Customer Reviews

Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this lens. I'd previously tried a friend's and was quite impressed with the sharpness from f2.2/2.5 onward, and the bokeh around f2.8/3.2. Upon purchasing the lens, I was overjoyed to discover both better sharpness (impressive wide open and just great by 2.2/2.5 in most circumstances) and smoother bokeh. I've also done some comparing of my lens with an 85mm f/1.8 that I used to own and I'm quite a bit more impressed with the CA performance at wide apertures with the 100mm than with the 85mm: at f/2, CA is present in high contrast situations, but not nearly as bad as with my 85mm; by f/2.5-2.8, the CA is already greatly reduced; and, by f/3.2-4, it's nearly absent. For a non-L, the contrast and color are great, as well. For the cost, size, and capability, I have yet to use a more impressive prime!

I originally bought this lens for use with an Elan II film SLR back in 2003. It was extraordinary. The bokeh, focal length, and extreme background blur made it my favorite lens.

Fast forward to 2005. I bought a Canon Digital Rebel. Now my 100/2 was a 160/2. That's too long for indoor portraits and too short to be a real telephoto. It also had a lot more depth of field at the same angle of view, and thus noticeably less background blur. Slowly, I noticed that I wasn't using it as often, or really at all. So I sold it and bought a 50/1.4.

That's the unfortunate thing with this lens. As an optic, it's excellent. Fairly sharp from f/2, good contrast, fast and silent AF, and only moderate color fringing. But the focal length is just *so* inconvenient. This 100/2 feels cramped for space indoors, but too short to get up close and personal outdoors. The optical design is also optimized for close distances, so if you try to use it for distant objects at larger apertures like a real telephoto, fine detail disappears. It's also incompatible with Canon teleconverters, though you wouldn't really want to attach one anyway.

What I used this lens for on my Elan II was flattering women. It's extremely good at that. My 50/1.4 serves a similar purpose now, but at an 80mm equivalent, it's a bit on the short side. The best option would be a 70/1.4, but alas, that doesn't exist.

If you're considering this lens for a body with a 1.6X cropped sensor (Rebels, 10D-60D, 7D), consider the 85/1.8 instead. They're similar designs, but the 135mm equivalent is just inside the standard portrait range, and you may like it better.

I love this lens. I bought it basically because it is the longest focal length with a really large aperture under $500 ($925 for the 135 f2 and $4800 for the 200 f2). It focuses quick and is razor sharp, even wide open (I find I shoot with it 95% of the time at f2.0). On my crop sensor 40D it acts as a short telephoto and allows me to capture great action and tight portraits with perfectly blurred backgrounds.

My one and only complaint is the lens hood attachment is not the best design. Definitely not large enough an issue to deduct a star.

As an "intermediate" level photographer, I have to say that this is one of my favorite lenses. I get sharp photos every time I use it and can take shots in fairly low light. I carry this lens, as well as my 50mm 1.8, everywhere with me.

It's a heavy duty metal construction with quality glass in a single focal length. I get a ton of use out of it for "distance portraiture" when I don't know the subject and don't want to invade their personal space.

This is a favorite.

I use this lens on my 7D for indoor youth basketball. Many of the gyms where these games are played are lit like dungeons, and I need every stop I can get. This lens allows me to obtain 1/400 shutter speeds or better and still keep the ISO below 3200. It lets in twice as much light as a more expensive f/2.8 zoom, which effectively allows twice the sharpness for moving subjects, or half the noise. The focal length is very useful for courtside shots from half-court or the corners. It's a bit long for shots from right under the rim, but a bit further away it allows for wonderful head-and-shoulders action close-ups. I also use the 50mm f/1.4, but the 100mm f/2.0 has become my go-to lens.

Even in low light, autofocus is fast, accurate, and silent. It tends to render indoor colors more warmly than other primes (50mm f/1.4, 28mm f/1.8), so you may or may not want to adjust your white balance accordingly as you switch lenses.

Sharpness wide open is fine for my purposes. For indoor action, sharpness is primarily a function of shutter speed, and even at 1/400 the effect of more subject movement at slower shutter speeds far outweighs any possible benefit from stopping down. Also, action is in the center of the frame, and at f/2.0 the corners/background is out of focus anyway so sharpness there is irrelevent. In practice, for the shooting I do, this lens is very sharp wide open.

Build quality is very solid. Shortly after purchase, I dropped this lens about 2 feet onto a driveway and it suffered no evident ill effects.

If you are looking for a lens to stop indoor action, at a reasonable price, this is your lens!

We're very happy with this lens. It produces sharp images at higher shutter speeds due to its wide aperture. You typically lose two or three stops with zoom lenses in the same price range. This is a good lens for medium telephoto applications.

I prefer this fast lens to the 85 1.8 - it simply produces a better portrait in my opinion. Lovely, small, light....the perfect little lens without going to an L. Highly recommend; I use as a back-up and always have it in my camera bag. Love it.

I Love this lens. The bokeh is amazing, great contrast, colors an focusing speed. Plus is very small and light. Lighter than my Tamron 17-50 f2.8. I wanted a cheap telephoto for weddings and a fast lens with a big aperture for portraits. I didn't have the money for a Canon 70-200 f2.8 and the 50mm f1.4 didn't seem very useful to me. This lens fits my two needs. Great portrait lens (a little long for my cropped camera, wich makes it a 160mm lens)and life saver telephoto.

PROS (+)
-Bokeh
-Sharp, sharp, sharp
-Colors and contrast
-Silent and fast autofocus
-Light and subtle. Great for weddings and street photography.
-Great for low light

CONS (-)
-Chromatic Aberration is bad for me, but I only have my Tamron 17-50 f2.8 to compare it.
-I tend to slightly miss focus at f2. At f2.8 everything looks and works perfect.
-I wish it had a shorter focusing distance.
-Doesn't include a lens hood. I bought one in ebay for $4.

Excellent lens for the price. Fast AF and sharp all the way open at f/2. Doesn't have the image quality or AF speed of an L lens, but at a third of the price (compared to the 135 f/2L) you get one awesome prime lens. Doesn't come with a hood. I strongly recommend getting one.

I can't believe that everyone hasn't rated this 5 stars...I can't imagine what faults people find with this or what they are comparing it to to rank it less than 5. This is the most amazing lens and produces incredible portraits with a sharpness that is unmatched. It also creates a very shallow depth of field with a smooth bokeh. I picked this one up off ebay in near mint condition for about $230 (a steal I'm sure). I also have the 50mm F/1.8, the 200mm F/2.8, the 70-210mm F/4 and a few others. I would say I use this one the most...while it is a little long for indoor portraits it's ok and I still use it indoors for events and weddings or individuals when I have some room to work. It's the sharpest lens and I get amazing pictures every time. Go over to flickr and look up tags with this lens and you'll see some great shots. In short, I would run, don't walk to get this lens