Canon 100 2.8 USM Macro Lens

[brian_potts1]

Has anyone had the chance to use this lens yet? If so, what are your thoughts on quality, ability to focus in the macro range and at normal ranges, speed of focus and overall feel of the lens? Also, if you have had the chance to use the old one and the new one, how do they compare?

 

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Thanks in advance for your answers.

[chuck]

These inquiries are only distantly related to the original question.

But I'll ask anyway. The 100 2.8 USM macro uses internal focus.

Since internal focus lenses really don't have a constant focal

length, does any one know if the 100mm focal length is measured at

infinity or 1:1? If it's 100mm at one end, what is it at the other

end? Also, is this lens flat field (symmetrical)? if so, is it

flat field just at 1:1 or is it flat field at all throughout the

focal distances. What is the actual working distance at 1:1?

[eric_ung]

I don't have the old 100 Macro for comparison, but I have had the

Sigma EX 100 Macro . The new Canon 100 Macro offers much much

significant faster focusing speed than Sigma at any distance. If you

switch the focusimg range to .48 to oo, the focusing speed is as fast

as the 100 USM non-macro. I also find the autofocus is highly usable

in the macro setting. In summary, I am very satisfied with the new

lens.

[s._schmidt]

I bought the 100 USM macro last week after selling my old 100 non USM macro. Oh man, what a difference. My first six rolls of Velvia and Provia-F came back yesterday. I am absolutely pleased with the sharpness, lack of distortion and flare, and colour balance on this lens. It is absolutely sharp, if not sharper than my old 100/2.8.

 

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It also handles beautifully and feels very substantial. Thanks to Ring-USM, autofocus is blazing fast. With my EOS-3 there is no hunting and AF is swift and precise and dead silent.

[erik_schmidt1]

I too bought the new USM 100 macro two weeks previously. I somewhat prefer the look of my old 100 macro non-USM lens, but what the hell! This lens focus so damn fast, it is such a relief from the slow grinding noisy AF on the old 100 macro. I am still to get back my slides, so I cannot comment on the optics. It handles much better than the old macro mainly because it feels better balanced and it is internal focusing. My old 100 macro feelt like a gravel grinder when racking all the way from 1:1 to infinity focus. The new USM macro handles like a beauty. Very silky soft manual focusing and silent smooth AF. I am really extremely happy that Canon comes out with this great lens.

[l._muralidharan]

Can this lens be used as a portrait lens as well?