Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM vs 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

differences

Reasons to consider the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Lighter

0.6 kg

1.4 kg

2.2x lighter

Wider aperture

f/4

f/4.5

At its widest, the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM captures marginally more light, 0.3 f-stops

Cheaper

$649.00

$1,499.00

The best price we've seen is $850 cheaper (2.3x less)

Slightly better wide angle

70 mm

100 mm

30% better wide angle

Slightly more magnification

1:4 (0.2x)

1:5 (0.2x)

Take macro shots with subjects more than 20% larger in your photo

Learn more about
the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Reasons to consider the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Better telephoto

400 mm

300 mm

More than 30% more reach, less perspective distortion

Learn more about
the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

	Very good image stabilization
	Canon IS

	Silent focus motor
	Silent and fast

Good telephoto

EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM:	300 mm
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM:	400 mm

	Both are zoom lenses
	Typically not as sharp as prime lenses

Very narrow widest aperture size

EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM:	f/4
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM:	f/4.5

	Both are variable aperture lenses
	Narrower aperture at longer focal lengths

Compared to wildlife lenses

Common Strengths	Common Weaknesses
LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.	LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

competitors

Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

Wildlife lens

$169

Doesn't have image stabilization

Compare the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM vs the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Compare the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Tamron SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Canon-ef

Wildlife lens

$449

Has worse image stabilization

Lacks a silent focus motor

Compare the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Canon-ef vs the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Compare the SP 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Di VC USD Canon-ef vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Wildlife lens

$299

Lacks a silent focus motor

Compare the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS vs the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Compare the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

Telephoto lens

$1,149

Has a fixed aperture

Has a slightly longer telephoto lens

Compare the EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM vs the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Compare the EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM

Wildlife lens

$1,399

Compare the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM vs the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Compare the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM

Wildlife lens

$1,349

Is a fixed focal length prime lens

Has a much narrower wide angle lens

Is longer

Compare the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM vs the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Compare the EF 300mm f/4L IS USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Canon-ef

Wildlife lens

$309

Slightly shorter

Slightly cheaper

Much wider aperture

Doesn't have a silent focus motor

Compare the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG OS Canon-ef vs the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Travel lens

$699

Much more zoom

Better wide angle

Doesn't have a silent focus motor

Significantly wider aperture

Compare the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Travel lens

$499 - $549

More zoom

Better wide angle

Doesn't have a silent focus motor

Worse telephoto

Compare the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

Wildlife lens

$1,998

More zoom

Wider aperture

No image stabilization

Slightly more expensive

Compare the 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef

Wildlife lens

$1,019

Better telephoto

Slightly cheaper

Worse image stabilization

Narrower aperture

Compare the 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM APO Canon-ef vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Nikon Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED

Wildlife lens

$1,499

More zoom

Slightly better wide angle

Doesn't have a silent focus motor

Compare the Nikkor VR 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6D ED vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

Travel lens

$2,554

Much more zoom

Wider aperture

Worse telephoto

More expensive

Compare the 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

Sports lens

$1,899

Has a consant aperture

Significantly wider aperture

Significantly worse telephoto

Less zoom

Compare the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM vs the 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

discussion Which do you think is better?

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Canon
EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
vs
Canon
100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM

differences

Reasons to consider the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Reasons to consider the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM