Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM and Macro Photography
Sunday, July 22nd, 2007
This is the first in a series of posts on camera gear that I use and tips on how to use it. There is a limited glossary and a list of resources at the end of this article.
While the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM is not the most expensive or highest end lens in my kit, it remains one of my all-time favorite lenses and the images that one can make with it rival lenses that cost four times as much or more.
On both cropped sensor DSLRs (Canon Digital Rebels, Canon 30D, Canon 1D) and full frame sensor DSLRs (Canon 5D and 1Ds) this lens gives one enough distance from subjects so as not to disturb them but isn’t so long that one needs a tripod all the time to hold focus.
This lens does not have fast auto-focus (AF) but since much macro photography is done with manual focus that’s not such a disadvantage. Most macro lenses lack fast AF. Many who use the AF on this lens report that it “hunts” for a focal point and I can attest that it does when used for photographic tasks other than macro work. In a macro setting the large focus ring makes it easy to manually focus on any part of a subject and my lens has been set to manual focus (MF) for most of the time I’ve owned it. The lens also has a focus limiter switch: .31m – infinity or .48m to infinity which can help stop hunting but manual focus makes this setting meaningless.
Another note about focus: this lens focuses internally, the lens does not telescope during focus which is important in macro photography as telescoping lenses can scare insects away or get in the way of light. Other popular lenses in this category from Tamron and Sigma have external focusing: these lenses telescope during focus which can be a problem in some situations.
The lens has the option of a lens ring and if one’s camera body were very light weight this option might be useful but the lens is light enough so that on any modern film or digital SLR a ring won’t be necessary as the lens won’t put undo torque on the lens mount.
If you’re a Canon DSLR owner and are looking for a macro lens I would recommend the 100mm f/.8 macro without reservation. Here are my images at flickr tagged: “Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM”. Some were shot with the Canon 20D and Some with the Canon 5D. The lens performs beautifully on either.
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM is a fantastic lens and when combined with any of Canon’s DSLRs will make incredible images of whatever micro-world interests you from bugs to postage stamps to nuts and bolts. How you use it is only limited by your imagination.
Other Possibilities
There are many ways to achieve close focus, some better optically and logistically then others. You can add a close-up filter to any lens to increase its magnification. You can also add an extension tube to any lens to move it further away from the film plane or sensor increasing its magnification. Most would agree that the best image quality comes from a lens that is specifically made to focus close and represent the subject life-size.
But, one can use almost any lens, and particularly longer lenses like 135mm, 200mm or even 300mm to produce amazing close-up photographs rivaling true macro lenses. What one can’t do with these lenses without adding extension tubes is get 1:1 magnification. The difference between macro and close-up is the 1:1 focusing.
This closeup image of a butterfly on a tripod head was taken with the Canon EF 24-70-mm f/2.8L USM at 70-mm. While it is a nice closeup it is not technically a macro photograph.
If one has a Canon Digital Rebel of any generation, or a Canon 20D, 30D or 40D one might consider the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM. The “EF-S” as opposed to “EF” prefix means that this lens will not work on full frame Canon cameras, only cropped sensor bodies as listed above. The reason for this is the back of the lens sticks further into the body than the full frame bodies will allow.
This lens has spectacular optics and rivals the 100mm f/2.8 macro optically. On a cropped sensor body it’s not really a 60mm lens but in fact, more like a 90mm lens in point of view (and the 100mm is more like a 160mm). However, because it’s wider than the 100mm lens one has to get a bit closer to focus 1:1 and this can be a problem for certain setups. The other issue worth considering is that the longer the lens, the easier it is to achieve background blur at reasonable apertures in a given setup. The upside of the 60mm lens is that it’s focal length is a more useful one for general photography other than macro work so it might be used more easily than the 100mm for more things. However, because it’s a macro lens, it doesn’t focus very fast and there are faster focusing “normal” lenses one might consider instead. And, if one ever wants to upgrade to a full frame camera like the 5D or 1Ds this lens will not work. Still, it’s a great lens and I had it for a while and enjoyed it very much. Here are my images at flickr tagged: “Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM”.
The Canon EF 180mm f/3.5 L USM Macro is Canon’s highest end macro lens and while at f/3.5 it’s not particularly fast, at 180mm it’s quite long and can focus on the head of a pin blurring another head of a pin just behind it. This lens sports Canon’s “L” label which means that along with a distinctive red stripe around it’s barrel it is built for professional use: tougher, heavier duty, better glass and coatings, and all around a higher quality optic than the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM. It’s also considerably more expensive. This lens can hardly be used without a tripod, as hand-holding a 180mm lens focused on the head of a pin will no doubt be tough. I’ve had this lens on my B & H Photo wish-list for a year but I’ve never bit the bullet and bought it; the images I get from the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM are so good and it’s so small and light by comparison that it’s hard to switch from it or even consider adding a second macro lens. If I were going to add a second macro, this would be the lens I’d choose.
Tips for better macro photography
The most important ingredient for macro photography besides camera and macro lens is a tripod. I’ll have a post on my tripod setup at some point soon. A tripod will allow you to work more slowly, frame images more accurately, will eliminate vibration, will give you options with slow shutter speeds not available in hand-holding the camera, and because of all of this, can be an essential ingredient in producing better photographs.
Another tool useful for eliminating movement and vibration is what used to be called a cable release but is now called a remote switch. I have and use the Canon RS-80N3 which is a simple switch on a cable that plugs into the camera and mimics the shutter release button so that one can hold down half way to lock focus and push the button fully to take the picture. I use this switch most of the time when my camera is on a tripod.
Both tripod and remote switch can be seen in this photograph. Note that I have the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM on a Canon 20D in these photographs.
Experiment and learn about aperture and depth of field to isolate subjects and blur backgrounds. Most of my photography is done with the mode dial on my Canon 5D set on Av (aperture preferred) which is the easiest way to adjust aperture (the iris or diaphragm of the lens) to let more or less light in and to adjust how deep the area of sharp focus is. Simply, if one shoots with the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM wide open at f/2.8 just the stamen of the flower will be in focus and things that are 1/4 inch behind and in front of them will start to blur. If this is the effect you want, great, if not, you have to stop down or close up the iris to f/3.5 or f/4 and so increase the depth of the area that the lens will resolve in focus. As you do this more of the background behind the flower will come into soft focus and this may or may not be the effect you want. So, having a sense of what this lens’s focal length of 100mm will do with any particular aperture comes from experience and knowing what kinds of visual effect you want in the background, is both a matter of taste and having the experience and skill to create what you want.
Move. Don’t be lazy, look at your subject from many angles and take pictures at each. Even if it means moving and adjusting an awkward tripod, get used to doing it. In my experience, the first setup and shot you take of a flower or an insect isn’t the best, it’s the ones that come later after you decide which angle, which background, which aperture, and which lighting angle work best.
Believe it or not, a bright sunny day is not a macro photographer’s best friend. I prefer to shoot on overcast days where there is a bit of moisture in the air. With a tripod the lack of light is not an issue as you can shoot at slow shutter speeds and the moisture will better saturate color. The best lighting situation is broken clouds, just after a rain at the beginning or the end of the day so the light is low on the horizon providing the most contrast.
If you must shoot at mid-day consider a light diffuser over or around the subject. A white sheet will do as well. For this you need an assistant or a stand of some sort.
Glossary
Let’s parse the name of this lens: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM
Canon: A brand, like Nikon or Olympus.
EF: An acronym for “electro focusing” and refers to the modern lens mount which is part of a camera/lens system from Canon.
100mm. The focal length of the lens. If 50mm is “normal” than anything less than 50mm is considered wide angle, anything greater than 50mm is considered telephoto. This is a telephoto lens.
f/2.8: The largest aperture the lens can achieve. This is a relatively fast lens.
Macro: A macro lens will focus close enough so that there is a 1 to 1 (sometimes written 1:1) relationship between what you see through the viewfinder and the size of the subject that will be represented in the picture. In other words, it can produce life-size images of bugs or pieces of flowers or postage stamps. Different from close-up.
USM: An acronym for ultrasonic motor which is focusing motor found on newer Canon lenses.
Resources
Canon Macro Lenses, considerations at Richard’s Notes
Gary Sharp’s photos tagged: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro at flickr
Dale Allyn’s photos tagged: Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro at flickr
Canon 100mm Macro group at flickr
Pictures taken with Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM at PBase
Macro Photography at Wikipedia
Canon EF lens mount at Wikipedia
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro at Wikipedia
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM at Canon
EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM at B&H Photo (note reviews)
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM at Amazon (note reviews)
Macro lenses at Canon
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Review at The Digital Picture
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Review by Markus Ehrenfried
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Review at The Digital Picture
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Review at Fred Miranda
Canon EF 180mm f/3.5 L USM Macro Review at The Digital Picture
at Amazon (note reviews)
Richard,
This is a superb review and a wealth of information. Many thanks! I feel another purchase coming on!
Best,
Jon
Richard, you’ve written an excellent, in-depth look at this exceptionally fine Canon lens. Here’s a link to one of my photos taken with the Canon 100mm, which shows how well it can blur the background, even at f/5.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59452503@N00/290003456/in/set-72157594367198962/
I’ve used several Nikon and Canon macro lenses, and this is my favorite. Very sharp, renders color beautifully, a great all-around macro or portrait lens.
First apologize, my english is not very well.
A lot of my friends have canon eos 400D, but I think buy something of Nikon (D70), I read all yours post about photography, and i like it, you are member of canon and have much experience. (I always think if you live in America you use product of Nikon ;-) I hold in yours opinion about my choose. For the most part I “shooting” portrait, nature and macro. If you now something bad and favorable response about Nikon D70 I gladly listen.
Thanks
Best Regards!
Gedas
All, thanks for your kind words about my review, I’m glad you found it useful. I got plenty of equipment and so, plenty of reviews to write. stay tuned…
Gedas: The Nikon D70 is a fine camera (Gary above had one and sold it to get a Canon 5D) and you can’t make a mistake with either Nikon or Canon. Nikon also makes a number of fine macro lenses like this one I’ve reviewed as well.
I like Canon because I like the user interface on the cameras better than I do Nikon and I’ve heard, although I don’t know, that Canon’s lenses have now surpassed Nikons.
Canon beats Nikon in the ability to make low noise sensors, even on the lower end cameras and this is an important difference. What this means is that you can shoot with higher ISOs on Canons and still have a relatively noise-free image.
The Canon 400D is a fine camera, has a nice dust reduction feature, has a decent sensor and will accept the 100mm macro lens I’ve reviewed here as well as the EF-S series of lenses like the 60mm macro. If you could swing the difference I would suggest a step up to the Canon 30D as it is more rugged and has more of a professional feel to it.
Any Canon camera you get can use this great lens, that’s for sure.
Richard,
This is a great tribute to a great lens. Co-Incidentally i posted one shot with this lens today.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dilipm/878588780/
I’m referring to this article here, i think every Canon DSLR user on flickr or elsewhere needs to look at the ocean loads of information you have put here and consider buying the lens if they dont have it already.
I swear, like me they are not gonna regret spending those dollars.
Gedas,
Richard is DOT on it. I’m a Canon 400D user as well as a Canon EF 100MM F/2.8 Macro USM user.
I’m not pro at macros but this one of mine is my all time fav on this lens.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dilipm/482924014/
I use the macro lens more for portrait photography than macros and i will say its excellent and gives fabulous details.
You may take a look at the collection below, a few of my pictures shot with this lens…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dilipm/tags/canonef100mmf28usmmacro/
Its not an outstanding collection but it sure shows what the lens is capable of.
If you are looking for quality lens builds then canon is what you are looking at.
Luv,
Dilip.
Thanks Dilip, for your reference links and kind words about my post.
Hello again! I find not new camera (canon 10D) only body with charger, battery. thats it about 470 dollar, i know thats not new camera, its 4 years old. maybe buy it ? or save more money to new camera.
gedasg: I think that’s quite high for a camera that old. Also, the 10D shares the same sensor as the 300D which is a great sensor in its time but now seems quite low tech: it shows a huge amount of noise when shooting at anything above 400 ISO.
Also, given the length and scope of the error 99 thread at this site I’d say to stay away from any used camera you’re not absolutely sure of the condition of. But, if you end up getting it good luck with it. Then you can get yourself a nice, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro to play with.
I was utterly at a loss, nikon d50/D70/canon 10D. Maybe now i need to go sleep.
gedasg: not sure what your issue is? Are you saying that you’re not sure which of those cameras to get? There are serious differences between them which we ought not discuss in a thread about a macro lens. ;)
Yes, I not sure which of those cameras get.
Hi, brilliant article, I saw your link on the flickr group for this lens.
Loved the tips and I think I’ll be popping back to check the rest of your gear posts :)
I’ve had one of these beauties for a week or so now, up to this point I’ve been using the half size macro on my 18-55 or sigma 70-300 and was swept away by this one, as I’m a huge fan of close-up photos it was something high on my shopping list.
Their not for some but I find the flexibility of a Gorillapod is good for Macro work, I got the full size SLR-Zoom version around the same time as my lens and it’s a good little toy for giving a more adjustable base in a hurry.
AJ: Glad you found the article useful. I totally get the appeal of the Gorillapod and as long as you have something to clamp it onto you’re set. The rest of the time a good, sturdy tripod would probably help. Enjoy the lens, look forward to seeing your work with it on flickr.
Great info on this lens! I am i the process of purchasing one and can’t wait for it to arrive.
BTW- There is an error in the article I’m surprised nobody has caught/mentioned:
“On both cropped sensor DSLRs (Canon Digital Rebels, Canon 30D, Canon 1Ds) and full frame sensor DSLRs (Canon 5D and 1D)…”
That is reversed…The Canon 1Ds is “full” frame and the 1D is “cropped”.
Thanks kameraguy, I fixed it. Enjoy the new lens, it’s a winner.
Hi, Agree…this is a great review page. Well done Richard. :)
Finally, I have purchased this lens without any regret. I love this lens and I enjoy it. By the way, I am a newbie to DSLR.
I don’t really try the macro feature until I get a tripod. So, for time being I onlydo the portrait shooting. Here is the link to my flickr and most of the photos are shoot by this 100mm Macro lens. Because, this is my only lens other than the kit lens with my 400D. hee..
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15027960@N00
Please give comment to my photo and appreciate with your expertise.
Kuan: Glad this review was useful for you.
You might consider using lens tags so that people visiting your flickr stream will know what you used to take each picture. All of the lens tags can be found on the front page of the Canon DSLR group. The one for the 100mm macro is:
“Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM”
Thanks for advice Richard, have done that accordingly. :)
Nice review, very useful. However, EF-S lenses can’t be used with the 10D (unfortunately).
David: Ah, thank you. I didn’t know that figuring it had the same mount. I’ll edit. Thanks again and happy new year.
I think the 10D was released a few months before they introduced the updated mount, the 300D was the first with it IIRC.
And happy new year to you too!
Thanks Richard for the detailed write up.
I am going to be buying this lens shortly through Amazon and wanted to check with you the UV filter that would go with this.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007NIB42/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Is this the filter that I would want. Please let me know. Thanks!
Chitra: There are a variables in buying a filter
1. What is the size filter needed for a particular lens, in this case 58mm
2. What type of filter, UV or otherwise do I need?
3. How good is the lens and if the lens is decent, how good does my filter need to be so that the quality of the glass in the lens is not compromised by cheaper glass in the filter.
Most people would think that Canon brand filters must be good but in fact, they are not. So, I would avoid the one you sent the link to.
If you put a UV filter on this lens know that it will change the light coming through the lens. This isn’t a problem and I have one on mine, but for certain types of shooting in lower light or indoors you may want to remove it.
This is a very good lens and my recommendation would be to get a decent filter, at least a Hoya. I use both Hoya and B+W (even higher end) and I think Hoya would be good.
Hoya 58mm SMC UV filter.
The “SMC” means super multi coated which adds to the glass quality and durability of the filter.
Amazon sells the filter but not directly, you can buy it from them through Adorama:
Hoya 58mm SMC UV filter.
Let me know if you need more help with filters or the lens. You are going to love this lens, it’s one of my favorites.
Thank you very much for your promptness! :)
I am buying this hood for the 100 mm macro – http://www.amazon.com/Precision-Design-Canon-100mm-Macro/dp/B000Q6HZHY/ref=pd_sim_e?ie=UTF8&qid=1200208625&sr=8-1
I hope this would be alright?
Thank you once again, Richard, in advance!
Chitra: Sure, hoods are very useful. However, for macro work you may want to take it off at times as it might bet in the way. The closer you get to, for instance, a small bug, the more the hood may affect light on the bug or scare him away. My 100mm macro is the only lens of mine that I do not use a hood on, for what it’s worth.
Richard, i think the 100mm Macro does internal focussing and is very silent in this aspect. Yes, the hood may scare away bugs/insects for sure if we try and get too close but i believe the hood does not move/rotate since the AF is internal.
Oh well, i dont use a hood for the 100mm for that matter. Oh well again, i dont use my 100mm lens at all for that matter :)
Dilip: A hood can still be used on lenses that change length when they focus or zoom as it will either move with the extension, or, in the case of a lens like the 24-70 needs to be deep enough to contain the extension.
But, like you, I don’t use a hood on this macro lens. Unlike you I use the lens a lot. ;)
Thanks Richard! :)
I will probably skip the hood.
Chitra
Hi Richard,i’m eyeing this lens but in a dilemma between this and the 85mm/f1.8 cause i want to do both portrait and macro.
for landscape shoot using the 100mm macro,can i get a polariser for it?
CK: You can certainly get a polarizer for the 100mm macro and use it for non-macro applications. It is not, however, the 85mm f/1.8 which is an excellent lens too with faster AF and probably the better lens for portraits.
But, you can do portraits and macro with the 100mm macro, you cannot do macro work with the 85mm f/1.8.
Solution: buy both lenses. I’m not kidding. This is what you have an interchangeable lens DSLR for, to be able to put on different lenses for different applications.
I know, it’s easy for me to say but seriously, there is no perfect single lens for every or even these two applications.
If you’re serious about macro work then get the 100mm macro and see how it works out for portraits. This solution at least gives you some options. The 85 simply cannot be used for 1:1 macro work.