Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens

I consider a telephoto macro lens to be a mandatory part of my kit and always include the best available option. What is the best Canon macro lens? Focus shift aside, the Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM Lens is that lens.

If you like to photograph small things, such as stamps, coins, butterflies, bugs, maybe even hummingbirds or toy trains like me, adding the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens to your system is a must.

While most manufacturers have built up their full-frame mirrorless lens ranges by replicating their most popular SLR designs, Canon has consistently been more imaginative. Its new RF-mount 100mm f/2.8 offers the highest magnification ratio of any autofocus macro lens, at 1.4x, allowing users of its...

The Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM is quite possibly the finest macro lens we've ever used, and assuredly the best double-duty macro if you shoot close-ups of people as well as small subjects.

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  1:1.4 reproduction ratio, Ridiculously sharp, SA (bokeh!) control, Near-zero focus breathing, 8 stops of stabilization

It’s rare to find a macro lens that doesn’t perform admirably during a lens test and so I wasn’t surprised that the EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM performed almost flawlessly. It’s a well-built lens with weather sealing to boot.

Just occasionally a lens turns up which delivers such implausibly good results in our studio tests that I have to go back and repeat everything, double checking all settings to make sure I haven't done something wrong.

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  Superb optical quality, Fast, silent, and accurate autofocus; full time manual focus, Highly effective image stabilization (for longer subject distances, at least), Solid build, including dust and water sealing

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  Hybrid Image Stabilization still not particularly effective at macro distances, Precise manual focus at 'portrait' distances slightly tricky, Very expensive compared to non-stabilized alternatives

Image-stabilised, full-frame macro lens offering exceptional image quality.

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  Stunning MTF performance

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  Nothing of significance

Lens expert Gary Wolstenholme takes a look at Canon's EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens. This 100mm lens from Canon costs around £779 and provides life-size magnification at its closest focus, image stabilisation, weather-sealed construction and an ultrasonic focusing motor.

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  Build Quality, USM focusing, New Image Stabilisation system, High resolution, Useful Focus limiter switch

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  Supplied lens hood is a little deep for use at close distances, Focus breathing can make composition tricky

Close-up fanatics wanting a top-quality Macro lens should consider the EF 100mm f2.8L, which works on cropped and full-frame bodies, delivers 1x magnification and boasts Canon’s first Hybrid Image Stabilisation system which counteracts both lens shift and angular motion.

Canon's really raised the bar with this lens: exceptionally sharp, even wide open at f/2.8, with strong results for resistance to chromatic aberration and distortion. Corner shading can be a tad high at f/2.8 when used on a full-frame body, but for macro work, I imagine most people will be using...

Thought I would branch off and go more into macro photography, and after purchasing this beauty... I am very impressed!!I'll let my attached pictures speak for themselves and you decide for yourself-

This is a superb lens not only for macro work but for general use. It gives you a good working distance with macro objects, and is equally suitable for more distant subjects. Quality holds at all f Stops. When used with my unforgiving Canon DFSr pictures are crystal clear and sharp.

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  Excellent lens good working distance from macro objects; suitable for all purpose use as well

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  none really; you may want to use manual focus in some situations for extreme close-ups

I shot for years with the Canon 100mm macro lens. I have switched to the Canon 100mm f2.8L IS USM lens and it is absolutely worth the extra money. L series lenses have excellent optical quality, capability and the IS (image stabilization) allows slower shutter speeds when handheld.

I enjoy photographing details and portraits at weddings with this lens. Focus is snappy and images are great. We probably use it 50/50 for indoor portraits, versus non-human subjects. The bokeh is not smooth like an 85L but it's slightly busy look is distinctive. Two negatives.

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  Great image quality wide open. Fast and accurate AF in decent light. Distinctive bokeh.

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  AF hunts in marginal conditions, even on a 5D4. Image stabilization mechanism "rattles" if you don't switch it off before removing from camera. Bokeh might be busy for some.

I've long wanted to get a real macro lens, I have a gamut of other great Canon glass but had always just kind of faked the macro stuff I was shooting. With the Canon spring sale this year, I finally bit and got this 100mm Macro and holy cow!! Talk about an upgrade and some amazing glass!

I use this fine macro lens on a Canon 5d to digitize 35mm slides on a converted Kodak carousel rig. I can see the actual Kodachrome film grain on the digitized images. I definitely recommend this lens.

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  Sharp macro lens.

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  The lens outer shell is plastic.

Great lens, clear pictures, great macro uses.

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  Consistent Output, Lightweight

Strength: Exceptional sharp images New Hybrid image stabliser (working up and down and side to side) 9 blade circular aperature Build quality Weakness: May hunt in AF if you dont set your distant switches to the distance you are shooting (Human Error) This lens is the sharpest lens I have ever used...

Purchased this Macro lens to capture more close-ups photos. Just starting to explore the settings, lighting, etc. to capture clear photos, better to use a tripod to omit any blur.