Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens Imported

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

As a product photographer - I use the lens for my work, portfolio, and testing - for watches, jewelry, and other. In my profession this product is a must, it is light weight, durable, and very sharp, the 180mm macro also gives me more lens to subject distance allowing lighting flexibility and better control over reflective surfaces.

Other lenses require you to be too close to your subject where it may cast a reflection and/or shadow on the subject - also, it's more difficult to light adding time to an already tight and time sensitive deadline.

Overall, the bokeh is desirable, relatively fast given its focal length and purpose, attractive design, and well built in addition to what has been discussed herewith.

Additional features:

Dual "Focusing Distance Range" allowing for faster focus at close or farther distances.

Placement of "MF/AF" and dual "Focusing Distance Range" switches are convenient.

Rubber Focusing Ring is larger/wider and easier to use than most other lenses.

Product comes with a Lens Ring or Tripod Mount Ring.

Quiet focusing - Ideal in nature photography

Great for portraits

Lens diameter of ø72mm is common and is consistent with other products.

True 1:1 magnification - 2:1 with EF2X Extender.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

Great optics and balance to the camera

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

Excelent price, the tracking is ok..

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

I've been shooting outdoor macro shots with Canon's 100 macro (non-L) for a couple years now. That lens has provided some amazing images, but in the back of my mind I always wondered if an L-series lens would provide even better IQ. I've spent the last six months researching macros, from all the major players, and finally decided that a long macro was for me, because the uber-narrow depth of field tends to provide an out-of-focus background. Once I again I researched all the options, this time limiting the search to long macros. I finally decided on Canon's 180 macro.

I've only had this lens for about a month now, but all I can say is wow! This lens provides sparkling clear closeups with incredible detail, and even at f8 or higher still provides a pleasant out-of-focus background. The colors may be just a bit better than the 100 non-L macro, but that is a subjective thing, to date I've not been able to quantify it. For sure the detail and the blurred background provide images that just pop right off the paper! As it turns out a long macro is perfect for the type of macro photography I enjoy, and this lens can capture images that are truly unbelieveable.

So what's the catch? I think none. I read about the lens' reputation for slow (poor) auto focus. That worried me. I can verify that under poor light/contrast situations the lens will hunt, but in good light/contrast conditions it's plenty fast. More significantly, in actual use over the past month this has not once been an issue for me, as all my shots are taken using manual focus, even in goodlight/contrast conditions. You'll have to decide for yourself.

This lens falls squarely into the large and heavy category. I don't consider this a minus, but you have to keep this in mind when purchasing this lens, or any lens for that matter. Do you like to hand-hold, or do you love tripods? I almost never shoot without a tripod: if it's not tack sharp the rest does not matter. Once again you'll have to decide for yourself what is important to you.

I also can't compare this lens to anything other than the Canon 100 (non-L macro). I've read some very good reviews on other non-Canon lenses. All I can say I've taken some excellent images with the 100 lens, and this lens seems to be a notch higer on the IQ scale.

And last, you always have to consider the price. This is one of Canon's more expensive lenses, but I've always belived that as with everything in life, you get what you pay for.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

This lens offers wonderful sharpness, lovely color rendition and fantastic bokeh (due to its longer 180mm focal length, the DOF is very small). However, its strongest feature for the macro photographer is the greater "working distance" is hugely advantageous when photographing living subjects in the field (eg. insects). This lens is also fantastic for portraiture.

The only drawback is the lack of IS, but this ens is by far better used on a tripod.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

Great for close up nature shots, able to see things the naked eye can't see. The lens takes excellent photos, I am very happy with it. Must be used on a tripod, unless you have rock steady hands. Do wish this lens had IS. Excellent lens!

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

My typical use for this lens is medical/science macrophotography. Great lens for getting down to the minutest of detail. Focus is accurate which is more important than speed in my world. This lens needs to be used with a tripod as the "keep" rate is pretty low when hand held. Also need to have very good lighting. For all round use, I prefer my 100mm f2.8 macro to this lens but there is a great place for this lens when you really want to see tiny things.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

I have owned the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro, the EF 100mm f/2.8 "L" IS Macro, and now I have the EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro.Having experienced all 3 lenses, I would say the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS is the best value for the money. If you are a hobbyist, or enthusiast, I would say the smaller 100mm "L" lens is more "handholdable'--and will produce the most consistently-excellent photos for you, just "snap-shotting," no question. The sharpness, the color renditions, and the IS of the 100mm "L" combine to overshadow the other two lenses (the original "non-L" 100mm and the 180mmL) most of the time.That said, I sold my 100mm f/2.8 "L" IS in favor of the 180mm f/3.5L because (even though the 180mm is an older lens) the 180mm f/3.5L inspires professionalism. The very "handholdability" of the smaller 100mm "L" meant that I hand-held all of the time. This "sloppiness," of hand-holding all the time (even with the IS) inspired many so-so shots that COULD HAVE been great shots, IF I would have just used a tripod. However, because of the minimum focusing distance of the 100mm "L", it was more of a pain to use a tripod than with my new 180mm lens.With the EF 180mm f/3.5L, you feel you NEED to use a tripod. It is a big lens, it is awkward, and it is HEAVY. Yet there is a beauty in this because the magnitude of this lens FORCES YOU to use a tripod ... and (here is the key) because its reach gives you EXTRA FOCUSING DISTANCE to do so, you're able to use a tripod quite conveniently.That extra "step back" to work on a tripod, thanks to the extra focal length of this 180mm f/3.5L Macro, literally makes a "night-and-day" difference in your efforts.Let us face this fact: there is a difference between an "enthusiast" and a PRO. Enthusiasts should stick with the smaller 100mm f/2.8L. Pros realize that truly good macro shots are designed to be taken ON A TRIPOD, and the extra "reach" of the 180mm lens allows you to do this with complete ease. That extra "reach" also allows you to create a smoother background "bokeh" too.To those who cry about the "slow auto-focus" of this lens ... you must be amateurs. Truly serious macro shooters don't even trouble themselves with AF. So, if you're serious about your macro shots, forget about the AF and realize this is a MACRO lens, not a sport lens.In short, I do believe this lens needs an uprade, but it is still the most serious macro lens (aside from the MPE-65) that Canon offers.I personally would like to see the upgrade for this lens come with NO auto-focus at all (that's right, NO AF), and instead come with the second-generation IS of the 100mm f/2.8L, and with a HIGHLY-PRECISE manual focus range. By this I mean a 720-degree span of rotation (as opposed to the minimal 270-degree of rotation that this lens has now). It is a fact that, the more degrees of rotation there are in the MF aspect, the more precise is your focus in a MF effort.It is my opinion that a true macro lens has no need for AF at all, and that the most precise MF capabilities are what is most important, and by having a mediocre AF (and only 270-degrees of rotation of the focus ring), this current 180mm Macro lens lens does a half-baked job of trying to satisfy "both" AF junkies as well as true macro junkies.I think (at a [$] price point and 180mm focal length), that the next iteration of this 180mm Macro lens should concentrate on 100% pure macro capabilities like its MPE-65 brother.But still, as it stands, the extra focal length of the current iteration of this 180mm Canon Macro lens makes it a more serious tool than its smaller 100mm brothers.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

The other week, I dropped my Canon 180 mm macro on the rocks. Insurance covered it. I bought another from B&H. Here's a look at what this lens can do (the damselfly is about an inch long, or less):[@]

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

I use this lens for macro only and it is very sharp.This is the second macro lens that i have recently bought i got the sigma 150 2.8 first and it wasn't as sharp as the canon.I am not happy with the recent price increases on canon lenses this lens cost twice as much as the sigma.I wish it had image stabilazation. Solid well built lens.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

Depth of field is practically zero. Which makes for fantastic background blur for portrait work. This lens has a terrific Macro 1:1 ratio. Focus is slow but that is typical for a macro lens. You wouldn't use this lens for high action sports.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

This is a very good product,
This lens has very fine performance as well as
the large format lenses.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

I never knew there is so much more to see in true macro mode. It's another world.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

It really does everything a macro lens is supposed to do. Great close-ups.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

A great lens. I can't handhold a heavy lens like this one and expect sharp and detailed pictures anymore. I use it on a tripod 80% of the time.

I bought it from BHphoto.com in August 2010. Some thousands of miles and almost two months of heavy usage later, from taking the tiny desert wild flowers to the interesting objects on the banks of the Charles River, I have a great time and pleasure of using this nice new lens. No problems thus far.

I have been taking pictures since the mid 1960's. This lens really has the quality, saturation, snaps and accurate colors like some of the best lenses I used through the years. I use it on a 2Ti. I am not a pro but I firmly believe my money is well spent on it.

I also use Olympus E500 and E330 with Sigma and Olympus lenses. I bought them from BHphoto.com too. The Canon T2i and this lens combination really out paced them in the noise, ISO and focusing departments.

I like the wide rubberized focsing area so I can get a firm gripe when I need to use the manual focus. The lens is heavy. Please make sure that you have a good and reliable tripod and head to go with it.

There is two things of which I don't like, the plastic lens hood and the AF/M and limter switches on the lens. Maybe a firmer or screw mount hood is better for this quality lens. This thin and flexible lens hood is not that easy to put on or take off the lens when you are in a hurry. The switch plate really doesn't give me a good feeling that it will last as long as the lens itself!!

I got some of the nice close shots of insects and tiny flowers that I believe I wouldn't have if I have chosen a 100mm or 50mm lens. Mid range and distant objects are sharp and detailed too. I am very happy with it.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

lens is what I've been wanting.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

I am using this lens for about 3/4 years, and the result is very outstanding. The quality for blur the background is much more better than 100 mm Macro L, and the for it's longer working distance (about 17" for 1:1) the photographer as well as the insect will be more comfortable. You may look some of my photos taken with this lens in [@]

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

As a specific example, I spent an afternoon with this lens in Niagara Falls Canada at a butterfly conservatory and of course at the gardens near the falls. Ideally, the lens will have IS in the future, but even without it, the image quality is amazing. In a setting without great lighting, prepare to have flash or some other lighting. The focus is NOT fast and I missed a few shots because of it, but this is a MACRO lens. It is not intended to be an every day walk around and grab a shot of a fleeting Allen's Hummingbird at a feeder in Eastern PA during the winter. The bokeh is nice. The sharpness is great. The contrast is great. I debated this L lens as opposed to Canon's well regarded 100mm lens. I have absolutely no regrets getting this lens with the understanding of how it was intended to be used.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

I have the Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens and I use it every day. It is an incredible lens that gives me beautiful photos and I highly recommend it. I do however have one serious issue. The lens barrel is held in the tripod ring by 4 small spacers, each held in place by a small screw. One of the screws loosens by itself. I called Canon service for a replacement screw and I was told that they don't sell replacement screws and I should send it in for a repair that may involve replacing the barrel or the ring. I have two problems with this solution; first, I don't want to lose use of my lens for a week or two and second all I want is a screw that can't cost more than a few pennies.

Comments about Canon Telephoto EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM Autofocus Lens:

I've only had this product for two weeks and have only done one photo shoot with it - but the results were unbelievable.
I did a photo shoot of flowers using my kitchen table as my studio and just natural north window light.
Super pictures - the detail was great, tack sharp, colors were great. I got one picture that everyone raved about and said should be hanging on my wall!!

The only negative was that the AF had trouble zeroing in on the subject matter when trying to focus on light colors or thin parts of the flowers. I contacted Canon and they said that AF works of off the contrast and that this was to be expected when working with light colors???

Also, as noted in other reviews - it is a heavy lense!!