Canon EF 135mm F2L USM vs Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM
Side-by-side comparison from our catalogue data. Better values are highlighted only where a clear difference exists.
Verdict at a glance
- Canon EF 135mm F2L USM is faster by 1 stop (f/2.0 vs f/2.8), letting in more light.
- Canon EF 135mm F2L USM is lighter by 2090g.
- Canon EF 135mm F2L USM goes wider (135mm vs 400mm).
- Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM reaches further (400mm vs 135mm).
- Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM is the newer design (2018 vs 1996).
| Spec | EF 135mm F2L USM | EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Canon | Canon |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF |
| Type | Prime | Telephoto |
| Focal length | 135mm (wider) | 400mm |
| Max aperture | f/2.0 (faster) | f/2.8 |
| Released | 1996 | 2018 |
| Blades | 8 | 9 |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Groups | 8 | 13 |
| Af motor | USM | USM |
| Elements | 10 | 17 |
| Weight g | 750.0 (lighter) | 2840.0 |
| Filter mm | 72 | n/a |
| Length mm | 112.0 | 343.0 |
| Diameter mm | 82.5 | 163.0 |
| Min focus m | 0.9 (closer focusing) | 2.5 |
| Max magnification | 0.19 | 0.17 |
| Stabilized | n/a | Yes |
Canon EF 135mm F2L USM
A fast 135mm telephoto prime, long known for sharpness and strong subject isolation. A favorite among Canon portrait and event photographers.
Pros
- f/2 aperture
- Very sharp
- Fast focus
- Pleasing background blur
Cons
- No image stabilization
- Long for tight spaces
- Narrow focus margin at f/2
Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM
The third generation of Canon's 400mm f/2.8 supertelephoto, redesigned to be much lighter than the II. Image stabilization and fluorite elements.
Pros
- About a kilogram lighter than the II
- f/2.8 aperture
- Stabilized
- Fast AF
Cons
- Still heavy at about 2.8 kg
- Demands a monopod
- Large