Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM vs Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM — Which Is Better?

The Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM and the Canon EF 100-400mm F/4.5-5.6L IS USM are two generations of the same L-series telephoto zoom for Canon EOS full-frame cameras. The II arrived in 2014, sixteen years after the 1998 original.

Both carry the L professional branding, so this is a comparison between two versions of the same professional telephoto zoom rather than two different lens lines.

The original is the lighter lens for long days afield: 1380 g against 1570 g for the II, a 190 g saving. It is also slightly smaller, measuring 189 by 92 mm versus 193 by 94 mm.

Filter and mount choices match exactly. Both take 77 mm front filters directly, so one polariser or neutral-density set serves either lens, and both use the Canon EF mount.

The II is the clear winner for close work: it focuses to 98 cm and reaches 0.31x magnification, against 180 cm and 0.20x for the original. You can fill the frame with a dragonfly or a wildflower from a comfortable distance instead of switching to another lens.

Zoom handling differs: the II turns a conventional rotary ring, while the original uses a push-pull barrel. The shared 100-400mm range and f/4.5-5.6 maximum aperture give both the same reach and light gathering for distant wildlife.

The II is the handheld choice at the long end: its stabilizer is rated 4 stops against 1.5 stops on the original, giving far more corrective power for handheld shooting. Both lenses offer image stabilization, a zoom lock and teleconverter compatibility, so either supports extended-reach setups.

Only the II offers weather sealing and a fluorine coating, so it suits shorebirds in sea spray and dusty safari tracks. The fluorine coating helps the front glass shed dust and moisture for easier cleaning in the field.

The II uses the more elaborate optical design, with 21 elements in 16 groups against 17 in 14 for the original. Both designs include super-low-dispersion glass to help control colour fringing on backlit subjects such as herons against bright water.

The original focuses internally, so its barrel does not extend while focus changes. The II is not an internal-focus design, so its focusing moves the outer barrel, which can matter when working close against branches or a hide window.