Canon RF 100mm F/2.8 L USM IS Macro

Specifications01

MountCANON RF

Focal length100mm

Max aperturef/2.8

TypeCinema · Macro · Telephoto · Prime

Weight685 g

Filter size67 mm

Physical length148 mm

Min focus distance0.26 m

Aperture blades9

Optical elements17

Groups13

Lens hoodbarrel-shaped (bayonet mount, supplied)

Sensor coverage43.3 mm

Additional Info02

SpecialL MACRO IS USM

Category["Canon","Canon RF"]

Keywords["Canon","macro","Prime","R-mount"]

Review AuthorKlaus

Other FeaturesControl ring, focus distance switch, 5 f-stop image stabilizer, SA-control, optional tripod collar, fluorine coating, dust- & moisture-proof

Review VerdictThe Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L USM macro IS is a great lens with some added weirdness. Optically, it is capable of delivering very sharp images straight from f/2.8 - just as you would expect from a moderately fast macro lens. Image distortions are basically negligible even without correction. Lateral CAs are on the low side as well and can be easily corrected anyway. This can't be said of the raw vignetting which is comparatively high at f/2.8 so auto-correction should remain activated. The quality of the bokeh is generally pleasing with a smooth background blur and nicely rendered highlights. The foreground blur isn't ideally rendered but that's usually of lesser concern. Bokeh lovers may also like the SA feature on the lens but, to be honest, for most of us, it'll remain an oddity that you have to pay for without using it. Maybe video makers can appreciate it more than photographers. That being said - the massive focus-breathing doesn't help with videos. A bit concerning are the RSAs when stopping down - focus shifts aren't helpful at very close focus distances. It's something to keep in mind when shooting at least. The build quality is in line with what we have seen from other RF L lenses. The (long) lens feels sturdy albeit a bit "hollow" maybe. Formally there's nothing wrong with using good quality plastics though. The dust- and splash-proof design, as well as the internal focus system, are certainly appreciated. The Dual-Nano USM drive allows for fast and quiet auto-focusing. Manual focusing is also a joy "despite" or because of the by-wire system. The Hybrid IS system, as Canon calls it, combines in-lens and in-camera IS with a claimed efficiency of up to 8 f-stops. Yours truly has rarely achieved critically sharp images (by my standards) at the extreme end of this claim but there is no doubt that this helps - a lot. The Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L USM macro IS is a worthy representative of its species and an obvious choice for Canon RF mount users. That being said - it's also a darn expensive one. Eventually, third-party AF macro lenses will be available, making sales tougher in this class. Or just use an affordable EF macro lens via adapter. Still, this doesn't diminish the qualities of this lens - highly recommended! If you'd like to support our work, please consider shopping for this or other lenses via one of the following partners: * Amazon Europe * B&H US * Adorama US * KEH US (used gear)

Review Published2022-05-03T13:50:00+00:00

Optical Construction17 elements in 13 groups

Field Notes02

Canon RF 100mm F2.8L IS USM Macro is a 100mm macro prime for close-up photography and general portrait use, with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and image stabilization.

AI-assisted summary — verify against linked sources

Catalog note · source: opticallimits