You're right, it's an excellent MACRO lens.The 100mm L macro was released right at the beginning of the coatings revolution - one of the main factors for increased resolution development in the last decade. It was also released right when IS was going from a (realistically) 2-stop capacity to a 3-3.5 stop capacity. So it was a bonkers lens at the time. The first (and only) "hybrid" IS system Canon ever released. It added a whole new axis of IS.
That said, in a decade, some similarly-focal-lengthed lenses have come out that are sharper. A large number of 85mm options in particular. But I don't know of any lens that is macro and has decent IS at macro use that is as sharp as this lens. For hand-held macro, it's still unbeatable. I know because I continue to waste money buying alternatives, trying them, and selling them.
When I shot Sony, I found that adapting the Canon 100 L was the best option, even with super sharp lenses such as the Sigma (AF was pretty bad).
All that said, the Laowa/Venus stuff that has been coming out has been fantastic. The probe lens; the 15mm macro; etc. Totally innovative and useful stuff. But not a 100mm with as-good IS or AF.
When Canon does settle on a design, it'll sell a boat-load. When they launch a super-high-resolution body, that might be an auspicious time.
One last thing: I think the communication between lens and camera that allows canon to get 7+ IS stops is going to really be remarkable in the macro use case. Eager to see. -tig
What I don't like about it, is its behaviour at infinity setting, for landscapes.
That's why, when doing "hybrid" photography, I prefer to use either the Leica Apo Macro 100mm, a manual, exceptionnally good lens, or the Zeiss 50mm f2.
Drawbacks are: no IS, no AF, 1:2 for both, and shooting with the diaphragm closed with the Apo Elmarit.
Yet, in terms of sharpness, lack of aberrations (CA, distorsion), color rendition,contrast, build quality, the 100mm Leica is by far the best short tele and macro I can think of. It is even noticeably better than the very good EF 85mm f1,4, which is one of my favorite lenses.
For the EOS R, I can imagine the new Sigma 105 (reviewed by Dustin Abbotf) becoming an interesting macro AND landscape option...
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