Image-stabilized, full-frame macro
lens offering exceptional image quality
There has always been a good case for
saying that optimum performance is achieved when a lens is designed for one
specific purpose: some lenses are great for versatility but if you have a
particular application in mind then it is always best to seek out a lens that
was designed for that specific purpose. Canon's EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM is the
perfect example of a lens that does one thing very, very well indeed.
CANON
EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
The 100mm focal length is ideal for many
types of everyday macrophotography as it places a comfortable distance between
the lens and the object being recorded. It is also a focal-length that is easy
to work with from an optical-design point of view, and the exceptional MTF
results returned by this lens are proof of the extent to which Canon’s
designers have excelled in this area.
The lens itself is rather large, with a
barrel length of 123mm, but its handling is perfect. The focusing ring, which
remains static in AF mode but offers full-time manual intervention, is broad
and ideally placed. Three sliders to the rear control the focusing range, AF
mode and IS system while the focused-distance window sits right at the front of
the lens.
An equally generous, cylindrical type, lens
hood is included together with a soft carrying pouch. A tripod-mounting collar
and extension tubes are also available as optional extras.
Another benefit worthy of note is the way
in which Canon has addressed exposures for macro photography. There is a
general rule that says the maximum exposure time (shutter "speed")
for blur-free pictures is given by the reciprocal of the focal length, which
for a 100mm lens would be 1/100sec. That is fine for everyday photography but
in close-up work, with a higher magnification ratio, less blur is required for
the image to appear unsharp. Sadly, under these very conditions the lens
projects a dimmer image on the focal plane, requiring an increase in exposure
that tends to lead to longer, rather than shorter, exposure times.
CANON
EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
The traditional solution to this problem is
for flash to be used in a lot of macro photography, not simply to illuminate
the subject but also to provide a brief burst of light that acts as an
ultra-short exposure time. In its new 100mm Macro lens, Canon has given
photographers an additional helping hand in the form of image stabilization
that provides a two-stop reduction in exposure time for macro photography,
rising to four stops in normal use.
Things are not quite so simple in the
latter respect, however, because image stabilization systems typically reduce
the sharpness of pictures when the lens is supported on a tripod - and most
macro photography is undertaken using tripod-mounted cameras. Although
technical testing revealed a slight drop in MTF when the IS was activated on a
tripod, the resulting curve in this case remained comfortably above 0.25
cycles-per-pixel from f/2.8 to f/22 and still sat above 0.4 cycles-per-pixel
between f/4 and f/8.
Similarly, although there was just a hint
of chromatic aberration on the technical testing targets, nothing showed up by
way of color fringing in any of the real-world pictures (both large-scale and
macro subjects).
In
short, this is clearly a very impressive lens in all respects
In short, this is clearly a very impressive
lens in all respects. It is also keenly priced. While it's true that for only
about $228.4 more you could buy Canon’s very capable 24-105mm f/4 zoom, which
is a better all-rounder, the 100mm macro is not meant to be an all-rounder: it
has been conceived for one specific purpose only, and Canon’s engineers are to
be congratulated on designing and manufacturing such a superb bespoke lens
|
Specifications
·
Maximum aperture: 2.8
·
Minimum aperture: 32
·
Lens mount: Canon
·
Number of blades: 9
·
Image Stabilization: Yes
·
Optics (elements/groups): 15/12
·
Minimum focus: 3mm
·
Filter size: 67mm
·
Lens hood: Yes
·
Width: 78mm
·
Length: 123mm
·
Weight: 625g
Pros
·
Stunning MTF performance
Cons
·
Nothing of significance
|
