EF 400mm f/4 DO ii in 2025?

[Frodo]

You can also use a Lenscoat Hoodie to cover the front element of the lens in your bag. They come in different sizes.

P-visie, a brilliant suggestion! Do you have one for the 400 DO? As I would be fitting this primarily to the lens without hood, should I get the X-large, rather than the XX-large suggested on the Lenscoat website? Or does the XX-large fit snugly without the hood?
Thanks

 

[P-visie]

P-visie, a brilliant suggestion! Do you have one for the 400 DO? As I would be fitting this primarily to the lens without hood, should I get the X-large, rather than the XX-large suggested on the Lenscoat website? Or does the XX-large fit snugly without the hood?
Thanks

I do not have a EF 400 DO II, so I cannot answer your question directly.

The EF 200-400mm f4 zoom uses the same lenshood (ET-120 WW (II)) as the EF 400mm DO II. I use the hoodie with the lenshood reversed on the lens. The XX Large hoodie is way too large for this lens without the lenshood. The diameter of the EF 200-400mm f4 zoom without the lenshood is about 130mm / 5 inch.

You’d best measure the diameter of the lens without the reversed lenshood. For safety, you could order both sizes and still spend less than half the price of a Canon E112 lens cap .

 

[Frodo]

I do not have a EF 400 DO II, so I cannot answer your question directly.

The EF 200-400mm f4 zoom uses the same lenshood (ET-120 WW (II)) as the EF 400mm DO II. I use the hoodie with the lenshood reversed on the lens. The XX Large hoodie is way too large for this lens without the lenshood. The diameter of the EF 200-400mm f4 zoom without the lenshood is about 130mm / 5 inch.

You’d best measure the diameter of the lens without the reversed lenshood. For safety, you could order both sizes and still spend less than half the price of a Canon E112 lens cap .

Hi Pieter
Thanks for the suggestion. I ordered the smaller one (x-large). The OEM cover is fine for when the hood is reversed.
Bob

 

[Frodo]

I gave the 400 DO a good focusing workout over the weekend. A few swallows were hawking flies over a small pond (our swallows remain here in New Zealand over winter) and I was impressed with the performance of the lens.
The main issue was picking up the birds from piles of wood in the background. I used my standard electronic shutter , eye tracking AF and improved my success rate by:
- limiting focus between 3m and 8m - does anyone use the focus presets to speed up subject acquisition
- limiting the tracking to the middle third of the frame
- using f/5.6 to get more of the bird in focus, although I was impressed how often focusing was accurate wide open at f/4.
Overall I found the lens to be quite manageable handheld.
So on balance, I think I can now sell my RF 100-500L.

 

[Click]

Excellent results!

 

[Frodo]

Your advice please in terms of replacing the lensfoot. The standard lensfoot is quite short and not comfortable for holding when carrying the lens.
I am looking at the Hejnar Photo H 133. Hejnar assures me that the lenshood can be reversed with this foot mounted, although it would appear to be tight.
This will reduce the volume of the lens in my camera bag and would appear to be more comfortable when shooting handheld.
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks, Bob

 

[P-visie]

Your advice please in terms of replacing the lensfoot. The standard lensfoot is quite short and not comfortable for holding when carrying the lens.
I am looking at the Hejnar Photo H 133. Hejnar assures me that the lenshood can be reversed with this foot mounted, although it would appear to be tight.
This will reduce the volume of the lens in my camera bag and would appear to be more comfortable when shooting handheld.
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks, Bob

There is a thread about this on: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1474843/

 

[AlanF]

I gave the 400 DO a good focusing workout over the weekend. A few swallows were hawking flies over a small pond (our swallows remain here in New Zealand over winter) and I was impressed with the performance of the lens.
The main issue was picking up the birds from piles of wood in the background. I used my standard electronic shutter , eye tracking AF and improved my success rate by:
- limiting focus between 3m and 8m - does anyone use the focus presets to speed up subject acquisition
- limiting the tracking to the middle third of the frame
- using f/5.6 to get more of the bird in focus, although I was impressed how often focusing was accurate wide open at f/4.
Overall I found the lens to be quite manageable handheld.
So on balance, I think I can now sell my RF 100-500L.
View attachment 224411View attachment 224412View attachment 224413

Very impressive shots. For those that haven't tried shooting these in flight, it is not easy and the AF here is spot on.

 

[Frodo]

There is a thread about this on: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1474843/

Thanks for the link.
Its not 100% clear that the hood will fit, but I could always make a spacer.

 

[Frodo]

Quick update. The Lenscoat X-large lens hoodie fits the lens without hood fine, although I suspect the large would be a better (tighter) fit. I tried fitting a Benro 120mm long Arca Swiss plate (PU-120) directly to the lens mount, with the foot removed. It does not clear the inside of the reversed lens hood. It is 10mm thick (high), so I do not think a Hejnar H133 low profile foot (which is 12.5mm thick) will clear a reversed hood. This is contrary to what Hejnar advised me by email. I will get a standard Kirk LP-59 V2 or Leophoto CF-01 lensfoot, as these (at 31mm high) seem to be the lowest that fit outside a reversed hood.

 

[Frodo]

A further update. The lens cap from Bioluminous arrived yesterday. I bought it over the Zemlin version as it was more conservative in styling and it was USD15 cheaper (with exchange rates and shipping to New Zealand this adds up to a total cost of NZD 165), with both made in the US.
Quality is excellent and it fits tight. A much better option than the LensCoat "hoodie" I bought previously and way better than the OEM cover.
Note that the colour is black, not grey as in many online images.
Highly recommended - I just don't understand why Canon (and other major manufacturers) don't provide these instead of the clumsy velco / fabric covers.