CANON EF 100mm f/2.8 MACRO USM

It lacks stabilization and up-market build quality, but is good value at the price

£448/$599

The minimal depth of field and risk of camera-shake make stillness vital in full macro shooting, so even hybrid image stabilization is no substitute for a tripod, or other fixed camera support. This lens only costs half as much as Canon’s newer L-series stabilized lens (in the UK, at least), so it’s well worth considering. In the USA, however, the price difference is minimal, making it less appealing, especially as this lens lacks the L-series model’s weather-seals and pro-grade build. You also have to pay about £30/$35 for the ‘optional’ hood.

With a near-identical focal length to the ‘effective’ value of the EF-S 60mm macro for APS-CS, this full-frame compatible lens works equally well for portraiture and extreme close-ups. The working distance between the front of the lens and the subject in full macro shooting is a relaxed 0.31m.

This lens has a conventional ring-type ultrasonic AF, but this time it comes with an AF range limiter. But it can only lock out the short end of the focusing range for general shooting, which is of no use for macro work.

Performance

This lens is sharper than both of Canon’s EF-S lenses at medium and narrow apertures, making it more appealing for macro work. Handling is also better than in the EF-S 60mm, with a more smoothly operating and precise manual focus ring. Colour fringing is also low, but there’s more barrel distortion, although it’s easily corrected.