Picture quality
Constant length
USM AF is much faster then the prev lens (rarely used, MF still better)
Build quality

The AF limiter can be switched only to .31-infinity, you can't half down the focusing movement to the closer half

I used a 50mm Sigma macro before. I was very happy with that's lens optical quality, but the working distance was a problem for me ( i usually use macro lens with extension tube, to reach under lifesize). I don't only mean the minimum working distance, but the changing lenght of sigma's lens during changing magnification (or focusing in other words).
So, i decided to change to this lens.
The picture quality is near to the (or equal, hard to decide) sigma, the working distance is a dream (w my 68mm extension tube i can stay more than 10cm away from the subject, so i won't cast any shadow, i have the place to play w the line), also the constant length is a dream (when i focused w the sigma's my manfrotto 488 ballhead's position changed (about half mm which seems to be nothing, but it's too much when you take picture from a smaller than 1cm long subject).
It was (is) a bit hard to use to the dof this longer focual length gives, but i think 100 is a good compromise of reach and dof).

Customer Service

0

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX Macro

Sharp as a sword
Small profile
Unique shots to be had with this lens

Hood not included
Focus takes practice (not the lens' fault)

This lens is what everyone says it is,super sharp!As stated before macro work takes some getting used to,for those having focus issues you need to manual focus when shooting life size.The USM is not slower,use the focus limiter switch when shooting normally and it works perfectly.

I am really impressed with the sharpness of this lens,I will put it up against almost any L ,and for less than $500 its a steal.It does take pratice to get the focusing right when shooting macro.Your best bet is to focus all the way in,then move the lens back until focus is achieved.

Very sharp images when used properly
can focus very close
good for portraits with the shallow depth of field

sometimes the focus hunts if there isn't much available light
USM isn't as fast as USM on my other lenses
shallow depth of field makes it hard to focus accurately when doing macro work
no IS - would be very helpful for closeup work to avoid camera shake and avoid the need for a tripod

Overall the lens can be summed up as being able to focus very close, producing very sharp images, and having extremely shallow depth of field unless stopped down to F16. 100mm is a pretty long focal distance and since the lens does not have image stabilization, the potential for camera shake is pretty great - especially if you are taking photos of objects that are close to the lens. Even the tiniest movement of the camera will result in a blurry images.

I like this lens. I really like being able to focus very close with it, but am just not used to the challenges that come with it. I think a tripod is pretty much a requirement with any macro work with this lens.

People say that it is as good as an L lens, but I'm not so sure about that, having used a 24-105L lens for over a year. The USM is a bit slow compared to the USM on my L too.

I wrote a full review with pictures here :

http://www.supertsai.com/photo/2007/01/canon_100mm_28_ef_macro_review_1.html

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

Canon 24-105 f4 USM
Canon 28mm 1.8 USM

Multi-function lens (macro and portrait) Great build quality Unbelievably sharp at all f/stops Great portrait lens Beautiful bokeh

A little long for portrait work

Why Canon didn't put a red ring around the front of this lens I can't tell but from my experience, it's every bit as good as an "L" lens. Perhaps the build quality is slightly lower than one might expect from an "L" lens but not by much. The images are super sharp all the way from f/2.8 to f/32 and it makes a great portrait lens if you don't mind the long working distance. Macro shots are unbelievably sharp and clear and color contrast is better than my camera body can produce.

Similar Products Used:

EF 50mm f/1.4 lens

Extremely sharp, good close focusing distance. Very useable as a portrait lens as well for orthodontic workups, and for studio photography.

Heavy, slow focusing. Range delimiter is easy to accidentally toggle to the longer preset which is very annoying for intra oral photography where we need very close working distances.

Extremely sharp macro lens. Works well with the MR-14EX ringlight flash. We use this lens daily in our dental practice on EOS-10D bodies.

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

50mm compact macro

Autofocus, sharpness, contrast, bokeh, color... everything else in a picture is up to you. The lens delivers everything but a great composition...

Difficult to find any.

In summary, this lens is the best lens I own. It is astonishingly sharp when stopped down a bit from f/2.8, and the blur on f/2.8 macro backgrounds is beautiful. If you want to capture everything from bugs to dancers, this is your lens. Autofocus is wickedly fast (even on subjects that are very close to the front element!). Contrast, color, and sharpness are simply the best of any lens I have ever used. I use this as a macro for high-magnification insects/plants/flowers/etc, and as a telephoto for event photography. I consistently get the best pictures from my 10D using this baby.

Customer Service

Never needed any for the lens, but PictureLine(.com) is absolutely great.

Similar Products Used:

Many in Canon's line.

Phantastic optics - make you rethink about some of the top L-Series Zoom lenses. Extremly fast AF. Gives a mavelous lightwight package thogether with the 16-35 Zoom (Ultrawide, small tele and macro 1:1). If you have the AF programmed to the rear button of your camera, you can shift from autofocus to manual focus whenever you like - no oder Manufacter can offer this !

Not as well sealed as a L-Lens. Lens hood and tripod collar are very expensive and should be included

I suppose you read this review, because your not sure if you should buy this lens or not. The answer is very simpel: Yes you should!

Customer Service

Needed for my EOS 1D Body. I got a replacement the next day and the repair was made in 5 days !

Similar Products Used:

2.8 / 100 m Mikro-Nikkor. Optic is nice, but the autofocus is so poor that this is a manualfocus lens.

SHARP,shows massive amount of detail!Very natural colour and contrast rendition.built in hood

when the sun DOES finally get past that hood,it flares like mad.Dodgey focus drive mechanism.I've heard lots of stories about them breaking or making weird noises.Mine makes the weird buzzing noise if it hits infinity at speed but that is 'normal'.It's just the overide clutch cutting in(it's supposed to)but it sounds bad.

My best lens.As i've been buying and selling lenses alot lately i've had the opportunity to compare lots of them-And this one is king of the heap-by a long long shot.It has a very natural look (colour and contrast) and shows more detail than any lens i've used or even seen others use!it's not just sharp-i've had several nikkor 105/2.5's and while they are quite stunning they just can't show the fine detail that this thing does.Not quite fair comparing an old lens to a new one,but that nikkor is abit of a ledgend so i just say it as an example.

Similar Products Used:

FD 100/2.8,nikkor 105/2.5(several),masses of other,mostly older lenses in vaguely simmilar focal lengths

Super Sharp, 58mm, focus down to 6", high quality built, USM

can't use it for the large group picture. With 100mm, you will have to stand very far away to fit everyone. Oh well...it is not what this lens are designed for anyway. :)

Read lots of review before buying this lens. Finally I bought it online. Never regret it. I like to take close-up flower and portrait. The picture quality produce on this lens is superb! Very sharp as everyone has mentioned. no distortion. I show my first rolls of film taken by this lens to my friends, they all "Wow". Now I learn...good picture came from the good lens with a right film. :) Worth every penny I paid. I have to write this review to thanks everyone who has spent time writing review on this lens. And for those who are still making decision...GO BUY IT.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 28-200mm Canon 28-70mm 2.8L (bought it after...The BEST)

--Sharpness --Low cost for such a fast, sharp lens --Convenience (shoots life-size without extension tubes, diopters, etc.) --Uses relatively cheap 52mm filters --Recessed lens design eliminates need for the usual $25 Canon lenshood

--Noisy, vague autofocus (if you use the lens for portraits, etc.)

I''ve been using this lens for macro shots of flowers--wild and cultivated--as well as textures in nature. The chromes are stunning, with bright, satuarated colors and edge-to-edge sharpness. For this purpose I always focus manually, so USM is unnecessary. The only reason I would like the USM version of this lens is for the tripod ring, to make switching between horizontal and vertical compositions easier. However, the new 100mm USM macro, plus the tripod ring, cost nearly as much as a used Canon 180mm f/3.5L macro.

Customer Service

--None needed

Similar Products Used:

--70-200mm L zoom with extension tubes and 500D closeup diopter