EOS Documentation Project

EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

by Julian Loke

Contents

• Introduction

  Parts  Description  Features 

• Operation

  Mounting  Removal  Hood  Tripod Mount  Manual Zoom  Manual Focus  Auto Focus  Full Time Manual Focus  Aperture  Image Stabilizer 

• Accessories

  Lens Cap  Hood  Filters  CloseUp  Teleextender  Extension Tubes  Case 

• Incompatibilties

  EF-M body  EOS bodies  Tripod 

• Precautions
• Lens Care

  Storage  Service 

• Specifications

  Released  Dimensions  Weight  Filter Mount  Optics  Focus mechanism  Non-Rotating Filter Mount  Focus Range  Autofocus Motor  Full Time Manual  Focal Length  Magnification  Angle of view  Aperture blades  Aperture Range  Image Stabilizer 

• Revision History
• Comments

Introduction

Parts

From front to back: Front lens cap; 77 mm filter thread; 83 mm bayonet fitting for lens hood; Zoom ring; Focusing ring; Friction ring; Focal Length Scale; Image Stabilizer switch; Image Stabilizer Mode switch; Tripod Mount Ring; Focus distance range switch; Focus mode switch; Distance scale in ft and m; IR focus adjust marks for 100 mm, 135 mm, 150 mm, and 200 mm; AF/MF lens mode switch; Raised Red Dot for lens-to-camera alignment; EF Camera mount (metal); Rear lens cap.

Description

This lens is a professional grade telephoto zoom lens for Canon EOS cameras. Containing one Fluorite and one Super UD lens element, this push-pull zoom covers mid to long telephoto focal lengths with superb optical quality. It also offers Ultrasonic autofocus with full-time-manual override. The exclusive Image Stabilizer reduces the effect of camera shake, a common cause of blurred images when shooting without a tripod.

Features

• Versatile 100-400mm range
• Fluorite and Super UD lens elements
• Ultrasonic autofocus motor
• Full-Time Manual override
• Dual Mode Image Stabilizer
• Adjustable zoom friction
• Removable Tripod Mount Ring
• Matched Lens Hood (included)

Operation

Mounting

Prepare camera body and lens by removing caps and any previous lens (see next section). Match the raised red dot on the lens with the red dot on the camera. Gently twist the lens clockwise until the lens locking pin clicks into place. Remove the front lens cap.

Removal

Replace the lens cap. Depress the lens release button fully. Rotate the lens counterclockwise until the raised red dot on the lens matches the rot dot on the camera. Remove the lens carefully.

Warning: Do not rest the lens on the camera mount, otherwise damage can occur to the delicate electronic contacts. When not mounted on a camera the rear lens cap should always be in place to prevent damage to the electrical contacts and the rear glass element of the lens.

Hood

Loosen the ET-83C hood from the storage position by twisting counter-clockwise, then pull it free from the lens.

Attach the hood by matching up the two lugs on the bayonet mount, then tighten by twisting clockwise GENTLY until a stop is reached.

When finished with the hood, replace it in the storage position.

Warning: Grasp the hood only at the end with the bayonet mount (the end stamped "Canon ET-83C"). DO NOT APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE. You can damage the hood: by squeezing the wrong end of the hood, or by twisting the hood when the bayonet mount is not properly aligned.

Tripod Mount

To rotate the lens from horizontal to vertical position, first loosen the knob at the base of the tripod mount. After rotating the lens, lock the position by tightening the knob.

The Tripod Mount Ring is normally kept attached to the lens. To remove it from the lens, first detach the lens from the camera, then unlock the mount by loosening the knob. Next, match the red dot on the tripod mount with the red dot on the lens. The tripod ring can then slide off the back of the lens.

Manual Zoom

Slide the zoom ring along the lens barrel to adjust the magnification. The focal length scale along the top of the lens barrel indicates the approximate focal length in mm (100, 135, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, and 400)

You can adjust the tightness of the zoom action by holding the focus ring with one hand and using your other hand to adjust the friction ring between "Smooth" and "Tight". To lock the zoom, rotate all the way to "Tight".

Manual Focus

The distance scale indicates how far the plane of sharp focus is located from the film plane. The distance is read opposite the | white line in feet (green) and in meters (white).

When using infrared (IR) sensitive film, a focus adjustment is necessary. After achieving sharp focus though the viewfinder, switch the lens to manual focus. Using the distance scale, adjust focus so that the distance indicated by the | white line is moved opposite the small red IR adjustment lines.

Auto Focus

Slide the lens mode switch on the lens to "AF". This engages the autofocus motor. Choose the focus range: either FULL (1.8 m ~ ∞) or DISTANT (6.5 m ~ ∞). Look through the camera viewfinder and position a focusing zone over the subject. Hold the shutter release button half-depressed to activate autofocus². The front part of the lens does not move or rotate during autofocus. When sharp focus is detected, the camera will indicate in the viewfinder with a light, and may also beep softly. If the autofocus sensors cannot detect sufficient detail, the viewfinder focus indicator will blink, indicating out-of-focus³.

Full Time Manual Focus

Full Time Manual (FTM) is a special feature that allows convenient manual focus adjustments before or after autofocus, without having to disengage the AF motor.

To use FTM, wait until autofocus is finished, then simply rotate the manual focus ring. There is no need to switch the lens to manual focus mode.

FTM is commonly used in conjunction with a custom function on the camera body (CF4) to independently activate metering and autofocus.

Aperture

All Canon EF lenses have an electronic diaphragm, which means that the lens aperture is controlled electronically from the EOS camera body, rather than by the traditional aperture ring. For instructions on changing the aperture setting of any Canon EF (or EF compatible) lens, please refer to the operating instructions for the camera body.

Image Stabilizer

The Image Stabilizer (IS) reduces blurring due to camera shake when shooting without a tripod. With IS activated, blurring due to camera shake is reduced to what would be expected had the photograph been shot at a quarter of the shutter speed (i.e. 2 stops).

To enable the Image Stabilizer, set the Stabilizer switch to "1". If you intend to shoot with the lens kept stationary, select "Stabilizer Mode 1". If, instead, you intend to pan the lens to follow a subject moving horizontally or vertically, select "Stabilizer Mode 2".

Activate metering and/or autofocus, and the Image Stabilizer will automatically engage. Pause for about one second to allow the lens to settle, then shoot your photograph.

Note: When the lens is mounted on a tripod, set the Stabilizer switch to "0". Otherwise, the Image Stabilizer might attempt to compensate inappropriately for the tiny movements, possibly producing blur.

jul: Mode 2 does not seem to help when panning in a diagonal direction.

jul: IS counteracts SMALL pitching and yawing movements. It cannot overcome HUGE movements, such as encountered in a car travelling along a bumpy road. There is NO effect on ROTATION movements, that might occur if the shutter release button is jabbed, rather than squeezed gently.

Accessories

Lens Cap

77 mm (part number E-77U) [Included]

Hood

Matched two-lug bayonet hood (part number ET-83C [Included]

Filters

Compatible with accessories that have 77 mm diameter screw-thread

jul: I already had 72 mm filters and did not want to buy a replacement set of 77 mm accessories. I was able to use a 77-to-72 mm step-down ring without vignetting, since the front element of the lens is only 67 mm across. It also helped to have a spare 72 mm lens cap.

CloseUp

77mm close-up lenses
(+2 diopter) Canon 500 or 500D

See also: Two-element close up diopters online

jul: Canon's +2 diopter (500D) in 72 mm diameter will also fit using a 77-to-72 mm step-down ring.

Teleextender

Light metering through-the-lens using the camera's built-in meter will continue to work correctly. Exposure compensation is only required when using an external meter.

The Canon tele-extenders feature extra electrical contacts on the lens side which result in the camera detecting the effective aperture and focal length. Because of the extra information, autofocus motor speed is reduced proportionally for better accuracy at the increased magnification. In addition, the camera slow-shutter speed warning will occur for the effective focal length.

Extension Tubes

Compatible with EF-12 and EF-25 extension tubes

Case

LZ1324 (Soft Case) [Included]

Incompatibilties

EF-M body

The EF-M camera does not have autofocus sensors. All EF lenses operate in manual focus mode only. As this lens has full-time manual focusing, it is not neccessary to switch it to the "MF" position.

EOS bodies

Refer to: Image Stabilizer Compatibility Table

Tripod

The Image Stabilizer can introduce blur when the lens is mounted on a tripod. Switch IS OFF for tripod shooting.

Precautions

The IS function continues to operate for some time after activation. Do not remove the lens while the IS function is active. Set the "Stabilizer" switch to 0 to ensure that IS is inactive.

Do not rest the lens on the camera mount, otherwise damage can occur to the delicate electronic contacts. When not mounted on a camera the rear lens cap should always be in place to prevent damage to the electrical contacts and the rear glass element of the lens.

Do not disassemble the lens - there are no user serviceable parts inside.

As with all precision electrical and mechanical equipment do not expose the lens to heat, water, or corrosive chemicals.

Lens Care

Storage

When the lens is not in use, replace the front and rear caps to protect the lens.

Store in dry conditions to prevent the possible growth of fungus on the lens elements.

Service

There are no user serviceable parts - please return the lens to an authorised Canon service centre for adjustment or repair.

Specifications

Released

1998 September. See: Canon Canada Press Release

Dimensions

Maximum Diameter x Length:
92 mm x 189 mm

Weight

1360 g

Filter Mount

77 mm front filter mount for screw-on accessories. Also, see above.

Optics

17 elements in 14 groups.

Focus mechanism

This lens focuses using the inner/rear lens elements. The front elements do not move during focusing and the front element and lens barrel are stationary during focusing.

Non-Rotating Filter Mount

Because the front elements do not move or rotate during focusing, rotating filters (such as polarizers) can be easily used.

Focus Range

Closest focus: 1.8 m

Selectable autofocus range:

Full: 1.8 m ~ ∞
Distant: 6.5 m ~ ∞

Autofocus Motor

Ring USM (UltraSonic Motor)
Drive Speed: 0.54 s ~ 1.67 s

Full Time Manual

Mechanical Full Time Manual (FTM) focusing. Can operate even without battery power.

Focal Length

100 mm ~ 400 mm

Photodo: 102 mm ~ 381 mm

Magnification

Angle of view

for 35mm film

	100 mm	400 mm
Diagonal	24°	6°10'
Vertical	14°	3°30'
Horizontal	20°	5°10'

Aperture blades

8

Aperture Range

100mm: f/4.5 ~ f/32
200mm: f/4.5 ~ f/32
300mm: f/5.6 ~ f/40
400mm: f/5.6 ~ f/40

Image Stabilizer

Max. Eccentricity: 1.0 mm
Max. correctable: +0.5°(At infinity)

Dual Mode IS:
Mode 1: Dual axis (horizontal AND vertical) IS
Mode 2: Single axis (either horizontal OR vertical only) IS

Revision History

v0.20 2004Aug13 jul: magnification table; web archive old links
v0.13b2002Sep04 jul: minor reformat
v0.13 2002Aug24 jul: Update index, links
v0.12 2001Feb08 jul: Images & lines
v0.11 2001Jan30 jul: Fixes & tweaks
v0.10 2001Jan12 jul: Original

Comments

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