Every Canon EF Lens: Read the Reviews, See the Specification & Check the Price
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Overview

A good qualty macro lens that is widely used for portrait and general use. Much cheaper than the 'L' and newer IS versions. The 12" minimum focal distance is to the sensor plane, so at maximum enlargement (1:1) your subject will only be 5-6 inches in front of the lens. Works well with extension tubes.

Available from: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | B&H | Adorama

Lens specifications

Focal Length & Maximum Aperture 100mm 1:2.8
Lens Construction 12 elements in 8 groups
Diagonal Angle of View 24°
Focus Adjustment Inner focusing system with USM
Closest Focusing Distance 0.31m / 1 ft. (film plane to subject)
Filter Size 58mm
Max. Diameter x Length, Weight 3.1" x 4.7", 21.1 oz. / 79.0 x 119.0mm, 600g

EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens block diagram

EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens mtf chart

A quick guide to MTF charts (which only measure contrast and resolution. Canon's guide to their MTF charts)

Black lines reflect lens performance at widest aperture.
Blue lines show the performance at f/8

Thick lines indicate lens contrast
Thin lines indicate lens resolution

Dashed lines: Lens performance with meridional lines.
Solid lines: Lens performance with sagittal lines

Closer sagittal and meridional chart lines indicate more 'natural' out of focus areas.

Remember that MTF charts are good for comparing similar lenses, so comparing ones from the 14mm f2.8L and 300mm 2.8L won't tell you much at all, whilst comparing the EF14 2.8L with the EF14 2.8L II will show meaningful differences. Note that other manufacturers may have different ways of displaying such information that may or may not match up with the Canon figures.

EF 100mm versions

Version f/2.8 Macro f/2.8 Macro USM f/2.8L Macro IS USM f/2.0 USM
Full frame Yes
IS No Yes No
USM No Yes
L-series No Yes No
Diffractive Optics No
Macro Yes No
Aperture (max-min) f/2.8-f/32 f/2.0-f/22
Construction 9 groups / 10 elements 8 groups / 12 elements 12 groups / 15 elements 6 groups / 8 elements
Diaphragm blades 8 9 8
Closest focusing distance 12" / 310mm 11.88" / 302mm 35.43" / 900mm
Max. magnification 1:1 0.14x
Diagonal viewing angle 24° 23.4° 24°
Weight 1.43 lbs / 650g 1.32 lbs / 600g 1.38 lbs / 625g 1.01 lbs / 460g
Maximum diameter 2.95" / 75mm 3.1in / 79mm 2.95" / 75mm
Length 4.15in / 105.5mm 4.7in / 119mm 4.8in / 122mm 2.89in / 73.5mm
Filter diameter 52mm 58mm 67mm 58mm
Accessories
Lens hood - ET-67 ET-73 ET-65 III
Case LP816 LP1219
Retail information
Release date 1990 2000 2009 1991
Currently in production?  No  Yes

EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM reviews and articles

Written a review? Contact us and we'll add it to the list.

Sample images

None available

Product launch

No information available on the 2000 launch of this lens.

Used Canon Lenses
• UK: MPB | Park
• USA: B&H | Adorama
Every Canon EF Lens: Read the Reviews, See the Specification & Check the Price
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