Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Canon EF 100mm f2.8 Macro USM review


This telephoto macro lens is capable of focusing to life-size (1X) without attachments. Although it replaces the EF 100mm f/2.8 MACRO lens marketed in 1991, it is a completely new design. It incorporates a ring type USM giving quiet, high-speed autofocus. The full-time mechanical manual focus gives very smooth manual focusing. For the first time in a 1X focusing telephoto macro lens, Inner focusing is used. The lens length remains constant and a long Working distance of 149mm makes worrying about getting too close to the subject unnecessary. Also, during focusing the front ring does not rotate making use of front-mounting accessories like macro ring lites simple and effective.
Handling,
Canon has obviously put some effort into the build of this lens as it feels solid and extremely well made. The controls are well laid out and easy to use. The ultrasonic focusing is excellent too - silent, fast and accurate> The only thing that goes against it is its large size, but as its focusing is internal it don't get any bigger like most other Macro lenses do when focusing close-up.

Image quality,
Whether the lens is wide-open or stopped down, the quality is excellent. One tiny comment would be that there is a little the centre and be rounded along the outer edges 
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, but you only likely to notice it in a image of straight sided buildings.. In all of out tests it performed well and it is diffecult to find and faults with the image quality.

Value,
Canon has produced a great lens here and for once you don't have to re-mortgage the house to get hold of one. Shame it's only available for Canon. It's a top notch professional lens but as a reasonable price. Well reasonable for Canon but still quite expensive for most photographers.

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