Review - Canon EF 100 f/2.8L IS Macro

[Marsu42]

- A bit short on a FF for tiny insect macro. By the way, to remedy this, could someone tell me what would be better a (series of) Tube(s) or an Extender x1.4 or x2 ?

Get the Kenko extender, works great though afaik has issues with afma on 6d/5d3 (check if kenko has updated the fw).

- Autofocus seems a bit slow. But maybe I have a bad copy.

Af is slow, this is a macro lens dual-usable for portraits, in this order.

And lately I have noticed I have an unsual low rate of keeper. Focus misses the mark - nothing is in sharp focus not only at 2.8 but even till 7.1

Try to determine if lens sharpness of the af system is the issue by shooting a chart with mf or contrast af. The 100L should be sharp even wide open, though this is nearly useless for macro b/c of the small dof.

 

[LOLID]

Thanks guys for your advice guys.
I will check AF as you mentioned.
And will get a set of Kenko tubes as the Canon one(s) are ridiculously expensive.
O.

 

[TWI by Dustin Abbott]

I made a choice and since members have been kind enough to post some advises, I believe it is my duty to contribute in articulating my review of the lens (and choice).

I ended up buying the Canon 100L and not the Sigma 150mm.

+ Sharpness: excellent

+ Color and dynamic range: very good (though the tint seems to be a bit on the pink side, easily fixable in post-p)

+ Very versatile: great portrait lens (love the 100mm length / compression on a FF), interesting length for landscape photos (although I wished several times I had a zoom)

- Bokeh = barely decent. I wish it could provide the Bokeh quality of the Canon 50 1.4

- A bit short on a FF for tiny insect macro. By the way, to remedy this, could someone tell me what would be better a (series of) Tube(s) or an Extender x1.4 or x2 ?

- Autofocus seems a bit slow. But maybe I have a bad copy. And lately I have noticed I have an unsual low rate of keeper. Focus misses the mark - nothing is in sharp focus not only at 2.8 but even till 7.1 (and it's not shutter speed issue, neither an IS turned on issue). Not sure if it is an AFMA issue or if my 5D3 has a problem. My 5D3 does its job in terms of AF with the 17-40 but it was impossible to get more than a 2/10 keeper rate with the 50 1.4 that I ended up selling (same problem - nothing in focus).
I read some people ship their body + lens to canon to make sure everything is okay. Is this free of charge?

Thanks for reading.
O.

I simply don't agree with this bolded part AT ALL. The bokeh on the 100L is beautifully soft and creamy and the rounded aperture blades ensure that the highlights stay round when stopped down. The bokeh from the 50mm f1/.4 isn't even close.

 

[tnargs]

I simply don't agree with this bolded part AT ALL. The bokeh on the 100L is beautifully soft and creamy and the rounded aperture blades ensure that the highlights stay round when stopped down. The bokeh from the 50mm f1/.4 isn't even close.

Totally agree!

 

[Bubba Jones]

Discuss the review of the Canon EF 100 f/2.8L IS Macro

To Justin VanLeeuwen,
In your review, Canon EF 100 f/2.8L, is an error in the second paragraph, "…The new lens complimented, rather than replaced…". It should read "…complemented…". Those two words have different meanings and usages.

Cordially,

 

[brad-man]

Discuss the review of the Canon EF 100 f/2.8L IS Macro

To Justin VanLeeuwen,
In your review, Canon EF 100 f/2.8L, there is an error in the second paragraph, "…The new lens complimented, rather than replaced…". It should read "…complemented…". Those two words have different meanings and usages.

Cordially,

Glass houses and all that. It's OK. We know what both of you meant...

 

[GMCPhotographics]

I simply don't agree with this bolded part AT ALL. The bokeh on the 100L is beautifully soft and creamy and the rounded aperture blades ensure that the highlights stay round when stopped down. The bokeh from the 50mm f1/.4 isn't even close.

Totally agree!

The 50mm f1.4 USM's out of focus rendering is a little harsh compared to the 50 f1.2 L's
I've found the 100mm f2.8 L Macro lens to be very smooth in it's out of focus rendering too, although no better than most tele L lenses. The 135L and 85IIL spring to mind.

As to the 100mm f2.8 L Macro's AF speed, it's fast for a macro lens, but slow for a L lens.