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The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens is a notably updated version of Canon's popular 100mm Macro lens. In its latest incarnation, the 100mm f/2.8L Macro joins Canon's esteemed L-series, and as such is held to a higher level of resolving power and overall construction. Other improvements found on the EF 100mm f/2.8L include Optical Image Stabilization with up to 4-stops of shake control, and a refined Ultrasonic Motor (USM) for quicker and quieter auto-focusing with full-time manual override.
Like its predecessor, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L allows for a comfortable, shadow-free shooting distance between the front of the lens barrel and the subject with life-size (1:1) magnification. Optional extension tubes increase this magnification for exceptional close-up detail.
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 100 mm |
| Aperture |
Maximum: f/2.8 Minimum: f/32 |
| Camera Mount Type | Canon EF |
| Format Compatibility |
35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor Canon (APS-C) |
| Angle of View | 24° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 1' (30.48 cm) |
| Magnification | 1x |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | 1:1 |
| Groups/Elements | 12/15 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Image Stabilization | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Tripod Collar | No |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Filter Thread | 67 mm |
| Dimensions (DxL) | Approx. 3.06 x 4.84" (7.77 x 12.29 cm) |
| Weight | 1.38 lb (625 g) |
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Most Liked Positive Review
Truly Excellent Lens ... but
This is a truly great lens in most respects, but it does have some faults. The resolution and the bokeh this lens produces are outstanding and place this lens among the very best macro ...Read complete review
This is a truly great lens in most respects, but it does have some faults. The resolution and the bokeh this lens produces are outstanding and place this lens among the very best macro lenses out there. Actually, it is a better macro lens than all other 100mm offerings, except the Zeiss 100mm Makro Planar, and it is a better lens in many respects than the Zeiss.The biggest reason I didn't buy the Zeiss was the Zeiss isn't a true 1:1 macro lens (it's only 1:2), and the Zeiss doesn't have any AF or IS at all, which were limitations that were not suitable for my purposes (butterfly photography, where you don't have all day to focus manually, plus the hand-movement of doing so often startles the subject).However, the flipside to this is the fact the Canon's ability to manual focus (when critical MF is called for) is a joke compared to the Zeiss. In real numbers, you can focus from closeup to infinity with a mere 180 degree turn of the wrist with the Canon, while it takes you about 720 degrees of rotation to go from zero to infinity focusing the Zeiss. In other words, the Zeiss is 4x more precise in the manual focus department than the Canon, and it just feels like a much higher-quality instrument in this regard also.Both the Zeiss and the Canon take absolutely superb-quality images, and both produce superb-quality bokeh (out-of-focus background blur), both of which are key elements to macrophotography. Thus, if you're deciding on a macro lens for yourself, and want the very best, then your decision will be between this EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens by Canon or the 100mm f/2.0 Makro Planar by Zeiss. If you're serious about the best 100mm macro lens for your Canon body, it's going to be a choice between these two. The Tamrons and the Sigmas don't even come close.In order to decide which of these two lenses is best for you, you will need to question your own motives for getting a macro lens. If you always use a tripod, and if your subjects don't require true 1:1 magnification (e.g., portrait), and if your usual subjects stand still long enough for you to get absolutely perfect focus (and if your budget permits a ~$2000 lens), the Zeiss would be the clear choice. However, if you are out in the field alot, and if you shoot hand-held alot (and thus could use the Image Stabilization), and if you want to get true 1:1 magnification, and/or if many of your live-capture opportunities will be fleeting and so you need a fast auto-focus to capture a tiny creature while there's time (rather than a slow and deliberate manual focus that might take too long before the opportunity is gone), then I would get the Canon, which is what I personally did.As an owner of this Canon L lens, I love it for what it does: which is produce crystal-clear images and possibly the best bokeh I have ever seen out of any lens of any kind (even better than the Zeiss). But I would be lying if I said I still don't have it in my head to go ahead and get the Zeiss Makro Planar also, for what *it* does, which is offer absolutely precise manual focus. Because the biggest drawback to this Canon is its pitiful manual focus. If you move your hand, even a little bit, as you attempt to focus, it produces a dramatic difference because of the fact it only takes a 180-degree rotation to go from 1:1 to infinity, which again is a joke. The bottom line is the rotational elements for this Canon lens were made with auto-focusing as its main goal, and that's fine when you need it. But there are often some critical moments in macro-photography that require the super-precise focusing efforts, and 720-degree rotation capability of the Zeiss precision is simply superior to the Canon in this regard.But other than that, the Canon lens is a truly great lens in MOST of the key elements to macrophotography ... and the image-quality, the color rendition, and super-creamy bokeh it produces truly are top-notch ... and overall I am very happy with my desicion to have purchased it.Anyway, for what it's worth, that is my $0.02 ...Hope this helps,
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
It's Manual Focus From Now On
Pros - Sharp images, IS gives you a fighting chance w/o a tripod-just don't lean forward or back.
Cons - Even w/range adjustments, the AF does too much traveling. It star...Read complete review
Pros - Sharp images, IS gives you a fighting chance w/o a tripod-just don't lean forward or back.
Cons - Even w/range adjustments, the AF does too much traveling. It startled me when it made a loud staggering/grinding noise like you hear when shifting worn gears on a truck. I almost dropped the camera. I shoot w/a 40D and had plenty of light. I must have received a bad copy.
This is my 3rd L-series lens. The light weight is great, but I expected more. I take away one star for the AF issue, and one star for the Tripod Mount Ring gouging ($190 - Really?)
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
Though I've only had the lens a short time it's Fantastic. Lightweight,it carries with ease. Great for bugs,snakes and all those things I like. A little slow to auto focus
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
At low f-numbers the resolution is amazingly stable all through the field of view. At high f-numbers (above 22 f-number) the diffraction limit start playing a role thus the whole image quality decreases but the decrease is uniform throughout the image.
There are slight barrel-like spherical aberrations. The aberrations are of ca. 0.1mm for a length of the field of view of 360mm so less than 0.03%. Even with a crop camera (canon 40D), such aberrations are negligible no matter the applications, in my opinion. They do not depend on the f-number.
IS test: The camera was on auto-focus at full macro, handheld. It was set on time priority and fast shooting. Several photos for each time setting were made, both with and without the IS activated. The best image out each series was chosen. The resolution is great until ca. 1/2s exposure time. Then it starts to decrease. Still, at 0.8s, the quality is acceptable. There is basically no comparison between the images with IS on and IS off. The quality of the image with IS off at 1/20s is about the same with the one with the IS on at 0.6s so ca. 4-5 f-number stops.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
This lens is as good as it sounds! I primarily purchased it for Macro use, but have been very impressed with it's portrait abilities. For me, it was definitely worth it to spend the extra money - IS is a fabulous feature on a macro lens!
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
great macro lens for weddings + detail shots.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
This lens has crazy depth of field. Sharp and quick focusing on my macro stuff, and even have taken some nice portrait shots with it. Its nice that is comes with a bag and a lens hood.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
I am a professional writer/photographer who works for a wildlife agency and does freelance on the side.
The EF 100MM Macro Is is a tack-sharp imaged stabilized beauty that is very photographer friendly.
Shots that I had previously used a tripod to take I can now do hand-held, allowing much more versatility in the field.
In short, for macro photography it's a dream to use.
I have not used it for portraits yet, but my old 100mm macro without IS was a remarkable portrait lens, so I have high expectations for this one.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
Iv'e trended to make do with all my other L Series Lenses to shoot jewelry and other very small intricate product lines but now having made the investment to bring everything a whole lot closer I can achieve a better result! Without the cropping constantly adding to the workflow, I can now get right in there for tight full framed subject matter with very little effort! The bokeh is also outstanding, providing a fully manageable eye focal experience and quick, did I mention quick? The investment has already paid off and the experience pushed me also into a field (literally) I knew not of... the insect world! Another fine L Series Lens for my bag, the new EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens... My new workhorse!
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
Excellent lens. Easy to use. Durable. Produces clean, sharp images. Great bokeh effect means no distracting backgrounds.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
I bought this lens to use it as a Macro and general portrait lens.
I was amazed by its image quality. However I found the focus speed on this lens NOT to be on par with other L lenses. I have not used other macro lens before, so it might a limitation on the fact that it has a large range to search the focus.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
I will use this lens for macro work, great lens have not had a lot of time to use it but so far so good. will need to use a tripod and the wind can make it hard to focus.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
I bought this first for Macro and then realized how great of portrait shots it took. I think its worth the extra $ for the L series quality compared to the other Canon 100mm.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
While technically a great lens, its hard to get things in focus and the IS really has no effect in the macro world. Just save your money and go with the 180MM macro. Longer working distance and also takes great portraits.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
Wow, what a great lens. Extremely happy with this lens.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
Great sharpness! Great for nature and portraits. FLexible enough for use at some distance. The usual high quality for a Canon L lens. Only thing I don't like is trying to take the lens cap off AFTER I put the lens hood on--nearly impossible.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
I don't honestly know why I waited so long to get this macro lens.....but OH how HAPPY I am that I own it now! If you are looking to expand your lens arsenal, you can't miss with this macro.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
Perfectly sharp portrait images!
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
Pros: Great color, tack sharp focus, great bokeh! It's as good as they say.
Cons: Being a prime, especially at 157mm (on my T3i), be prepared to step back for a shot, especially portraits.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
This lens takes fantasic close-up images. It replaces my 100mm Canon lens without image stabilization (IS). The IS allows for more hand held shots. The resolution is excellent. I use it on a Canon 5D Mark III (full frame), which allows me to crop the images significantly. I would have liked to see less plastic used, but it does not seem to take away from the quality images. The benefit is a lighter lens. It also is a great portrait lens.
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
I love this lens! This is my first macro lens and I love the detail I am able to capture with this lens. The 2.8 aperrature blurs the background quite nicely leaving the subject in clear focus. The image stabilization is a plus as I am not the most steady camera holder. :)
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Comments about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens:
This a L Canon lens, what else can i say?
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