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 EF 70-200 f2.8L IS 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 EF 70-200 f2.8L IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 197mm. The Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM with a length of 189mm, is 8mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM has a larger diameter of 92mm compared to the Canon EF 70-200 f2.8L IS USM's 86mm 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 190g (12%) lighter than the Canon EF 70-200 f2.8L IS USM which has a weight of 1570g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM and the Canon EF 70-200 f2.8L IS USM have the same Filter thread size of 77mm.
Below are links to the 77mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM and the Canon EF 70-200 f2.8L IS 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 EF 70-200 f2.8L IS USM has a focal range of 70-200mm and 2.9X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 112 - 320mm.