Quick macro question!

[GoodVendettaPhotography]

I have the 100mm and in the future I'm planning upping to the L version. I love the macro lens; however, I still would like to get closer. I am aware of the exsistence of canons tubes you can purchase, but will that get you...close as in, right up on an insects eyes? Or is that kind of thing done with cropping?

[mhvogel.de]

if you're looking for a lens for this macro-area, the canon mpe opticsmight be the better choice, tough we here are talking about magnifications bigger then 1:1 - or even microscope with according adapter. the 100/macro  won't get you to the point.

[neuroanatomist]

You can add extension tubes and get higher mag, yes.  Kenko tubes are good, there are no optics, Canon charges more for their air.

Best you'll do with tubes is ~1.8x mag, at the cost of a much closer working distance and some light loss.

If you want really high mag, there's the MP-E 65mm 1-5x lens.

[dr croubie]

You can also get a bellows, the newer fancier ones from Novoflex have electronic coupling that will let you control the aperture on EF lenses.
Or besides that there's dedicated Macro lenses, like Neuro said the MP-E 65 will get you 1x to 5x magnification. Or there's other systems like the Olympus OM 20mm that is still a very highly regarded macro lens for up to 16x magnification, that's something like framing 1x2mm. But they're expensive even second hand on ebay, $6-800, almost as much as an MP-E 65. And they won't do anything for your working distance, it's more like 2cm with them.

The only way to get closer without getting closer is Teleconverters (I think the 100L can use them, someone correct me?) then you can stay the same distance and get a 200mm f/5.6 at 2x mag...

[neuroanatomist]

The 100L cannot use a Canon TC (physically, a Kenko fits, but some have reported electronic issues, camera locking up, etc.).   L primes of 135mm and longer take Canon TCs, the 180mm macro does.

[crasher8]

What I'd use with the 5D3….

Macro Ring light/flash
Kirk focus rail
100 2.8 Macro
ground level tripod (Regded rta-320)

crop away