Review Canon EF 100mm f/2 Review

Sully

Sully

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Note: All sample images using the lens were taken using a Canon 50D. Pictures of the lens were done with the 100mm f/2.8 Macro and a 7D

Recently I’ve been considering where I want to go with my lens collection eventually (poor student) and after a bit of playing with the nifty fifty, decided I love primes for being fast and sharp. Luckily school has the 100mm f/2 sitting in the lens drawer just waiting to be used.

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Initial impressions of this lens are what you’d expect from a USM lens; high built quality, silent and fast focusing, and gives a feeling of confidence in your hand. I won’t go too into the technical details of the lens as these can quite easily be found on Canon’s Website, but suffice to say the lens is a 100mm prime with a widest aperture of f/2, so makes for a nice portrait lens and pretty good for candid’s.



Due to the shallow DOF caused by f/2, AI Servo became a must for candids. In the above shot if you look closely she has just stepped out of the plane of focus where I was using One Shot mode, this is also accentuated due to my habit of focusing (half press to focus, steady breathing, then take) which will add un needed time and will differ from person to person.
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The above shows 100% crops in relation to the overall image to demonstrate sharpness and chromatic aberration. The shot has had no post processing done to it other than the defaults that Lightroom applied on import (picture style on camera set to neutral with all values at 0)

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Low light performance is typical of fast primes, I went from shooting ISO3200 with barely usable shutter speeds, to being able to do ISO800-ISO1600 with shutter speeds that were perfect for hand holding (mostly faster than 1/160)


So, given I had the cash would I buy this? Well it would be a very hard choice to decide between this or saving that little extra for 100mm f/2.8 Macro (review hopefully coming in a week or so.) The macro obviously has the advantage of closer focussing, but the 100/2 has the slightly larger aperture, which can help getting that shallower DOF, especially on a crop body. Don’t get me wrong, when I’ll have to give this lens back I am going to sorely miss it and can’t see the 50/1.8 filling its boots, but would I save up a year (poor student) to have this in my collection? It would be a touch choice.
 
very interesting review, I'd love to take one and try it out. Since this lens is not as expensive as one 135 f2 L so , if we need something that opens at f2 , i think this lens will absolutly the one we can buy. ;)
 
herieta said:
very interesting review, I'd love to take one and try it out. Since this lens is not as expensive as one 135 f2 L so , if we need something that opens at f2 , i think this lens will absolutly the one we can buy. ;)
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It's a great lens for the cash, but having never tried the 135L can't really give you a comparison. If you get a chance definitely give one a go though, could save you a lot of cash.

travellingcello said:
Is this a popular lens? Don't hear about it too often. I guess people plump for the 85mm 1.8 instead?
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I'll be honest I'd never heard of it until I noticed it in the drawer at school, as I think you could be right about the 85mm stealing the limelight.
 
I have one of these lens but I use it with Canon Film cameras.

I picked it for a couple of reasons 1) the 135L was to expensive for the limited use i would have. 2) I have macro covered by at least 3 other systems. 3) I have 2 other 85mm lens for Olympus and Nikon.

I find the lens to be sharp at all aperatures but as Sully pointed out at F2 DOF is very very narrow.
I don't find any issue with chromatic aberration (but then again I am not using it with a sensor). The lens is light and very quick to focus espically when on the front of an EOS 1.

It is a cracking lens for the price.
 
Sully said:
It's a great lens for the cash, but having never tried the 135L can't really give you a comparison. If you get a chance definitely give one a go though, could save you a lot of cash.




I'll be honest I'd never heard of it until I noticed it in the drawer at school, as I think you could be right about the 85mm stealing the limelight.
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So do you think having used it you would go for the 85mm? (thats assuming you have tried that!)
 
Nick sums it up in the last line to be honest.


Jun - If I'm honest I'm not really sure, I've never had the pleasure of trying the 85mm, but I think it would be a nice focal length to work with, if I get the chance to have a go of one I'd definitely like to try it and see just why the 100/2 always seems to end up its shadow.
 
I think the reason is everyone hankers after the 85mm f1.2, as it has fine reputation, but simple can't afford it so they go for the 1.8, as the next best thing, and simply over look the 100mm.

An 85mm f1.4 or 1.2 is a better lens, better DOF for portraits and you are that little bit closer to engage with the subject plus has that extra f stop for lower light capabilities.

Still I love using both 85 and 100mm lens.
 
Nice review, good substitute for the 135L on a budget
 
Just love mine, fast and really well built.
 
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Kicking a oldish thread back to life, but I've been looking at either the 85, 100 or 135 so wanted to read the review.

As for why the 80 is more popular, well PRICE, the lenses are identical apart from focal length and aperture, same build, focusing and IQ.

The 85 f1.8 is £85 less and a couple of steps forward will sort 15mm focal length different out. I guess that is now most folk will think.
 
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