Canon shooters who don’t want to lug a huge and expensive telephoto zoom along with them, and haven’t wanted to go third party have had only one option for the past 16 years (believe it or not, that’s how long it has been). Finally Canon has introduced a totally revamped model, the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 IS II USM Lens. The new lens has all the right specs:

Product Highlights

• EF Mount L-Series Lens/Full-Frame Format
• One Fluorite and One Super UD Element
• Air Sphere and Fluorine Lens Coatings
• Ring-Type USM AF Motor, Internal Focus
• Optical Image Stabilizer with 3 Modes
• Rotating Zoom Ring & Torque Adjustment
• Weather-Sealed Design
• Detachable, Rotatable Tripod Collar
• Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm

The lens certainly isn’t tiny, at 3.7” x 7.6” and 3.5 pounds it is slightly larger and 15% heavier than the version it replaces, but the price is certainly reasonable for a modern design and competitive with Nikon’s version. The new lens is available for pre-order at B&H for $2199.

The lens hood that ships with the lens is also available as a spare: priced at $95.