EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens Review

• Diagonal Angle of View: 24°
• Lens Construction (elements/groups): 10/9
• No. of Diaphragm blades: 8
• Minimum Aperture: 32
• Closest Focusing Distance: 0.31 metres
• Maximum Magnification (x): 1
• AF Actuator: USM
• Filter Diameter: 58mm
• Price: £450 approx

Review
This was my 3rd lens I purchased for my 400D and I have no regrets. Build quality of the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens is sturdy and the design of the focus ring is excellent. The lens does not extend while focusing, which is very useful when getting in close to a subject.

A favourite application for this lens is food photography – the lens enables you get close up compositions without needing to physically get extremely close to the subject. This is handy when taking photos of hot food as the lens will not steam up.

A way to get more magnification in your macro photos using the 100mm lens is to use an extension tube or attached a 50mm or 35mm lens using coupling ring. I attach the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens to the 100mm Macro Lens for photographing insects. This method does require manual focusing, a tripod, good lighting and a lot of patience. The photography below was taken using this setup. The wasp was dead – which made it a lot easier to focus!

Accessories
58mm filter size makes buying filters for this lens affordable. Extension tubes can be added to increase the magnification of your subject.

Pros
-Good value for money
-Light weight.
-Great lens for a rainy day.
-Lens does not extend when focusing.
-Cheap when compared with alternative.

Cons
- Can be slow to focus at times.
- There is a better version of this lens, but you will need deep pockets.

Tags: 100mm, 50mm, Canon, Macro, Review, Wasp
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