2 Macro Lenses? [CR1]
August 5th, 2009 Posted in Canon Lenses
Could be
We’re told to expect 2 new Macro lenses to be launched. Possibly in August with the new SLR(s).
EF 100 f/2.8 IS Macro
EF 200mm f/3.5L IS Macro
We’re told the current 100 Macro would remain current for the time being. There won’t be an update to an EF-S macro.
cr
August 5th, 2009 at 9:46 am
If true, I wonder if they’ll make the 100/2.8 IS an “L” and the non-IS a non-L.
This would give Canon the go-ahead to charge tons of money for the L while still competing with Sigma 105 and Tamron 90 with the non-L lens.
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John.B Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 11:53 am
What the heck does the L even matter? My 100mm f/2.8 macro is noticeably sharper than a lot of L lenses, even primes.
I don’t mind them adding an L to a new version of the 100mm macro, but hopefully it gets weather sealing for the trouble. And include a tripod mount and hood.
Whatever they do, I hope they don’t screw up the mounts for ring lights, etc. Though both the MR14-EX and the MT24-EX could use a little more snappys in the recycle time…
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Chris Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I think adding the ‘L’ would require a more expensive build and weather sealing. So that might add a few hundred that prosumers don’t want to pay and take the 100 2.8 macro away from being ‘that super-sharp cheap lens’
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the skunk Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Since they are keeping the non-L that implies they will use the new IS to give it a huge price premium one would fear.
That would be nice though, trying to take some macro movies the other day and sometimes it is too hard to track and follow bugs on a tripod but hand-held the screen does move around a little too much IS (the new type that is) might help a real lot with that.
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Tomas Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 5:28 am
You don’t have to look far to understand their pricing. Nikon has VR micro lens and it is nearly 2x price of the current 100mm macro. I am sure they wouldn’t sell any cheaper than that.
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August 5th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Shouldn’t they be called something like 100/2.8 H-IS since they will definitely get the new hybrid stabilisation system (OK, maybe only the 200mmL one)?
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Canon Rumors Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 9:52 am
The Hybrid IS system is just going to become the standard IS system. I don’t see them marketing the difference.
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gnarfi Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 10:15 am
cos “hybrid” looks good in the commercials
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John.B Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 11:55 am
‘zactly. “Hybrid” is the new black, at least when it comes to marketing.
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Anonymous Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
And it sounds eco-friendly too, although in no way could it be.
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Dragos Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
I thought that the main point of this new hybrid IS was in its advantages for macro photography. I hope that it also helps in some way other types of lenses though… In any event, it is correct that Canon would want to emphasize this thing, since no one else offers it yet.
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August 5th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Interesting. I’m definitely interested to see if this information is true. I love my 100, and have been contemplating the 180L purchase. IS would be nice at times looking back at my past macro work…
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August 5th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Why wouldn’t they just upgrade the EF 180mm macro to have IS rather than introducing a 200mm model?
I wonder how useful IS would be for a macro, anyway. It’s hard to hand-hold a camera steadily enough for macro work, so you might think IS would be great, but the problem isn’t just side-to-side or up-down motion, it’s also the effect of subtle forward-back motion when you have depth of field on the order of a few millimeters. IS can’t fix that. So a tripod will still be essential for good macro work, and if you’re using a tripod you don’t have as much need for IS.
In the long run, I imagine lens makers will put IS in almost all lenses — Canon even has it in cheap lenses like the EF-S 18-55mm and 55-250mm. But a macro seems like about the last place you’d need it.
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Isurus Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 11:43 am
If you read the press release on Canon’s hybrid IS you’ll notice that they specifically mention it’s macro application and how the new system is designed in part for macro use.
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Doug Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Some people use the macro lenses for portraiture. IS would be a nice feature in that situation. IS probably doesn’t add much to the cost these days. Now, weather sealing and extra elements to make in an “L” would be another story.
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the skunk Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
but there are times when a tripod doesn’t work well, if you want to follow a walking bug when making a macro video, granted keeping it within DOF is hard, but in this easier than when on a tripod and you will have some jumps in and oof but at least you wont have the frame shaking up and down too which pushes the quality below the acceptable level.
and if you fire off a quick burst you can often get at least one frame centered well within the DOF for still shots so IS would help some since for those shots that work in/out they will be crisp
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August 5th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Well, if they can keep the weight of the 200 IS down, I am all over it. :D My dream lens…
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John.B Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 11:56 am
The 180mm is the largest black lens…
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August 5th, 2009 at 11:18 am
if its around 1k$ i buy it
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August 5th, 2009 at 11:37 am
What date is supposed to be launched? (and supposedly to be able for buying?)
I’m just planning to buy a 100mm 2.8 Macro next week….
But if the price is much higher than the current 100mm 2.8 Macro, my decision wouldn’t change. It only would if the price is similar.
What do you think ?
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Isurus Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 11:44 am
IS lens are often hundreds of dollars more than their non-IS counterparts. It is very unlikely that one of these new macro lens will be priced in the same range as the current 100mm macro lens.
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Ted Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Agreed, if they keep the non-IS lens current, then there will be a big price difference. An extra 40-60% is typical for IS where there is a choice (e.g., the 70-200mm zooms).
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John.B Reply:
August 5th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
It really depends on how sharp the new one turns out to be.
If IQ is identical to the old one and the new IS is usable for handheld macro shots, then definitely buy the new one.
Otherwise, the old one is just an ***amazing*** lens (still my favorite). Not all that versatile on a crop sensor body (view is like a 160mm prime on a FF), but incredible for its stated purpose. Mine isn’t always on my camera, but I always have it with me.
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August 5th, 2009 at 11:51 am
I’ve been wondering why the 100 mm 2.8 macro has been out of stock on Adorama and BH for the past month. I’ve been wanting to buy one, but now it looks like I might as well wait.
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Scott Reply:
August 6th, 2009 at 2:39 am
+1
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August 5th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
looks like a pretty powerful macro lineup if the old 100mm also stays in production.
my only question is: how big and heavy is the 200mm L IS going to be? last time I checked most people deign not to handhold the 180 macro even …
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August 6th, 2009 at 2:13 am
Where is the new EF-S lenses to satisfy us EF-S users?
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August 6th, 2009 at 4:51 am
I’ll be very interested by a EF 100 f/2.8 IS Macro
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August 6th, 2009 at 5:32 am
So the much rumoured EF 70-200 f2.8 IS is not going to be up for replacement afterall? I always knew it would be the macro lens since the new IS only benefit these lens.
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August 6th, 2009 at 8:16 am
Oh, wow, so all the prophets were right when they said the 2.8/70-200 IS will be replaced – that was plain BS, I said so.
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August 7th, 2009 at 10:59 am
But IS on a macro for insects?
Insects move and IS only compensates for camera/lens movement. The background may be sharper but the subject won’t as it moves.
Maybe the lens is aimed at portrait users too.
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August 19th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
IS is of little use to me on a macro lens. Nikon’s 105mm VR isn’t very effective at macro distances, even they have to admit, so I don’t think I’d spend the money for it on a Canon lens either.
Now, if it were a dual purpose lens being used a lot for non-macro shooting, that might be different. The 100mm is somewhat of a dual purpose lens, in the current USM version and with the focus limiter engaged it focuses quickly enough to double as a moderate tele or portrait lens at non-macro distances. But, it’s also not difficult to hand hold, particularly as higher ISOs continue to improve in the cameras.
About the only reason the current 100mm f2.8 isn’t already “blessed” with L status is that it just doesn’t need the exotic glass, which is one of Canon’s criteria for and definitions of an L lens. Painting a red stripe on the front of the 100mm won’t improve it’s image quality one bit. It’s already a fine lens and Canon really needs to focus their attention elsewhere, but will most probably just come out with more zooms since that’s what consumers tend to want and where they make the most sales.
The 180mm f3.5 macro is already a fine lens, too, although it’s not very dual purpose due to it’s slower auto focus even when you properly use the focus limiter switch. That’s pretty hard to overcome since there will always need to be a lot of travel to focus the lens from 1:1 to infinity, and I really can’t imagine that a 200/3.5 would be any better.
Well, we didn’t hear anything this week, but will soon enough.
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August 19th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I forgot to mention…
Actually, I think it more likely that the 200/2.8 II might get IS, rather than any of the macro lenses. That would make a ton of sense and that lens would become a lot more useful for folks with crop sensor cameras. An update of the IS on the 300/4 and finally adding it to the 400/5.6 would be two other really good possibilities!
There does appear to be a more effective IS version out now, even leaving aside the “hybrid” talked about in the press release… The more recent lenses intoduced with it seem to be rated for a good four stops or so worth of assistance from the current generation of IS (70-200/4, 200/2 and 800/5.6). Earlier generations of IS were rated for two to three stops. So I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see updates of some of the premium lenses that already use it, incorporating a revised IS but largely leaving the optical designs alone. The likely candidates include the 70-200/2.8 IS, 300/2.8, 400/4 DO, 400/2.8, 500/4 and 600/4.
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