sharpness AF speed finishing

none realy

this lens came in place of the old version, the canon ef 100mm f2.8 (without USM), I just wanted the new version because the USM. I have compared them, and sharpness is better wide open with the new version, actually it is one of the sharpest f2.8 lenses wide open I have used. When stopping down sharpness is equal to the old version. Colors are good, very neutral (most canon lenses seem to give slightly warmer colors but this one doesn't). Contrast is realy good. About build quality, wel it isn't a metal body but still pretty good build also very good finishing on the lens, the focusring turns like it has to be, smooth. AF speed is stunning, macrolenses have normaly a bit slower AF ue to the fact it has a long range (from 1/1 to infinity) and when you block the lens so that you only can use the lens from0.65m to infinity the AF is not superfast but extremelyfast. In some testshots I have seen a bit chromatic aberation, very little, but still it was there (extreem conditions). This lens has all the quality aspect of an L lens, only it has a plastic body(probably for getting the price down).

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

EF 50mm f1.8mark II EF 100mm f2.8 macromark I EF 65mm MP-E 65mm f2.8 EF 17-40mm f4 L USM EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 USM IS EF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 L IS USM Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 EX DF HSm Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 EX HSM APO

No vignetting Tacksharp, consistantly Macro

None -- although at this price, it should come with the lens hood included.

Fabulous lens, consistantly sharp, neutral-slightly warm colour rendition, with great macro capability.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-105

it's very sharp and quiet.

none so far.

I orginally bought a Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 macro lens, thinking I could use it as a normal lens. It's indeed very sharp but it's only half life size. Adding the lifesize converter to the 50mm macro lens makes it almost as expensive as this 100mm macro lens. I returned the 50mm macro lens and bought the 50mm f/1.4 and this 100mm macro lens. I am using this lens with Canon Digital Rebel which is my first SLR camera. I have taken some interesting pictures with this macro lens. The tripod collar is way overpriced but by using Bogen 3021 Pro with its center column placed in the horizonal position, I don't see a need for it.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Canon EF 75-300mm f4-5.6 IS

Solid build, sharpness, contrast, lack of flare, internal focussing, quality.

Some focus hunting on close diffuse plants or on dimly lit subjects without good contrast. Go manual!

I got back into photography after a 10 year break, and convinced myself into a Canon EOS 33 (Elan 7?). The 100 mm macro USM was the second lens I bought, nearly a year ago, and I am VERY pleased with it. I use it mostly for macro of Australian native plants, and it gives the most beautiful sharp pictures of the focussed area, and a very pleasant background. Used mostly at f11 to f16. The weight gives a good solid base for hand-held pictures, but is not too heavy for the camera when on a tripod and not using a lens tripod ring (I use a tripod wherever possible for macro work). Switching to manual focus is quick and easy, and necessary for most macro work. The focussing is smooth and accurate. The pictures (I have used a range of slides and prints) are sharp, have good contrast and lovely colours. This is also a great lens for portraits. Because of the slight telephoto, it has encouraged me to get that full face or upper torso, and the sharpness and colour are exceptional. Used for this mostly at f4 to f8. Using this with Fuji Reala (summer and outside) or Fuji NPH (in winter or inside) has given me the shots that everyone assumes are professional (and therefore less likely to gasp at the cost of the lens!). The lack of a hood was an irritation, but I bought it as a necessity and don't complain.

Customer Service

None needed.

Similar Products Used:

Old Canon F1 + 50mm 1.4 with supplementary lenses; EF 24-85; EF 70-200 F4L

Price, color, contrast, sharpness, in that order.

Focusing speed usually fast but sometimes not -- not sure why that happens.

This lens is optically excellent; however, as a Mamiya 645 user also, I find that my Mamiya 120mm macro is a bit sharper than the Canon 100mm macro (and is the sharpest of any Mamiya lens ever made for the 645, IMHO). Colors and contrast are slightly better with the Mamiya as well. Having said that, the Mamiya 120mm macro is also significantly more expensive. The Canon 100mm macro compares favorably with the Nikon 105mm/2.5 for portrait work. My Nikon lens does not have macro capabilities so I cannot make a comparison there. Overall, I am very pleased with the Canon 100mm macro as a portrait lens. Its macro capability is also excellent. Canon 10D users should understand that, due to the 1.6 multiplier effect, this lens works as a 160mm lens. That means that, in portrait work, you’ll need to give yourself about 6 feet from your subject to fill the frame for a head shot and at about 12 feet for two heads. Family portraits with this lens are nearly impossible indoors, unless you have a long/large room, due to the multiplier effect. If you need a portrait lens for your Canon camera, I highly recommend it. It is an excellent value.

Customer Service

I have not used Canon service.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 105mm, Mamiya 120mm macro

- sharp, contrasty and nicely balanced 100mm true Macro lens. - maximum aperture of 2.8 is nice for shallow depth of field. - 1:1 subject ratio without additional accessories...if needed use those to go beyond 1:1 anytime :)

What a shame...there are some weaknesses for this lens after all :( - no hood included in price. The older 100f2.8 Macro had a sliding hood...aahhh...the good old days. The newer, USM version, has a rather bulky, expensive plastic snap-on hood...not so nice, but functional. - no tripod collar included and if you would like to buy it, you will be scared by its price (there is a way arround though...you can use the tripod mount from the 300f4L IS on the Macro by getting only an adapter...a LOT cheaper)

Well, just like many other reviewers already said it, there are only great things to be said about this lens. Everything seems to be perfect about it...the SHARPNESS, the colors and contrast, the smooth manual focusing (you can switch to the fast USM anytime), the built quality and the balance make this true macro lens a must-have in any nature photographers camera bag. Of course you can always go to the extremes with this lens...put on some extension tubes, a converter or even add the 50f1.4 (up front in reversed position) for some crazy macro setups. Get this lens and you have an excellent Macro that will work great for photographing flowers, insects and still life macros. For more reach on shyer animals or other hard to reach subjects you could get the 300f4L IS (because of its minimal focusing distance of 1.5m). Anyway, the bottom line is that the 100mm Macros have always been the bread for macro photographers. THIS one is an opticaly and mechanicaly awesome lens...nobody should hesitate before picking one up.

Very sharp at all apertures Focus fast enough (not as 100/2 non macro) Macro capabilities Silent

None jet found on it

This lens is much more bettere than my Fd 100 4 macro. And its macro capabilities are very impressive 1:1 without accessories. I use it 70% for close up photography, flowers animals and small object and 30% for portraiture. It's incredibly sharp at all apertures.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Canon Fd 100/4 macro Many others Ef lens and Fd lens

Internal focosion. No change in length and no rotating front element. Very good optical performance. Fast USM for prtraits. Big and smooth focusing ring.

Front element is really in front, so you will need the hood. Lenshood not included and expensiv. Tripod collar very expensiv.

I love this lens. Very sharp, sharper as my 70-200/4 L. The images have a good contrast and a very pleasant color rendition. I use the lense also for snapshoots of my cilds.

Customer Service

Not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF-L 4/70-200mm USM Nikon 3.5-4.5/28-105 IF Nikon 4- 5.6/70-300mm ED.

Macro capability. Sharpness. Fast Aperture. Large Focusing Ring.

None Found

Have done many lens tests inlcuding this lens against Canon EF50mm f/1.4 & Zenza Bronica MC150mm f/3.5 MF lens. At f/2.8 - F4.0 it's the sharpest lens I own,it's only at f/5.6 that the 50mm & Bronica catch up - but there no better at this aperture. Superb lens. I love it's versatility. I shoot weddings professionally and am able to deal with head & shoulders portraits and instantaneuosly zoom in to capture the bride & grooms hands and even there full framed rings within seconds. Try this with a zoom lens. I love my macro work and spend many hours snapping flowers, inanimate objects around the house or outside, etc. Beautiful feel to lens. Love the large focusing ring. Have the lens hood - it's pretty big but excellent for any side lit subjects, especially macro. Worth every cent.

Similar Products Used:

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5 -5.6 USM Canon EF 70-210mm f/4 Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.5 -5.6 USM Zenza Bronica 150mm f/3.5 MC

very sharp lense

no hood included. very expensive for a piece of plastic.

This is the first serious lense i have owned. The depth of my knowledge in photography is low, so all I can judge this lense on is by the quality of pictures. I own a 28-80 lense that came with my rebel(not very sharp). The 100mm 2.8 macro is very clear, I do disagree with the opinion that this lense is to sharp for portraits. I find it searching sometimes, could be from the camera iam using. The autofocus is brutal with my rebel. Alot better with my elan 7e. Iam sure it only gets better with greater quality of the camera. Iam over all very happy with this lense.