EF 100mm 2.8 Macro

[Gary T2]

I just bought the EF 100 mm 2.8 Macro USM and wondered if it is behaving normally. I am using it on a 10D. Compared to the 24-70 L. it focuses rather clumsily. Hard to describe but it just isn't as smooth as the 24-70.Kind of jumps rather than quickly focusing. It also seems to search a lot , especially when close up and sometimes never finds focus. If I manually focus and then AF, it locks right on. If I just try to AF, it will sometimes try to focus forever even with the 550 Speedlite and its infrared assist. Is this normal or have I gotten a weird lens?

Thanks,
Gary

[jd_D60]

If you have the non-USM lens it sounds normal, this lens is not lightning fast, more like graciously slow. Doesn't bother me too much as I usually use manually for Macro work or on a tripod (no..... on second thoughts I ought to use a tripod but don't and have wrong DOF or slight blur ....... Note to me MUST USE A TRIPOD MORE OFTEN).

You have got a side sitting to limit the hunting distance which speeds things up slightly.

[justme_dc]

If the USM is at all like the older non USM version then I'd say this is quite normal. I have the older one and although I wouldn't call the autofocusing "Gracious" I would call it Extremely noisey and somewhere close to useless. This is however a great macro lens and I'd say that at least 85% of my macro work is manually focused anyway. Experiment with the limit switch that should clear it up greatly. Also, pick a single focus point, using multiple focus points for macro work will almost always leave you with less than satisfactory results.

Good luck with a great lens!

[cowman345]

I was surprised at this lens' relatively poor focusing ability too when I first tried it, but then after a few sessions realized that I only use manual focus at close range anyway, and at long range, the focusing is a lot faster, though it does tend to "jump" a little.