Canon EF 100mm f 2 8L IS USM 1 to 1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
The EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens could very well be the essential multipurpose lens for every camera bag due to its ability to capture sharp close-up images of small objects as well as beautiful portrait-length telephoto shots. The incorporation of Canon’s new Hybrid IS in this L-series macro lens allows it to compensate more effectively for camera shake during close-up shooting and marks a significant improvement for professionals and advanced amateurs utilizing macro photography for portrait, nature or wedding shoots.
New Hybrid IS Technology: Designed Especially for Macro Photography
The world’s first* optical image stabilizer for SLR cameras was introduced in the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM in 1995. Since then, Canon has made continual advancements in IS systems to enhance panning capability and improve compensation for camera shake. Now, in a move aimed at extending image stabilization to the macro realm, Canon introduces its Hybrid IS in the new EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM another first for Canon and the world.
Conventional image stabilization technology is useful for reducing the effects of camera shake in non-macro shooting situations. When shooting handheld close-ups at 1x, however, camera shake makes it difficult to achieve acceptable results even with lenses incorporating conventional image stabilizers. Now, thanks to the Hybrid IS found in the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, Canon extends IS technology to the macro realm, making it easy to obtain clear handheld close-ups a world first* and a definite advantage in environments where use of a tripod is not an option.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Effectively two lenses for the price of one
I bought this lens as a macro lens, for close up work. Wow, what a lens. My 11-year-old daughter picked it up the next day while I was at work and took some spectacular photos of her bearded dragon lizard. She got right up to it, 1:1, and got amazing shots of the lizard’s scales. Please note that I did not give her any training on the lens. She just picked it up and started shooting in manual focus, image stabilization on. We’ve been wandering around the house and yard taking closeups of everything we can think of.
What I was not expecting was the value this lens provides for portraits. It is so amazingly sharp, it gives amazing results. This is a benefit I was note expecting, but wow. I’ve effectively gotten two lenses for the price of one. You’ll want good lighting, as with all portrait shooting.
My sole complaint, which almost feels petty, is the weight. We have a Canon EOS Rebel T1i, an EOS small-body SLR. Strap on this lens and a Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash, and you have a lot of weight on a smallish SLR body. Please note that my hands are large, while my daughter’s hands are small. She loves the feel of the camera and doesn’t feel the lens is to heavy. Big performance in a lens means its going to be heavy, so no points off for this.
5 Stars Great!
Great lens! We had been looking for a new lens for portraits and decided on this one. Picture quality is great! Crisp, clear, quick focus (and we have a fast moving toddler)! Price on Amazon was by far the best that we found. A great addition!
4 Stars Wonderful Pictures, (not quite perfect function)
To start off, this lens deserves 5 stars on outstanding picture quality alone. I currently own the 70-200 F/2.8 IS, the 50mm 1.4 and now the 100mm L Macro. I was always weary of reviewers that say primes are the only way to go….but after 3 different 70-200mm lens’s, I am learning why. The zooms have a niche, but PQ is alway better on my primes. That being said…
I really really like this lens. It re-inspires me to get out and take pictures; it is fun all over again. The color contrast is just the way you like it. The bokeh, as others have mentioned, is very smooth in transition (see my sample pictures). The lens is made of a newer plastic barrel, but it is far from the cheaper non L variety. It is very acceptable for its size.
I hear the IS isn’t very useful up close and personal. It is my opinion that it is VERY useful for everyday real world applications. I was shooting baby pictures in very low light from 7 inches away, and most my pictures were keepers (of course I positioned myself to be stable). The IS is very quiet and smooth. I think it is worth the money.
There is a reason I gave it 4 stars. I have noticed on several occasions that the auto focus travels and doesn’t lock. This only seems to happen in low light and on objects that aren’t dynamic, for example baby pictures (smooth skin, no hard lines). However, for this price, it shouldn’t happen as much as it has.
I have had this lens for about a month and I think it is my favorite, no wait, it IS MY FAVORITE. I will update my review as I get the opportunity to judge it on true macro work, bugs, plants etc.
I cannot compare it to the former 100mm, but so far, I don’t think I would go without the IS. I just find that I need it more often than I don’t.
Hope this helps. If you can afford it, this will be one of your favorites too.
4 Stars Excellent Lens but IS not a cure-all
I upgraded to this lens from the EF 100mm 2.8 non-IS Macro. As others have stated, the IS with this lens is not a cure-all. Extreme macros (especially with extension tubes) will still have to be done on a tripod. I have been able to get keeper shots hand held with anything over about 2 ft. Others may have more luck closer as I am pretty shaky.
I’ve used it a couple of times for portraits, and I have to say it’s beautiful. The bokeh is velvety smooth and the sharpness, color and contrast are just outstanding! Much better even than some of my other “L” lenses and well worth the upgrade from the non-IS version.
My main reason for buying this lens is nature/flower/insect macros. Once we actually have bright sunlight again (it’s Winter now) I have no doubt I’ll be getting the sharpest flower macros I’ve ever gotten hand-held. I’ll update on that later.
5 Stars This is an amazing new macro lense of Canon!
I bought this lense recently on Amazon and immediately in love with it. The build quality & its “look&feel” is good enough for a L-series lense. According to Canon, this is the first L lense that made of “engineer plastics” instead of traditional aluminum metal. But I see no difference in the build quality. In fact, this is even better in term of weight (this one is one of low weight L-series lense).
For quality, it really significant & invaluable to have the IS on a macro lense. I did test two lense (the original 100mm f/2.8 Macro and this new 100mm f/2.8L IS lense). The IS made the difference:
- At the same aperture (let say 3.2); the new 100mm 2.8L IS produced nicer bokeh and better contrast, color.
- At low speed (below 1/60) – the new 100mm 2.8L IS obviously defeat the non-IS. A picture at 1/20s with IS enable is sharper than 1/100s of the old lense (without IS).
In my opinion, this lense is also usable for many other purposes (other than macro) for example: portraiture – this will be in between the 85mm and 135mm lenses, with the IS feature and nice bokeh & sharpness, this lense is also very nice for portraits, especially for kid portraits (if you already had three 85mm 1.2L-II, 100mm 2.8L, and 135mm 2L lenses – I have nothing to say; but if you can have only one of them, then 100mm can be a good choice since it can fill a lot of jobs!)
I wish Canon will release 135mm f/2L with IS enable soon. Otherwise, this one will be my first lense in the three lenses: 85mm 1.2L, 100mm 2.8L IS, 135mm 2L.
