Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens Review

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS

With a SLR camera, there are three ways to take a close-up photo of subjects:

1. Using a close-up lens (like this one), or
2. Using an Extension Tube (like this one), or
3. Using a lens with "macro" capability.

Out of those three, the "true 1:1 magnification" is usually only obtained by a dedicated lens (#3).  In other words, a "macro lenses" is able to magnify a 35mm size subject to occupy the full 35mm film (now sensor) area.  Other options usually yield (far) less than 1:1 magnification.  Today I will be talking about Canon's newest Macro lens in its line-up, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM.

With the addition of EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM, Canon now has six lenses that offer macro capability:

Model	Magnification	Min. Focusing Distance	Focusing	Image Stabilization	Filter Size	Aperture Diaphragm	Weight	MSRP (USD)
EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro	Fixed: 0.5x	23cm	Auto	No	52mm	6-blade	280g / 9.9 oz	$299
EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM	Fixed: 1x	20cm	Auto, FT-M, internal	No	52mm	7-blade	335g / 11.8 oz	$469
MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro Photo	Variable: 1x to 5x	24cm	Manual	No	58mm	6-blade	730g / 25.8 oz	$1049
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM	Fixed: 1x	31cm	Auto, FT-M, internal	No	58mm	8-blade	600g / 21.1 oz	$599
EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM	Fixed: 1x	30cm	Auto, FT-M, internal	Hybrid IS, up to 4-stops	67mm	9-blade	625g / 22.0 oz	$1049
EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM	Fixed: 1x	48cm	Auto, FT-M, internal	No	72mm	8-blade	1090g / 2.4 lbs	$1579

In general, you pay more in order to take a 1:1 photo at a longer distance.  The build quality also significantly improves with the increased price.  The L lenses also enjoy "weather sealing", allowing you to shoot under wet conditions (provided that your camera is also a weather sealed model).

One notable lens is the MP-E 65mm f/2.8 1-5X Macro Photo, which really is in a league of its own, as it is able to take 5x magnification images.  Its general practicality is limited as it lacks auto-focus, but if you want a beyond 2x capability, that's the lens to get.  It is currently not possible to get such high magnification, even with combinations of extension tubes and other accessories.

Considering the older, but still excellent, EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM priced at 40% less, the MSRP of $1049 may seem a bit over-priced at first.  However, with its Hybrid IS (image stabilization) feature, I find myself also using EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM as a low-light portrait lens.  The Hybrid IS, introduced in 2009, further enhances Canon's excellent IS system, by adding angular motion stabilization.

Canon's previous Image Stabilizer

Canon's Hybrid IS also compensates for angular motions

(Images courtesy of Canon.  Full Hybrid IS description is found here)

Canon claims up to a 4-stop compensation with Hybrid IS, and I have not yet found evidences to dispute it.  Until Canon comes out with an image stabilized f/2.8 24-70mm lens, this is a great alternative indoor mid-telephoto lens IMHO.

For those who are familiar with the L lens line-up, you may be surprised to find that Canon used a non-metal lens body for EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM.  The lens still feels very solid, and there is an obvious weight advantage especially when not mounted on a tripod.

The lens comes with three focus range settings: 1) Full, 2) 0.5m to infinity, and 3) 0.3m to 0.5m.

Focus range and mode settings

EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM focuses very quickly and silently when switching between nearby focusing points.  The focusing can be a bit slow and noisy when switching between near and far focusing points.  Otherwise, the auto-focus system performs very well in most situations where the distance to subject does not change a lot between shots.

This lens also features FT-M focusing (Full-Time Manual), which allows you to use the manual focus ring, even if the lens is set to AF mode.  This feature came in very handy, especially when shooting small moving subjects near minimum focusing distance.  The lens also features an internal focusing mechanism, meaning the lens length does not change size when focus is changed.

Attached to my EOS 5D Mark III, with ET-73 hood on

As expected with other Canon L lenses, a lens hood is included: Canon ET-73.  With the hood on, the lens becomes somewhat lengthy, however it is expected due to its 100mm focal length.  Without the hood, the lens is pretty compact, just slightly longer than EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM, another favorite lens of mine.

And without ET-73 hood

New center-pinching lens cap

Notice the lens cap above?  Yes, it is a center-pinching kind and not the usual edge-pinching one!  Given how long and narrow the ET-73 hood is, it is much easier to put the cap on and off with the center-pinch mechanism.  I like it so much in fact, I'm thinking of replacing all my 77mm Canon lens caps with new lens caps.

So far I am very pleased with the image quality of this lens, especially at its maximum aperture f/2.8.  Wide open, its 9-blade aperture produces beautiful, smooth background blur.  Subjects in focus are also incredibly sharp, and colors are balanced and accurate.  So far I have not experienced any back or front-focusing; my copy of the lens focuses accurately with no micro-adjustments required on my EOS 5D Mark III.  Here are some of the shots I took with my EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM.

In conclusion, I highly recommend EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM for macro lens photography, as well as for low-light medium telephoto lens.  If you have any questions, please let me know and I will happy to answer them.

Roy

Disclosure: While I am not paid by anyone to write this review, I may be compensated if you purchase products through links on my blog.