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Lens review

Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM

27 November 2009
Arkadiusz Olech

11. Summary

Pros:
  • sensational picture quality in the frame centre, right from the maximum relative aperture,
  • great frame edge picture quality both on the APS-C and on the full frame,
  • low chromatic aberration,
  • zero distortion,
  • imperceptible coma,
  • low vignetting on the APS-C,
  • autofocus fast, silent and accurate,
  • efficient stabilization,
  • solid and weather-sealed barrel.

Cons:

  • vignetting on the full frame could have been lower.

It is practically a faultless lens. If anybody wants to exchange the older EF 100 mm f/2.8 Macro USM model for the new L series and can afford it, there shouldn’t be a moment’s hesitation. You can gain in everything – picture quality, barrel quality, stabilization. The older model’s chromatic aberration correction degree is higher but this argument lacks force as the new L lens corrects this aberration also well enough.


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If you don’t own a macro lens and you would like to buy one ignoring the costs and without compromising, the 100L is definitely something for you.


Sample shots

Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 200
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 6.48 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 200
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 5.65 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 200
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 6.31 MB
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 5.2 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 100
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 4.78 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 50
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 4.7 MB
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 50
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 4.81 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 50
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 4.27 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 50
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 4.05 MB
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 50
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 3.9 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 50
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 3.97 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/160 sec., ISO 50
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 3.91 MB
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 100 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/200 sec., ISO 100
File: JPEG, 3504 x 2336 pix, 1.97 MB
Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 100 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/125 sec., ISO 200
File: JPEG, 3504 x 2336 pix, 2.2 MB
Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 100 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/200 sec., ISO 200
File: JPEG, 3504 x 2336 pix, 2.13 MB
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 100 mm, f/5.0, exp. 1/200 sec., ISO 200
File: JPEG, 3504 x 2336 pix, 2.42 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/100 sec., ISO 400
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 5.68 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/320 sec., ISO 400
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 4.36 MB
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Canon EF 100 mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM - Summary
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/125 sec., ISO 400
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 5.09 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/500 sec., ISO 400
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 4.93 MB
Camera: Canon 1Ds MkIII
Parameters: 100 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/320 sec., ISO 100
File: JPEG, 5616 x 3744 pix, 5.32 MB



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