Bryan at The-Digital-Picture completed his full review of the Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM last month, and one of the negative issues that stood out was the focus shift that he experienced with the new RF macro lens.
In the spirit of being thorough, Bryan got himself a second copy of the RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro to see if he had received a bad copy, or if the shift was by design. It looks like it’s the latter.
Did I get a bad copy of the Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM Lens? My guess was no. Supporting that theory was a technical rep confirming the issue with his lens. The test results shared above have been forwarded to the Canon lens team in Japan. Read the full review
If you only want to read about the focus shift issue and see the tests, just do a search (CTRL-F / CMD-F) for “bad copy” and read what Bryan has discovered with two different copies of the RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro.
We have been discussing this issue on the Canon Rumors Discord server and one person “Tig“, has been communicating with Bryan about this issue. While he has experienced it, his issues haven’t been as pronounced.
… this was at macro scale, at maximum magnification (1.4x), so to have this not move the subject out of the plane of focus at f/4-f/8 means there’s very, very little shift. I’d definitely buy the lens again if I knew all this. I tend to shoot it at f/2.8 when running and gunning while hiking, or at something like f/11 – f/14 if doing some table-top macro thing. In both of those cases, you wouldn’t be able to notice any shift.
So the issue may not be something all shooters will encounter and it’s possible that a firmware update for the RF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro could fix the shift,
I do remember focus shift in the ef 50mm 1.2L being debated for years.
Canon could do all a favor by issuing a statement--or fixing in firmware if possible.
I wonder if incorporating the CA control function was part of the design issue that produces the focus-shift detected by Bryan and the tech he spoke with.
I am extremely satisfied with my ef 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS on the R5/R6, so for now this isn't going to affect me.
The EF 50mm f/1.2L definitely had focus shift issues early on. I'm pretty convinced Canon tweaked things over the years to minimize it. For whatever reason, it didn't have a floating element.
I don't shoot macro very often, but when I do, I still use the non-L EF 100mm f/2.8.
I do wish Canon will ship a lens firmware that allows full-time-manual focus override, like the 100-500 has.
I regularly use a ef 100mm USM L Macro, it's a fantastic lens. I just wished Canon got around to updating the ef 180mm L macro before Canon went all out RF mount.
In any event though, focus shift on the 24-70/4L IS is never something which has been an issue for me, but if it's there you should see it when shooting close up shots and at about f/5.6 or so (perhaps f/8). The issue is the camera focussing (correctly) initially, but the focus point moving when the lens stops down when you take the shot. It was certainly an issue reported in some of the early reviews, but as I say it has never been an issue for me. I've never gone looking for it though, and I haven't take a lot of close up shots with that lens, so it's not impossible it's there but it just hasn't been relevant to me.
When it warmed up enough to have the dragonflies swarming, the RF100-500L was the best tool for the job, even more working distance, nice and fast AF and enough support from the combined IS to drop below 1/focallength.
This furthered my conviction that a 200-ish mm 1:1 macro lens with dual nano-USM and IS would be a worthwhile replacement. Dual nano-USM is very, very good at what it does.
Realistically if either Canon or Sigma (or Tamron, Tokina, or whoever else) were to make a newer equivalent, I doubt it'd actually be any different from the 2012 Sigma other than the styling on the outside.
Hi koenkooi
Could you please explain / expand on how the EF100L does not play well with the R5's IBIS?
I have the EF100L, and when I go full RF (likely R5 or similar), I would really like to know any issues about this lens beforehand.
Many thanks (in advance)!
PJ
It might not be the IBIS, it could be the R5 being heavier than the RP leading to more stress on my wrists or something like that. I get nowhere near the slow shutterspeeds other people can get in similar situations. Whatever is causing it, the RF100L can handle it.
I wouldn't hesitate to use the EF100L on an R5/R6 with IS turned on, just check the results while taking pictures. With in-EVF review you don't have to change posture or take your eye from the EVF!
On my R5, the IBIS and IS are working together surprising well. I say surprisingly because the 180mm is an older lens and it is very heavy and long. But it works about as well as does my ef 100mm f/2.8L IS, when I take into account the longer focal length. In other words, I up the shutter speed by about 2/3 of a stop and seem to get the roughly same results. I do think that the IS/IBIS must be working better for me, as there are so many more pixels on the R5, and it stays sharp in my typical handheld range of 1/150th to 1/640th. My hands are not super steady, so I've gone with higher shutter speeds for years now.
One thing to note, though, is that the Sigma 180mm does have very good IS all on its own. Just a little noisy compared to the latest and greatest.
That said, I shoot with it primarily on a tripod. My little boy asked why I use such a long lens to take pictures of bugs, and I explained that I can be a little further back. Then last week he got stung--really stung--mid-thigh by a wasp as he was playing with some flower buds on a shrub. When he saw me yesterday with the 180mm he said, "That's for bees and wasps, right, Dad?"
It was my impression, when I bought the 180mm, that it was a step above other Sigma lenses at the time, both in terms of optics and build quality. About a year later I bought the Sigma 35mm Art when it came out, and sensed a lot of similarities. I never tried a Sigma 150mm, but the only person I know who had one was frequently complaining about his copy's IQ.
I was sad to see the Sigma 180mm go out of production. It also takes wonderful closeup portraits! (But it is too heavy for casual use.)
I'd love to see both Sigma and Canon competing with some longer and lighter macros.
The attached was taken handheld some years back with a 5DIII at f/4, 1/640th, ISO 640. Same little boy who got stung last week!
Also attached is another shot, but this on a tripod. Just for fun. 5DIII, f/8, 1/15th, ISO 320. Focus is on Batman.
And, btw, nodding to the topic, I never noticed a focus-shift issue with this longer focal-length macro.
That certainly will be something I'll keep in mind. I count myself 'medium ability' when it comes to steady hands for photography.
I really love the EF100mmL macro, and hopefully it'll serve me well when I get a Canon RF camera. I will definitely keep an eye on any slight blurring that might come up with IS on.
I like the in-EVF review in my M5, I can imagine I'd like it even more in a FF mirrorless.
Regards,
PJ
I appreciate you taking the time to write, and share your interesting experiences with the Sigma 180mm macro. I have also heard a number of others saying how much they like that lens.
When that lens first came out, I was also looking at that as a possibility (instead of the Canon 100mm macro) - but I decided to go with the Canon, because it was my first macro, and I felt maybe less specialist than the Sigma.
Great photos that you attached, both have high image quality (sharpness, contrast, great colour), etc. Thanks for sharing!
PJ
If the Sigma 180mm is considered a step above the 150mm, I might develope some buyers remorse for the EF180L :)
I just tried filming it in slow mo and it does stop down.