Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM vs Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS USM
Prices & availability
Specification comparison
Highlighted rows differ between the two models.
| Specification | Canon EF 400mm f/2.8 L IS USM | Canon EF 500mm f/4 L IS USM |
|---|---|---|
| Mount | ||
| Mount | canon-ef | canon-ef |
| Optics | ||
| Focal (difference) | 400 mm | 500 mm |
| Aperture (difference) | f/2.8 | f/4.0 |
| Prime | Yes | Yes |
| Stabilization | Yes | Yes |
Verdict
Pick Model A if you prioritize a brighter f/2.8 aperture for low-light performance and shallower depth of field, or if the 100mm shorter reach isn’t a dealbreaker. Model B stays the better choice if you need the extra 100mm focal length for distant subjects and can accept the one-stop slower f/4 maximum aperture for the same budget.