31.1.2011

** IMPORTANT! ** Amazon has combined all customer reviews for the L-version and standard version of the 100mm f2.8 macro lens, as well as the f2.0 lens, so any customer review appearing on one lens also appears on the other two. This situation is beyond the control of the customers leaving reviews.THIS review is for the f2.8L lens, with the unique product ASIN B002NEFLD2.My first L-series lens was the 24-70mm, and I thought it was amazing. The 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM blows it out of the water as far as image quality is concerned. It's like experiencing that wonderful "introduction to L-quality" moment all over again.The combination of prime optics and macro magnification mean that this lens gives pin sharp details at incredible scales.I really cannot stress enough just how good the detail resolution is at 1:1 magnification. I use a 7D and was expecting some loss of resolution due to the cropped sensor, but it is simply not apparent in full scale images. This lens is really fun to find uses for and it's kinda hard to keep it off the camera.I can assure you that portraits from this lens are first class, especially when used in conjunction with flash bounced off a white ceiling. They are light, airy, and natural-looking. The focused areas are both razor sharp and finely detailed whereas bokeh is smooth and soft. Absolutely spot on! It can be a bit long for comfort on a cropped camera body but it is well worth the extra leg exercise. Using it for portraits and candids has given me an idea as to why people rave so much about the 135mm f/2L.One area where this lens lacks somewhat is in its focus locking; it can sometimes seek a little, focus off-target, then lock on after a second. This means it is pretty poor at AF tracking - even when using AI Servo in anything less than bright light. Using the proper setting on the autofocus distance limiter is pretty much essential for most types of shot.I use a Gretag-Macbeth colour chart to confirm colours with my camera/lens combinations and correct any drift. This has shown that of all the lenses I own the 100mm macro is the one which most consistently reproduces accurate colours. It has also shown that the colours most likely to drift with this lens are oranges and middle blues - of particular relevance when photographing insects, flowers, etc.Unlike other black L-series lenses the main body is made from engineering grade plastic rather than metal. It remains very tough and robust, but is much lighter than it should be as a result. It's also weather resistant like much of the L range. The serial number of each lens is engraved on the metal docking ring which connects to the camera, as well as a date code which records when and where the lens was manufactured.Because of the ring USM system, focusing is really quiet, which helps when taking close-up shots of critters. Full time manual (FTM) focus is enabled. The front does not rotate, and all focusing is internal. Minimum focusing distance is just under a foot (0.3m). The maximum magnification of 1x is increased to 1.17x with Extension Tube EF 12 and 1.37x with Extension Tube EF 25. The lens is not compatible with either the 1.4x or 2x Mk II extenders.For most people the decision as to whether or not to buy the L-series version of this lens will come down to the Hybrid Image Stabilisation. It becomes a bit less useful as magnification approaches 1:1, only giving the full four stops of improvement at 1:5 magnification and beyond. Improvement at 1x magnification is two stops at most, so if you only plan on using the lens for life size macro shots, you might choose not to pay out a couple of hundred quid extra for IS.If you are also going to be using the lens for portraits and so forth, the IS will certainly pay dividends. HOWEVER, please don't take away the idea that the IS is useless for macro work; it helps stabilise the image in the viewfinder/LCD which obviously helps a lot. One last thing to note about the IS is that the 100mm Macro uses the Hybrid Image Stabilisation system which natively supports a kind of "Z-axis" stabilisation. At short focusing distances this can compensate for shift movements between lens and subject, as well as the angular movements that conventional IS corrects. This is very useful indeed for hand-held macro work. HIS really comes into its own when you are trying to capture swaying plants, or insects clinging onto stems etc. So it's not necessarily all about the additional stops!

28.2.2007

This lens is so good I've bought 2 of them. I had to sell my first lens due to financial reasons and bought another one at the earliest opportunity afterwards. Those months without it were a pain and I genuinely missed it!!The lens is well built - a little lighter than I would have thought and it's fairly long but it doesn't feel flimsy.Auto focus is good and fast in good light. If you're not using the lens for macro flick the switch on the side to limit the focus mechanism to anything greater than 48cm distance and it speeds up a whole lot more.There's a full time focus ring and a manual/auto focus switch too.Focusing is internal meaning the lens doesn't grow in length as you're focusing which I really like.Now down to the nitty gritty: image quality - which is really excellent. I personally bought the lens after reading many reviews on the web and I have not been disappointed in the least. Background blur is also very beautiful. Images are incredibly sharp all the way from f/2.8 so I have no reservations using the lens wide open. Stopped down a bit things just get better - the details this thing can resolve are outstanding. Operating at minimum focus distance (31cm) with an aperture of just 2.8 leads to a super narrow depth of field, we're talking probably 1 or 2mm is in sharp focus! However, it will allow you to be very selective about what is in focus.Another good feature of the lens is that whilst achieving 1:1 reroduction at it's closest focusing distance it still gives you about 15cm from the end of the lens to the subject. I own the 60mm ef-s macro too and the working distance is down to 9cm on that lens which in some instances is a bit close for comfort, especially where bugs are concerned and they tend to fly off for obvious reasons. It's a bit better with this lens as there's more room.On a camera with the APS-C sized sensor such as the Canon 60D, 7D, 600d etc what this lens works out to is a 160mm medium telephoto lens. This is likely a bit too long for most portrait work. I have found occasional use for the lens on an APS-C camera body for shooting candid head shots of guests at weddings as the focal length generally puts you outside the zone where people are aware a camera being pointed at them. However, It's not like the 85mm lens which converts to the classic 135mm on an APS-C camera but of course that lens doesn't have macro. Just have a little think what you want this for on an APS-C body - the 60mm EF-S macro may be better for you on these cameras as it obviously has macro functionality plus it converts to 100mm; a much more usable length for portraits; it's a bit more versatile overall on APS-C bodies.Price is very reasonable in my opinion, it's at the top end of what canon charge for their standard range of lenses but given the superb image quality across the aperture range this is fair.All round though it's still an awesome lens.

7.10.2009

100mm and similar macro lens are ideal for dipping into the world on the small side. They allow you to capture macro shots without having to get as close to your subject as you would have to with lesser 50mm lens. They are therefore ideal for taking detailed and sharp photographs of bugs and insects as well as other nature photography. Despite the name however they are not confined to only macro photography. They can also be very useful for portraiture as a larger aperture allows you to isolate your subject in perfect clarity while having the background blurred.In terms of picture quality the Canon can't be faulted as time after time it produce razor sharp and vibrant images with the perfect level of contrast.

13.12.2013

I've been a Canon fan for many years having owned several of their FD range cameras and lenses back in the very dim and distant past. Amongst those was a Canon FD 100mm F2 lens which could produce some exceptional results. I was half tempted to go back to the Canon FD system when I saw a T90 outfit for sale on eBay. But there was only one FD 100mm F2 lens available (in MINT+ condition whatever the **** that is?!)and the seller wanted almost £500...er no!So I spotted an EOS-3 for sale and plumped for that, I also bagged a PG-E2 power grip and I was away. And of course I then had to have an EF 100mm F2 lens.First impressions were excellent. Substantially built,well balanced,

8.2.2010

I already own the non L version of this lens, and I was having problems holding the thing still in situations where I wanted to take photographs and didn't have any readily available support. So I decided to get the L, mainly for the stabilisation.Optically, I can't really tell that there's much difference between L and non L, they're both incredibly sharp, even wide open. The MTF charts I've seen suggest that the new lens is sharper than the old, but, frankly, it's pretty hard to spot in an actual printed photograph.The IS works really well, is quiet in operation, and for me, has made a huge difference to when and where I can use this lens. For portrait work you'll get the full 4 stops,

21.12.2012

By golly this lens is sharp!I thought I'd seen sharp optics before, but this lens is in a different league, it's tack-sharp all the way from wide open at f/2.8 through to the point at which diffraction starts to become noticeable at around f/22. You can safely use it at any aperture and be assured of image quality which will exceed almost anything else on the market.Build-quality feels slightly plasticky for a canon L series optic, but it does have metal where it counts along with a weather-sealing rubber gasket. The hood's a little on the large size, and when reversed it completely covers the focussing-ring, distance scale, and focus/image stabilisation switches which is a pain.The IS system seems to operate very well,

8.4.2012

First point. April 2012 there is a Canon cashback promotion and I got the lens for £619 from Jacobs but you can get it from Jessops for the same price if you haggle. That is still £20-30 more than Digitalrev or Procamerashop but you do get a UK warranty. Digitalrev and Procamerashop are both excellent. Panamoz is the cheapest but, their Ts and Cs are interesting and they are just as HK as the others but aren't as open about itSecond point. It is very sharp and the colours and contrast are good. Easy for portraits but a bit long on a crop frame at 160mm but I find it easier to work with the kids from a greater distanceThird point, you will need to spend a good while working out this lens for macro work.

24.12.2012

The main reason I wanted a fast prime lens at 100mm or thereabouts, was to photograph my new grandson. I didn't like the idea of using flash or studio lighting so this lens had to be reasonably fast. I spent hours researching reviews of suitable lenses and from almost every perspective this lens came up as a favourite...with the bonus of macro! What is more, some reviewers even rated it as good as the L version, which costs considerably more. Yes indeed the IS would be useful, but this is hardly justification for a couple of hundred pounds extra spend. Cutting to the chase, I have now used this cracking lens for the intended purpose and I and everyone who has seen the results are mightily pleased.

3.1.2009

I've had this for a few months and am using it with an EOS 350D.Firstly, and most importantly, image quality is fantastic - it's pixel-sharp, and seems incapable of distortion or chromatic aberration. I have really no complaints here, not even niggles.The AF is accurate and fast. It can hunt around a bit if you're not quite aiming straight, so the switch to increase minimum focussing distance (from 0.3m to 0.48m) is very useful for non-macro subjects. Alternatively, manually focussing first, then blipping the AF to fine-tune it, works quickly and reliably.Lastly, I'm surprised at how much I use this lens, even after the initial excitement of taking poster-size shots of everyday household objects has worn off.

25.1.2013

First off, optically this lens is absolutely impeccable. 'Everyone' knows, and acknowledges that, including the photographic press where it came top in a very recent test of macro lenses in 'Advanced Photographer' magazine. This lens, at current prices is only a few hundred pounds more than Canon's cheaper 100mm macro, and from experience there is no comparison; this lens literally blows the cheaper alternative out of the water for sharpness, bite and IQ.Apart from a superlative macro lens, it also doubles as a wonderful portrait lens. I'm lucky enough to own both this, and the EF 85mm f/1.2 L II and if I had to 'lose' one of these lenses, it would be a close call. The 100ml is just so much more versatile,

11.6.2010

Yes, I deliberated for ages before shelling out for one of these, and of course when I did, they were in short supply! Is it worth it? Well it depends what you want it for. I've only used mine on a 5D MkII but the results are incredible. In fact sometimes the images are just too sharp (but that's easy to deal with). Sure, you have to think about how to get the maximum out of the lens but that return to thinking isn't a bad thing. The D0F (or lack of it) can catch you out, and you don't want any of that nasty softening at small apertures, so your focussing has to be critical. So it's a classic 100mm f2.8 then! Build quality is fantastic, although it doesn't have quite the bulk/weight of other "L" lenses.

29.6.2010

I bought this lens mostly for portraiture but I've just turned in the most amazingly sharp pictures of Dragonflies hatching I think I've ever seen. No credit to me I'd add (ok...just a bit of credit then). I did consider the non-IS, non-L series version, but having moved up to a 5d MkII recently I thought I'd push the boat out and stick to the real McCoy. Am I glad I did? no question. This lens is so sharp. Believe me. It comes with a caveat though...if you're prepared to work hard at depth of field issues (this lens exploits limited DOF) and be really accurate with focussing, you'll reap the benefits. If you're lazy though...save a few quid and buy the other one.

15.10.2016

Please note - some of the reviews here are for the non-L macro lens. Just to be clear, this is for the Canon EF 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM Lens.This is, quite honestly, a stunning lens - and I write as someone who has several L-series lenses. Image quality is startling - better than my go-to EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM; colour rendition faithful and bright. (Of course, it is a prime lens, but even so.)As a walk-around lens, this has performed well for me as a medium telephoto - making me think about composition and using the "foot-zoom" has been fun. It is very well made and solid in feel without being heavy - as you'd expect from an L-series lens,

10.10.2014

I wanted to take 'macro' photos and after much research i decided to get a proper macro lens, but not the "L" lens as i didn't want to spend £700. But after much deliberation I could see the only real choice was this Canon 100mm f2.8 'L' lens, so i went and purchased it.And from the very first photos I have to say that this lens is... FRIKKIN AWESOME! It's so nice :-)When you first feel it after removing it from it's good packaging it feels of good quality even though it's of plastic build. During shooting the Image Stabilisation makes a buzzing sound but works well. Once I got used to the shallow depth-of-field of a macro lens the photos it produced are just wonderful. I use an APS-C [cropped-sensor]

13.8.2013

Beautiful lens, makes any shot a bit special. Am using as portrait lens at the moment but looking forward to tryng the macro out...update - having used this lens for a little while now I felt I should expand a little. The image quality is just superb. When I download my pics and go through them I instantly spot ones taken with this lens - even compared to my nice 70-400 f4 L. I guess you'd expect a prime to be very sharp, and it really is, and the bokeh is dreamy. I'm not a pro so don't have years of experience, or a lot of other lenses, to compare it to, but I can say for sure it's my favourite lens. I've heard good things about the non-L 100mm but never having tried it I can't say whether it's worth paying out almost double the money for this beauty...

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM - Reviews

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