Next Lens: Canon EF 100mm f2.8 Macro

[silentsamurai]

I get paid 3 times this month, and figured. Why not use the extra money on a new lens.



Canon EF 100mm f2.8 Macro USM Autofcus Lens.

Average price: $490.00

Focal Length Equivalent: 100mm
Lens Aperture Range: f/2.8-f/32.0
Minimum Focus Distance: 1 inches
Filter Size: 58 mm
Groups: 8
Elements: 12
Diagonal Angle of View: 24 °
Length: 4.7 inches
Max Diameter: 3.1 in.
Weight: 21.1 lbs.

*EDIT* - samys(dot)com messed up. suppose to be 21.1 OUNCES




But these pictures are amazing. off amazon(dot)com

anyone have some input on this lens?

On CONS i've read are the slow auto-focus. Not worried about it.

 

[off-roader]

Not sure if that lens can get that close (1st & 4th shots). My Sigma 150mm macro won't get that close unless you help it with a TC or extension tube.

 

[Rockcrawler]

I think this might be the lens that Goodtimes has... if it is I can attest to the quality of the images it takes. It is an awesome lens. He has a crazy pic zoomed way in on Cherokee's eye.

I'm sure Brian will chime in at some point.

Kyle

 

[silentsamurai]

No one on amazon mentions such extensions or tube's on these photos.

Here's an example and caption:

Caption:

The image is heavily compressed - the point is to see how close you can get with this lens. The insert is a picture of a dime and the aphid at actual size; the larger image is a 100% crop from the original image. Fantastic!

Caption:

"Hanging By A Thread" Taken with Canon Digital Rebel XT using EF 100mm Macro Lens

Caption:

Shot with a Canon 30D at 1/250 f8.



So i dont know what to think...

 

[ThomD]

I have one, but I don't use it much. I use my zooms more.

Min focus distance is more like 5.5 inches.

It is a high quality lens, but all our bugs are ugly.

 

[go4aryd]

If you are serious about outdoor macro work, save your money for the 180mm. It will give more critical working distance and ultimately more options for stellar compositions. If you already have a 70-200, look for tubes and perhaps a 500D close-up lens to fit on the end. The two combined can give you great capability for less money without a specialty lens.

Other's may have more insight, but this combo works quite well and keeps an acceptable working distance. What is nice about a true macro is they will focus down without the tubes.

PS - What exactly is a 100% crop? It is obviously NOT full frame- the aspect ratio has changed.

 

[dhackney]

I own this lens and have had good results with it.

I've never noticed any serious lag with its autofocus.

Upsides:

• Affordable
• Lightweight (compared with my L series lenses)
• Fast
• Makes for a very servicable 2.8 100mm in its own right
• Solid macro results
• Reasonable stand-off distance with 1.3 factor (1D) body, probably excellent with 1.6 factor (30/40/50D) body

Downsides:

• Non-L, if that is important to you from the status standpoint
• Probably measurable performance differences from L series
• No weather sealing
• Unknown ruggedness for extended field work (although mine survived several trips overseas via motorcycle)
• Will probably have a different filter size than your other lenses

If you plan to do any serious macro work, you will want to get the Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX or Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX. The examples that follow were all shot with the ring light. Without a flash it is very challenging to get enough light on a live subject, such as a bug, to allow a decent F stop.


All of the following shots were hand held.

No extension tubes were used on any of the shots.

Good set of example shots using the lens is here: http://www.hackneys.com/travel/ecuador/straightintheeyes.pdf


Subset of examples from the Amazon basin:

.

 

[silentsamurai]

awesome Doug! thanks for clarifying. I'll deff look into this more.

Samy's is a descent place for lenses. You can rent a lens before buying it. i think you can have it for 2 weeks or so. Pretty sweet deal.

Cheers.

 

[Rob O]

A great macro lens, for sure. I shopped this against the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 Macro and went with the Sigma for it's combination of outstanding IQ and extra reach (particularly on crop bodies). I love this lens and have no complaints, aside from the common "uber slow AF" that you get with any dedicated macro lens. I shoot MF 95% of the time I use this one anyway, so it's a non issue, and now with LiveView ... tack sharp macro shots are almost guaranteed! It also makes a great portrait lens (read: MF prime).

A few samples:

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

If I was going to get into Macro I'd save up for the MPE-65

Check out Dalentech's website. It'll blow your mind with the type of images he is acheiving with this lens. I swear he should be making a fortune with his work. We tell him Canon should use his images in their catalogs to sell the lens

He also has the 100mm but once he got the MPE-65, says thats what he uses 99% of the time There is an attached image from a series he posted over on Outdoor Photographer Forum

 

[Rob O]

This is one of my contacts on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rundstedt/

His macros are friggin' incredible and done (mostly) using a reverse lens setup. If you want magnification greater than the 1:1 typical of most modern macro lenses, reverse is the way to go.

The latest upload to his stream as an example:

 

[silentsamurai]

very cool!


LOVE THIS PHOTO!!!

 

[Lost Canadian]

A great macro lens, for sure. I shopped this against the Sigma 150mm f/2.8 Macro and went with the Sigma for it's combination of outstanding IQ and extra reach (particularly on crop bodies).

I'll second the Sigma 150. Uber sharp, like crazy off the scales sharp as Rob displayed, and works wonderfully as a moderate tele as well. Best of all, the Sig 150 stays uber sharp even when stopped down to 2.8.

For instance, these are hand held, at ISO 200, 2.8.

 

[silentsamurai]

killer. I'll have to check that one out! thanks for the heads up.

Cheers.

 

[off-roader]

Doug so those shots are just the 100mm on your body w/out any other macro aids (close up filter, extension tubes, teleconverters, etc.)? Also are they cropped or full frame images?

Rob O's shots are the type of full frame shots I've been getting w/ the 150mm which is a 1:1 macro. I can't see the 100mm getting those shots unless you've cropped them. Not questioning you per say, just trying to clarify how you got the results you're showing.

I'd dig up some shots I got w/ the 150 so you can compare the results to make an informed decision but Rob O's shots seem to show it's abilities quite well. What I will do though is post up shots w/ my Tamron 2x TC which really ups the magnification substantially.

Rob, as for LV, I rarely use it for my macro shots. Seems too difficult to regularly get an tack sharp focused image.