The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x and the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L 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 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x is the longer of the two lenses at 366mm. The Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM with a length of 189mm, is 177mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x also has a larger diameter of 128mm compared to the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM's 92mm 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, 61% (2240g) lighter than the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x's weight of 3620g.
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 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x has a filter size of 52mm whereas the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x and the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K.
Focal Range
Canon 200-400mm f4L IS USM Ext 1.4x has a focal range of 200-400mm and
2.0X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
320 - 640mm.
On the other hand, the 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.
