canon macro 100mm old or new version??

[aratrus]

hello!!
i want to buy a canon 100 macro, i've the possibility to buy an used old version non USM for about 400 euro (530 USD)..
or a new version USM for about 500 euro (667 USD)..
which lens is better? the USM is inner Focus.. it's a good thing?


sorry for my bad english:o

[Lenny_D]

Hi, welcome aboard!
I would always buy the new version. I understood that the optical quality of the two lenses is very similar but the new version has a completely new and different optical design. The inner focussing makes it possible to use autofocus in macro because the distance to the object is unchanged.
Note however that many people don't use the focus ring or AF to get a sharp macro picture and just change the distance of the front lens to the object. It depends on your preference and experience. Note that the new version doesn't prohibit you from using this technique..

[SDK^]

Well the non USM version probably has slower auto focus but you'll find that you won't ever use Auto focus when photographying macro subjects.
Unless you are going to be using the lens for moving subjects you don't really need USM focus

[aratrus]

thank you very much.. i've tried the non USM version and the AF is very slow.. for the macro shots i use the manual focus.. but i'm thinking to use the lens also for portraits and other.

[tim]

The USM lens is quite quick, but it has a long travel, so I hear it's not as fast as L lenses. Compared to all my other lenses though, focusing on that lens is very fast, and it's a very sharp lens :)