weighs too much
The Tamron is a 100-400mm ultra-telephoto zoom lens with a max aperture of f/4.5-6.3 that comes with a high-precision AF that allows you to take photos of moving subjects with the stunning image clarity.
It consists of 3 LD-glass elements that prevent aberrations, which are a common issue for many telephoto lenses.
Thanks to the eBAND coating, the lens reflects the light perfectly, which allows you to take highly detailed images with rich colors. As the lens barrel is made mostly of magnesium, this is the lightest option among other best 400mm lenses.
It’s perfect for handheld shooting, as you won’t experience any muscle strain even after using your camera for an extended time. The lens is moisture-resistant, while its fluorine coating accounts for additional protection when you take pictures outdoors.
Mount: Sony A | Diaphragm blades: 9, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 1.5 m | Max magnification: 0.27 x | Filter thread: 77 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 94.5 x 196 mm | Weight: 1500 g
⊕ Quick focusing
⊕ Sharp image quality
⊕ Stunning clarity
⊕ Weather-proof
⊖ Overpriced
⊖ No image stabilization
The 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II is the high-quality telephoto lens designed specifically for Sony’s A-mont SLR systems. It covers a long range and has better build quality than earlier versions. Unlike some other best 400mm lenses with similar capabilities, it comes at a hefty price. The image quality is pretty impressive thanks to a wide zoom range.
A Super Sonic wave AF Motor delivers ultra-fast speed, while an LSI drive circuit accounts for 4x faster tracking. All the controls are easy to use and have a great tactile feel. There are 3 focus buttons and a convenient switch that limits the electronic focus capability to any range.
Mount: Canon EF | Diaphragm blades: 9, Rounded | Autofocus: Yes | Min focus distance: 1.6 m | Max magnification: 0.26 x | Filter thread: 67 mm | Dimensions (WxL): 86.4 x 182.3 mm | Weight: 1160 g
⊕ Telephoto zoom
⊕ Multi-layer coating
⊕ Great color accuracy
⊕ Built-in HSM
⊖ Comes without a tripod collar
⊖ Slow autofocus speed
Sigma created a small-sized lens that delivers stunning image quality. It consists of 4 SLD-glass elements and features great power distribution, which allows it to reduce optical aberrations to the minimum.
As it’s impossible to eliminate transverse chromatic aberration by controlling an aperture, Sigma solved this issue by offering an impressive zoom range that delivers perfect image quality. This 100 - 400mm zoom lens comes with a Hyper-Sonic motor that accounts for fast and smooth AF-performance. You can also focus manually.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Sony FE 100-400mm
SteadyShot |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
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Sigma 150-600mm 5-6.3
Lightweight |
CHECK PRICE → | |
 |
Nikon 400mm f/2.8E
Professional |
CHECK PRICE → |
If you need to know the aperture of your camera lens, you need to take a look at its number, for example, f/2.8. Cameras with better light-gathering capabilities have a small aperture size. For casual use, you can purchase lenses with an aperture number ranging between f/2.4 and f/3.2. Budget and telephoto lenses often have a high aperture number.
AF speed refers to how quickly a lens can autofocus. A USM, which stands for an ultrasonic motor, is built-in into a lens which makes it easier for it to autofocus.
Another thing you need to pay attention to when buying a telephoto lens is its image stabilization capabilities. A good lens should reduce vibration as well. Some lenses have stabilization with up to 4 f-stops of correction. It allows you to lower ISO and change your exposure times, which is extremely helpful when you need to take photos in poor light conditions.
While there are no fully weather-proof lenses, some options can easily withstand rainy weather. They are perfect for outdoor photographers who work in severe weather conditions. As a rule, they are quite expensive, so if you are on a budget, you will need to find the best 400mm lenses.
If you need to know the magnification factor of your lens, you need to divide its focal lens by 50. Thus, a 400mm lens allows for an 8x magnification, while a 500mm lens has a 10x magnification.
Most photographers use 100-400mm lenses for animal photography as well as for taking pictures of motorsport events and airshows. If you have a full-frame camera, a 100-400mm zoom will be a nice addition to your optical equipment.
Those who enjoy birding know that a 400mm lens is a must for everyone who intends to take high-quality photos of birds. With it, you can take a full-frame image of a cardinal-sized bird while standing about 10ft away.
If you have a 1.6 crop camera with a 400mm lens, such as Digital Rebel, XT or 20D, it will have a field of view of 19.7x13.1 feet when you take photos from 350 feet away. Full-frame 5D cameras have a field of view of 31.5x21 feet.
