Lenses

In 2000 Canon launched the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens – since then it has been the first lens many Canon SLR photographers have reached for when looking for a lens that offers the versatility to shoot up close with small subjects with true life-size macro results, as well as when stepping back to capture more distant scenes such as portraits.

The new EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM takes this performance and elevates it to a new level by improving the image quality and incorporating the newly developed Hybrid IS to counteract camera shake both in normal shooting and also when shooting in macro situations.

Who is it for?

To go with the improved image quality from the Super spectra coating and the use of a UD lens element, the lens now qualifies to be an L-Series lens. This brings with it the advantages of tougher build quality and improved dust and water resistance suitable for the life of a professional photographer.

Key features

• 100mm Macro lens with 1.0x magnification
• L-Series design and build quality
• 4-Stop Hybrid IS
• UD lens element
• Super spectra coating
• Ring-type USM
• 9 blade circular aperture
• Three-position focus limiter
• Dust and water-resistant

The inclusion of an IS system in this lens is an important benefit. Macro shooting has long been plagued by blurred images where any camera movement is increased as magnification increases. It has meant that macro images nearly always required the use of a tripod to ensure they were sharp. However, the Hybrid IS system provides up to 4 stops of IS in normal shooting so you can shoot at shutter speeds 4 stops slower than usual and obtain sharp images.

When shooting at 0.5x magnification the IS system will offer up to 3 stops of benefit and when shooting a full life-size magnification (1:1) provides up to 2 stops of benefit. This has removed the need for a tripod in many situations and will open up the world of high quality macro photography to many more users.

The inclusion of a UD lens element ensures high image quality and allows for images with high resolution and high contrast.

• Hybrid IS
  
  While many lenses have featured an Image Stabilizer (IS) function, the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM lens has a completely new IS system designed to offer advantages when shooting macro subjects. It’s the advantage of building IS into lenses rather than into the camera body – with the IS in the lens it can be tailored to suit the exact needs of the lens rather than using a ‘one-size fits all’ approach.
  
  A normal IS system works by detecting angular movement (movement around a point). When using longer focal length lenses or shooting at normal shooting distances, this angular movement is very effective. However, when shooting close in, the angular movement no longer looks like a rotation around a point. Instead, it looks like the whole camera has shifted in a parallel fashion. This requires a different type of Image Stabilization, and this is what the Hybrid IS system provides.
  
  
• UD lens element
  
  UD lens elements are used to correct for colour aberration and produce a high contrast image with good sharpness and definition. The EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM features a single UD lens to provide the highest image quality possible.
  
  
• Focus limiter
  
  When working close to your subject, only part of the focus range is needed. To speed up autofocus, the lens features a three-position focus limiter switch that allows you to limit the range of the lens and focus can be achieved more quickly. With three positions to choose from you can select the most appropriate range for the distance you are working at.