Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

OK, I'm officially impressed.

I just got my 100mm f/2.8 L, just came in, 100% shot, handheld outside on a tiny bitty flower at close to MFD. No rework in Lightroom, just a straight extract at full-size.

Not the best shot in the world; I'm a bit underexposed it appears (maybe a quarter to a half-a-stop), but not bad for 30 seconds of effort. If this is what I'm going to get without doing my part in full from this lens I'm going to enjoy it a lot.

giCe wrote in post #15624358

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

Violin-63-Edit.jpg by g.choy, on Flickr

Awesome composition!

Judsonzhao wrote in post #15611099
x_tan, what a bloody brilliant lens you have..

Which one: the Zeiss or 100L

Hi,please i need some advise about this lens. I like it ,seemes to be very sharp,it's L, have a IS and price is ok. So, everything what i need as my frist lens on 5D m2. Now i' wondering can I get with it all these phtos or i need anther one ens:

http://www.shutterstoc​k.com …E2-8C86-2CF071D9A14D-1-20

http://www.shutterstoc​k.com …E2-A95F-10D437D0D1A0-1-45

http://www.shutterstoc​k.com …E2-A715-A4FF9DA4A24C-2-23

http://www.shutterstoc​k.com …1E2-ACDA-69601472E43D-1-5

I know i' ll need to buy more lenses later, and that's ok but right now i have money jut for one and i want to use it for o many thing. Thank you sooo much

I can help you through one of my samples.

This is taken by one of my cousin with my 7D, standing 8-9 meters away from me. As you see it is so sharp, resolution is great and the contrast is breathtaking, though it was mounted on a crop DSLR version. Therefore, you will have greater resolution and better perspective on your FF 5D II body. You can also be closer to the object and it means more precise focus and narrower DoF.

But!, considering photos you posted..

As regards the portrait photography, as you may know there are many portrait types including "Head and shoulder", "Half-length", "Entire body" and so on. Each of these types demandes a proper focal length. Because from longer focal lengths you can get much more depth of field which enhances your portrait photos. For example, the best one for a "head and shoulder" portrait (the first two samples), indeed for a FF body, is a 135mm lens.

But the point is that you CAN take a Head & Shoulder portrait with 100mm, but you may not be able to take one of these because of the lack of room.

According to samples you've posted, best focal length for you is between 70mm (even wider) and 135mm. I have lots of suggestions for you like 70-200 F4 L IS, 24-105 F4 IS (if you want a walk-around, too), and of course 100L. But I do need to understand what you mean by " doing many things " you mentioned in the last sentence. Moreover, for the first lens I never recommend a prime one unless you want to follow a particular field such as portrait, macro or even landscape photography.

Give us more information about your interests. We are here for you.

Thank you so much! Your sample looks great, but there are su much chromatic aberration. Maybe with f4 or more wont be so much CA ??
''Doing many things'' , i thought that I'm going to work in the studio stock photography and on some location (hall meeting,kids class etc) Of course I know that I will need at least 3 lenses later, but now i can buy just one with which I can most pictures to make. 70-200 i like very much, and certainly on my list of must have.24-105 I read that make distortion, so it did not take into account. I think I like the best Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM but it's really expensive. My friend, a professional photographer, proposed me 85mm but non L but honestly I'm not sure, I do not like what I saw here, and that is picture does not quite focus.
Yes, 135 is also a good choice. Huuh, what to take?

As regards studio stock photography, It would be quite hard to take more than a half-length portrait photo with 135 or even 100mm unless you have enough room to step back. For example, with a 135mm which is mounted on a FF body, you will take only a tight head shot in the distance of 8-10 feet which is normal in a studio. Moreover, in your field, it is also required to illustrate context and circumstances through which your photos get their meaning.

With an 85mm lens, at the same distance of the former 135mm shooter, you can take a proper waist up portrait from a average-height person. Therefore, I suppose that choosing between 85mm L or non-L is not the matter. First, you'd better to find the best focal length suits your field more.

And, if you are going to buy a 70-200mm in the near future, why are you still looking for a 100 or 135? It will cover most of your portraiture work very well, I bet you!

So, you have two choice: 1) "70-200mm F/4 L IS" as the first lens, or 2) 85mm or wider and 70-200 in the future.

Finally, I would say that the advantage of a wider 85mm lens is that if it was too wide, you would still be able to crop the photo and moreover, closer you are to the subject, shallower depth of field you achieve which enhance your photos considerably.

giCe wrote in post #15624358

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/gif' | Redirected to error image by FLICKR

Violin-63-Edit.jpg by g.choy, on Flickr

Breathtaking!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/touji192/849102​9448/

Just pulled a trigger on this baby.. my first ever macro lens! Waiting for delivery!

^^ Lucky I want one, I have some newborn photography coming up and I bet this would be PERFECT!

cbouchez wrote in post #15636354
^^ Lucky I want one, I have some newborn photography coming up and I bet this would be PERFECT!

Newborn Photography. So how small are these babies that you want/need the 100mm macro?

While this lens is spectacular... unless you're wanting super close up of toes/fingers, you might be better served with another lens. I find 100mm quite a bit "long" for indoor, and assuming your newborn photography will take you into many homes of your clients to shoot their little blessings, you might find the focal length too tight for framing. That's just my opinion anyway.

great photos