First Thoughts on the New Canon 100mm Macro

Not so very long ago I sold my original Canon EF 100m, f/2.8 USM Macro lens and applied the proceeds (plus a bit more) to the purchase of a new Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS USM. While I was originally a bit hesitant as to whether the rather considerable cost was justified (after all, it was a 100mm f/2.8 macro for 100mm f/2.8 macro swap) just to get the added benefit of stabilization, after only one trip out into the field with it I have come to the conclusion that the cost was entirely worth it.

Now, I will admit that for many of the subjects that are the normal focus of macro, or at least close-up, photography, a stabilized lens is not necessary as the use of a tripod is required in order to get the focal plane just right; however when it comes to “crime of opportunity” photos of such charismatic micro-fauna such as butterflies and dragonflies, having a lens that is able to be quickly deployed and that can be used off-hand is a tremendous benefit. Take, for example, the image I was able to capture of a Common Whitetail dragonfly (Libellula lydia) as it rested on a rock to bask in the late Spring sun.

Somewhat flighty when approached, the positioning of the tripod that would have been required for this shot to be taken with my old 100mm macro lens would certainly have caused my subject to take flight before I could get everything set. However with the added stabilization of the new 100mm IS macro, this shot was able to be taken off-hand using ISO-100, f/9.0, at a 1/80th of a second exposure time, and thanks to the 100mm focal length, I was able to be over one meter away and still nearly fill the frame.