The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 400mm f4.0 DO IS USM and the Canon 200mm f2L 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 400mm f4.0 DO IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 233mm. The Canon 200mm f2L IS USM with a length of 208mm, is 25mm shorter. On the other hand, there is no difference between the max diameters of these lenses, both coming at 128mm.
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 400mm f4.0 DO IS USM weighs 1940g, which means it is 580g (23%) lighter than the Canon 200mm f2L IS USM which has a weight of 2520g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 400mm f4.0 DO IS USM and the Canon 200mm f2L IS USM have the same Filter thread size of 52mm.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 400mm f4.0 DO IS USM and the Canon 200mm f2L 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 400mm f4.0 DO IS USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 400mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
640mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 200mm f2L IS USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 200mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 320mm.