Canon EF 400 mm f/4 DO IS II USM review - Image resolution

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Canon EF 400 mm f/4 DO IS II USM

26 August 2017

Arkadiusz Olech

4. Image resolution

The resolution test (resolution meaning here the MTF50 function values) of the Canon EF 400 mm f/4 DO IS II USM was based on RAW files from the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. In the case of that reflex camera the decency level is situated near 30-32 lpmm and the best fixed-focal lenses are able to reach results of 45-49 lpmm. It’s also worth adding that the resolution record on that sensor used to belong to the Zeiss Otus 1.4/28 (49.2 lpmm) but was lately bested by the Sigma A 85 mm f/1.4 DG HSM and then by the Sigma A 135 mm f/1.8 DG HSM; now it amounts to 51.6 lpmm.

Let’s check how the tested Canon 400 mm DO II compares – its results in the frame centre on the edge of the APS-C/DX sensor and on the edge of full frame presents a graph below.

Canon EF 400 mm f/4 DO IS II USM - Image resolution

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The performance in the frame centre is brilliant. Already at the maximum relative aperture the lens is able to get to 45 lpmm and on stopping down the aperture to f/5.6 the MTFs increase even more, to 45.7 lpmm. These are, within the margin of error, the same values as those presented by the Canon EF 300 mm f/2.8L IS USM II. If there are no visible difference it means DO technology doesn’t bring any serious limitations concerning resolution.

The performance on the edge of the APS-C sensor can also be described in superlatives only. In the aperture range from f/4.0 to f/8.0, used most often when it comes to this kind of equipment, you get to 40 lpmm or higher meaning the image quality might satisfy even the fussiest and most demanding users.

The edge of full frame we find beyond reproach too. Results over 35 lpmm, which you can observe from f/4.0 to f/11, mean images of at least good quality.

Now let’s check how the tested lens fares when joined with the Canon TC 1.4x III teleconverter – an appropriate graph is presented below.

You can notice resolution decrease compared the performance of the bare lens but it’s perfectly understandable because the maximum relative aperture changes as well and another optical element appears in the whole system; that element has to cooperate not only with the tested lens but with the whole array of long-focus L-series instruments.

Still that decrease is not big so, in the frame centre, near the maximum relative aperture you get MTFs which still exceed 40 lpmm distinctly. We are happy to say the lens plus the teleconverter set won’t have any problem with delivering images of high quality.

On the edge of the APS-C sensor and full frame the results are lower but still notably above the decency level in a wide range of apertures. It seems taking photos with good image quality across the frame won’t be a problem here.

To sum up when it comes to the resolution, the Canon EF 400 mm f/4 DO IS II USM performs as it befits an expensive L-series instrument. It is able to provide an excellent image quality across the frame no matter whether you work with just the lens or you attach a teleconverter to it.

At the end of this part of the test traditionally we present crops taken from photos of our resolution testing chart which were saved as JPEG files.

Canon 5D MkIII, JPEG, 400 mm, f/4.0