You will not go wrong with this lens. The image quality is outstanding. The focus speed is super. Just remember to slide the focus switch to the proper setting based on the type of subjects you are shooting. For both portrait and macro, this lens is super sharp. On my 7D Mark II, I only had to stand roughly 20-25 feet from the subject for full body portrait shots. That is not bad considering it is on a 1.6x crop camera. Low light shooting is outstanding. When it comes to macro, I prefer to use manual focus under live view to give me precise control. Really easy to do and less strain on your back. What amazed me is that with image stabilizer on or off, while on tripod, the image quality was identical and sharp. No need to turn off image stabilizer. The image stabilizer is a little noisy but hey, when your camera is on and you move it around, you at least know it is working. I highly recommend this lens. Last thing, for those that believe or not believe in filters, here is a tip: get one! I got so close to an object that I didn't realize I was pushing up against it. A quality filter will possibly protect your glass from accidental scratching if it was a metal object you were filming. I highly recommend a good filter since this lens is sharp. [...] makes excellent filters and can be bought on amazon or their website. Yes, they make some of the best filters for at the best prices. I own, a 50mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm, and a 10-18mm lens. The 100mm macro is my all time favorite! I added some photos but the web compressed them down so you don't get the full hi res version. It is amazing when zooming on the original photos. As for the build quality, I don't see what the deal is about the enhanced plastic encasing. It does feel solid as any other L lens and even seems to weigh as much or slightly less than my 24-70mm L lens.
The canon EF 100mm f2.8L IS USM Macro lens is a bit of a monster to be honest. Like most other Canon L series lenses, this lens comes in a little bit heavier than standard EF or EF-S lenses. This is due in part to the excellent build quality (and weather sealing) and also in part to the inclusion of Image stabilization.
Like many others, I spent a considerable amount of time trying to determine whether I should get this lens with image stabilization or whether to get the roughly $300 cheaper albeit non L series 100mm Macro lens. Generally the quality of the glass in a L series lens is higher than a standard EF series lens, so that would be a plus. The other big consideration was whether I wanted image stabilization. Now that I've had this lens for about a year I can say with full confidence that spending the extra for IS and the L series is definitely worth it.
Controls on this lens are fairly standard across canon's series of lenses, you have a range selector switch, AF/MF switch and an image stabilization On/Off switch. Since this is a prime, there obviously isn't a zoom ring, just a focusing ring, which is nice and wide and has a very smooth motion to it.
The Canon 100mm Macro lens is really a multi purpose lens. Although it's main use is for macro photography, you can very readily use this as a portrait lens on a full frame body (on a crop sensor this will be a 160mm lens which is a bit long for portrait photography) with excellent results.
For the most part when shooting macro, you would want to shoot on a tripod with rail system and good lighting however since owning this lens I've found the amount of times that I've been out wandering around and happened across something that I wanted to shoot and didn't have my tripod with me to be a lot more than I expected. This is where the image stabilization on this lens comes into play. I've found that with the IS you get around a 2 stop advantage. It also makes taking macro shots by hand actually possible.
Macro focusing is an art into itself. This lens allows you to stop all the way down to 2.8, with a beautifully creamy bokeh but a very narrow depth of field (for example, if shooting an insect, you may get the insects head in focus but the body will be out of focus) or go up the scale to allow more of your shot to be in focus. Of course, increasing your f-stop also means increasing your exposure time. Increasing your exposure time means the more likely there will be camera shake whilst taking the picture and as mentioned this is where the image stabilization kicks in for around 2 stops advantage.
To get really close shots you can pair this lens with extension tubes. Extension tubes don't have any glass in them and simply create more of a distance from the back of your lens to the actual camera sensor. This effectively "zooms" you in further.
Image quality from this lens is phenomenal. Very sharp images with wonderfully creamy boken produced by it's 15 elements. This lens creates the best bokeh I have seen form a lens, including the lenses I own that stop down to f1.4.
If you are looking for possibly one of the best macro lenses on the market. you won't be disappointed with this lens. If you are looking for a great portrait lens, you won't be disappointed with this lens and if you are looking for a macro lens that you can use without the need of a tripod, then this is definitely lens you want.
Overall the Canon EF 100mm f2.8L IS USM Macro lens is a winner. I'm so glad I paid the extra for the L series and image stabilization. Totally worth it.
I love that the detail, crispness and shallow depth of field allows for optimal results as seen in the video I’ve attached with this review.
Here's the thing though, it kind of sounds like there is a loose part in the lens and that it's bouncing around when you shake the lens... but that is to be expected... so don't worry if you hear that and immediately worry.
If you’re looking for an excellent Macro Lens used for getting second-to-none shots for products, I would suggest this 100mm Macro Lens.
This is a macro lens and for that purpose it is great! Also takes good portraits and pet pictures. Has excellent background blur and bokeh. It's lightweight due to the plastic body, which is very strong surprisingly, but then again this is a L lens. Takes a while to focus is moderate to low light but all other macros I have played with do this. Would recommend!
This lens is probably the best of several wonderful Canon L-Series lenses I have. Great for portraits, macro, street, landscape, and many, many more applications. See, for example, my attached "bee" photo and "frog" photo with this lens -- both hand-held! Also, the "crayon" macro photo -- on tripod with a friend's studio lighting. Every "photog" friend to whom I've shown this lens is amazed. Even better buy now, at a price approximately $250 less than I paid two years ago.
Feature Product
- 100 mm focal length and 1:2.8 maximum aperture. The EF1.4X II/EF2X II extenders cannot be used with this lens. There are no compatible close-up lenses
- Lens construction consists of 15 elements in 12 groups
- 23.4-Degree diagonal angle of view
- Inner focusing system with USM and full-time manual focus option.Closest focusing distance 0.99 ft./0.3m (maximum close-up magnification: 1x)
- 67 mm filter size.Filter Size:58mm
- 100mm lens with f2.8 aperture
- Canon's first mid-telephoto macro "L" series lens to include Canon's sophisticated Image Stabilization
- Near-silent Ultrasonic focusing
- Enjoy life-size close-up capabilities without an adapter
- Compatible with 67mm filters
Description
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens is the first mid-telephoto macro lens to include Canon's sophisticated Image Stabilization. With the highest quality optics available, combined with near-silent Ultrasonic focusing and life-size close-up capabilities without an adapter, the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is simply unrivaled. The Hybrid Image Stabilization Technology effectively compensates for both angular and shift camera shake during close-up shooting. The lens was developed to expand users' photographing range and allow a wider range of users to easily enjoy macro photography. Suitable for Nature/concert/potrait and close up/product photography
Very sharp lens. So far I can't find anything to complain about. I have discovered that lens extenders such as the Canon EF 25 II Extension Tube do not add much magnification. The attached photo are samples from this lens.
Love the lens...looking forward to taking it out for a spin. I do have a couple minor complaints. Luckily, Canon does a good job of packaging it's lenses. The amazon box was slightly dinged up. The lens seems to be working fine, but the lens hood was cracked...I'm guessing from the moving around in the box...as there was next to no inner padding for Canon box to the Amazon box. For just over $800 you'd think they would put a bit more padding. This is the photo of the box after I opened it. Might be the last lens I buy from Amazon.
This is a great lens. I am not going to sit here and offer a detailed review because if you are into photography and love macro photography then you should already have done your homework. One thing I will say though... I have heard many people say that the image stabilizer does not work well in the full macro mode. I disagree. It works and works well for me.
NOTE to Amazon: I received this lens in a box large enough to hold a large microwave and with no packing material, implying that the lens was tossed and bounced around. I returned the lens without even opening it. Thank you for sending a new one. Perhaps you need to check how sensitive equipment is packed. Sucks to receive something and then have to return it.
Lets keep it simple... I own a large array of Canon L lenses (I am an amateur enthusiast), and there are two that consistently stand out for their optical quality - the 100mm macro and the 135mm mid-range. I love this lens. The build quality is excellent. I rarely use a tripod, and I consistently get shots that are tack-sharp. At dusk or twilight, a tripod is needed. This lens is so sharp, it will show all details. I say that, because I have found that is an excellent portrait lens. Shoot soft when doing that. I also use it primarily via manual focus, and there are no issues - very sensitive, very precise. On a tripod with micro-adjuster, it delivers top notch results. I can say nothing negative about this lens other than the price.
This is by far my favorite lens. It's excellent for walk around. At 100mm you do find yourself having to step back quite often. But if you like closeups then this lens seems like an almost must have. I had borrowed one for a few weeks and I was very sad to give it up so I ended up getting one for myself. So glad I did.
Being limited to 100mm makes me look at things differently and is slowly making me a better photographer.
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