Canon 100mm L - Can you really handhold it?

[haring]

I am thinking about upgrading to the new Canon EF 100mm 2.8 L. I mainly use my macro setup for wedding details.

1. People say that image quality of the new 100mm 2.8 L hasn't improved a lot. Is that true?

2. Based on your experience, can I really handhold it or you find that you still use a tripod when taking macro photos... Of course, it depends on the light situation... Does the IS make a huge difference? Can I really get rid of my bulky tripod...???

 

[bradhusick]

I have the lens and I can tell you the image quality is excellent. You can handhold this for macro better than any other lens out there, but as always, a tripod is best for macro work (in which case you turn off the IS). Hope that helps.

By the way, this is a fantastic portrait lens too. I hope Canon follows this direction for lots of new lenses.

 

[Ralph Eisenberg]

+1

 

[haring]

Thanks!

 

[haring]

Do you have experience with the 150mm 2.8? Does it have better image quality than the 100mm L?

 

[Hausen]

I have rented both the 100/2.8l and the 135/2l over the last 2 weekends because will get one of them for Xmas, The 100/2.8 for me was the most stable canon lens I have ever used and the 135/2 was difficult for me to hand hold. I don't want to use a tripod exclusively with a short tele so am certainly leaning toward the 100/2.8l. Macro capability is certainly the added bonus for me because as Brad says it is a great portrait lens.

 

[ustein]

The 100mm Macro f/2.8 IS is our most loved Canon lens.

 

[kevin]

I would think that the IS feature would be a real boon for non-macro work, too. In a dark church interior with no flash allowed, say.

 

[Paul_Kerfoot]

Hi Haring

I own the non-L version of this lens. The reason that people say the L version of the lens has not improved much from non-L version is that the non-L version was really good to begin with and difficult to improve on.

Paul

 

[haring]

Hi Haring

I own the non-L version of this lens. The reason that people say the L version of the lens has not improved much from non-L version is that the non-L version was really good to begin with and difficult to improve on.

Paul

Yes, the old one is already a very good lens.

 

[bkling]

Go for 100mmL.