The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM and the Canon 35-350mm f3.5-5.6L USM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 189mm. The Canon 35-350mm f3.5-5.6L USM with a length of 167mm, is 22mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM also has a larger diameter of 92mm compared to the Canon 35-350mm f3.5-5.6L USM's 85mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM weighs 1380g, which means it is 5g (0%) lighter than the Canon 35-350mm f3.5-5.6L USM which has a weight of 1385g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Telephoto Zoom Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Super Telephoto Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM has a filter size of 77mm whereas the Canon 35-350mm f3.5-5.6L USM has a 72mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM:
And these are the 72mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 35-350mm f3.5-5.6L USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM and the Canon 35-350mm f3.5-5.6L USM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Focal Range
Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM has a focal range of 100-400mm and
4.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
160 - 640mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 35-350mm f3.5-5.6L USM has a focal range of 35-350mm and 10.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 56 - 560mm.