it's official, EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

I was just thinking about buying the 100 f/2, because I wanted something in the 100mm range. This is very tempting, but a lot more expensive. I don't really do much macro work, but it would be nice to have.

Are these going to be impossible to get for a while?

jwcdds wrote in post #8699510
I'm a dentist.

Setting up a tripod on top of the patient's chest is not an option.

I'm going to have to suggest this lens to my uncle then (also dentist).

good thing i asked! never thought you as a dentist would use it. don't dentists have digital x-rays now?

also, there actually is a monopod of sorts that you can attach (meant for video, but will work, just saying.

good deal though.

We do have digital X-rays and they are great. But it's hard to communicate with the lab for color and contour matching when the X-rays give them black-n-white photos of their teeth & bones. And I don't think the 100L is capable of X-ray vision either.

Yeah, monopods and gorilla pods etc... can all work. Tripods can also work as well. However, it's rather inconvenient to stop in the middle of a procedure, tell the patient to get up and stand against a wall, and then take pictures of their teeth. So when the camera is needed, it's a lot easier to simply take the shot handheld, which would be why the IS will help me tremendously.

I want this new 100L lens not just only for the HIS, but also its metal body, weather seal, full-time manual focus, faster AF (hopefully) and the red ring. To me, with these new features worth the extra $500. As long as the IQ is as good as the classic 100mm macro lens, I will be very happy. In fact, I just sold my classic 100mm macro lens to fun my new 100L.

Just received my 100L Macro!

No real chance to use it yet, but my first impressions are good so far. It's compact and lightweight (MUCH more so than my 180L Macro was!), IS seems quiet, focus speed seems good.

Interesting note about the build--it's made out of that high quality L plastic (a lot like the 70-200 f/4L IS), and they gave the hood essentially the same textured finish as the rest of the lens barrel. It's the first Canon lens I've seen like this (usually the hoods have a smooth finish). I'm interested to see if it is more resilient to scuffs than the regular hoods are.

Either way, looking forward to giving it a workout!

travinh wrote in post #8702675
I want this new 100L lens not just only for the HIS, but also its metal body, weather seal, full-time manual focus, faster AF (hopefully) and the red ring.

Yeah, it's plastic. Nice plastic, but plastic.

timnosenzo, congrats, looking forward to seeing some pictures

travinh wrote in post #8702675
I want this new 100L lens not just only for the HIS, but also its metal body, weather seal, full-time manual focus, faster AF (hopefully) and the red ring. To me, with these new features worth the extra $500. As long as the IQ is as good as the classic 100mm macro lens, I will be very happy. In fact, I just sold my classic 100mm macro lens to fun my new 100L.

i think the paint on the red ring is worth the 500

Did some initial tries with the lens. I haven't had a real macro lens before (only played a bit with extension tubes), so it will probably take a bit of time to get the most out of it.

EOS 5Dmk2, handheld 1/100, f/7.1, ISO 100 with IS on. AF range-locked between 0.3 and 0.5m. One-shot AF. No filter. Two cheap studio lights - one with silver mirror and one with softbox.
Converted with DPP. Manual WB in DPP from separate photo with reference. Neutral contrast, tone and saturation.
Alas, I had sharpness 3. On the other hand, I had to step down the JPEG quality a number of steps (thinks 5 for the full image, and 6 or 7 for the crop) to get below 150kB.

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wow! look at the detailed crop!

please tell us how you shot this.tripod, handheld, focusing limiter, any post production sharpening, etc.

RiaGurl wrote in post #8708748
wow! look at the detailed crop!

please tell us how you shot this.tripod, handheld, focusing limiter, any post production sharpening, etc.

Updated the post with settings and processing info.

handheld....bravo.

pwm2 wrote in post #8708674
Did some initial tries with the lens. I haven't had a real macro lens before (only played a bit with extension tubes), so it will probably take a bit of time to get the most out of it.

EOS 5Dmk2, handheld 1/100, f/7.1, ISO 100 with IS on. AF range-locked between 0.3 and 0.5m. One-shot AF. No filter. Two cheap studio lights - one with silver mirror and one with softbox.
Converted with DPP. Manual WB in DPP from separate photo with reference. Neutral contrast, tone and saturation.
Alas, I had sharpness 3. On the other hand, I had to step down the JPEG quality a number of steps (thinks 5 for the full image, and 6 or 7 for the crop) to get below 150kB.

Ever heard of compressed air?

jwcdds have you ever thought about modding the adjustable overhead lamp to mount a L bracket to so that you can just swing the camera down and take a photo of the patients mouth while having proper lighting?

Use LV and a cable release and your set!

-Eric-