The Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens - meet the
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens'
twin sibling.
Put these two lenses side by side and you will need to read the numbers to tell them apart.
That is a good thing.
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens shares the
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens'
solid build quality.
This is a noticeable step up from the
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens' construction.
Everything feels solid.
Very nice.
Putting numbers to the size and weight ...
The 100 f/2 weighs 1.0 lb (460g), measures 3.0" x 2.9" (75.0g x 73.5g)(DxL) and has a relatively small 58mm filter diameter.
This is relatively small and light - This is an easy-to-take-with-you lens.
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens also shares the
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens'
fast and quiet Ring USM (Ultrasonic Motor) focusing.
Tracking action sports is a task well-suited for the 100mm f/2 - AI Servo focus accuracy is excellent.
Contrast and saturation are very good - comparable with the sibling.
The optional ET-65III Lens Hood is a wise addition to this lens - to retain the contrast and saturation with bright lights in/near the frame.
Some CA is apparent at f/2.
Wide open vignetting from the Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens will be apparent but not bad for full-frame DSLR users -
similar to or slightly better than the
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens'
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens also shares the
Canon EF 85 f/1.8 Lens'
wide 8-blade aperture.
Low light action sports is a specific task the 100 f/2 is well suited for.
This lens works well for indoor events.
The less-demanding daytime outdoor sports should not be a problem for the 100 f/2,
but many prefer using a good zoom lens (such as the
Canon EF 70-200 f/4 L USM Lens or the
Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 L USM Lens)
for these events.
The zoom range enables better framing of your shots.
The wide aperture on the Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens is able to create a diffuse background blur when called upon.
Read my article on backgrounds for more info.
The 100mm focal length combined with the wide aperture makes this a very good portrait lens.
Selecting the length of a portrait lens is a combination of functionality and personal preference.
100mm falls in the middle of my 85mm-135mm preference for a portrait lens.
Head and tight head/shoulder shots are what I find most comfortable with this lens
when mounted on a 1.3x or 1.6x FOVCF body.
That said, I would choose the
Canon EF 85 f1.8 Lens
if I were to have one similar-priced portrait lens on a 1.6x crop DSLR.
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens feels a bit tight indoors on these cameras.
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens is a very sharp lens.
I found the 100 f/2 to be sharp at f/2 and only improves slightly when stopped down.
Well, all lenses become less sharp somewhere around and beyond f/16 because of diffraction.
Corner sharpness is good as well.
The 100 f/2's maximum magnification is a meager .14x at 3' (.9m).
Extension tubes make a big difference in this figure - .27x and .42x for 12mm and 25mm tubes respectively.
Pictured above from left to right are the
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens,
Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens,
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L USM Lens and the
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens.
Here are my recommendations ...
If you want a prime (non-zoom) lens to use for portraits and do not require a 100mm focal length, I recommend you get the
Canon EF 85 f1.8 Lens.
Of course, if your budget allows, get the
Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM Lens or the
Canon EF 70-200 f/2.8 L USM Lens.
The Canon EF 135mm f/2.0 L USM Lens
is excellent too, but it might get a bit long for general indoor portraits on a 1.3x or 1.6x Digital SLR.
If you need a 100mm lens and can get by with a minimum aperture of f/2.8, consider the slightly more expensive
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro Lens.
You get a very sharp lens with an additional capability - 1:1 macro photography.
I do prefer the handling of the Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens over the 100 macro.
If you need a fast-focusing low-light action sports type of lens, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens is similar to the
Canon EF 85 f1.8 Lens and the
Canon EF 135mm f/2.0 L USM Lens is
slightly better (in my opinion of course).
The Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens is a very good lens at a very good price.
Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens Sample Pictures
Recommended Shopping Resources (Using these links to make your purchase supports this site)
Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens at B&H Photo
Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens at Adorama (Imported)
Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens at Adorama
Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens at Amazon.com
Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens at J&R
Find the best price on the Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens
Shopping elsewhere? You can still support this site
Rent the Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens (Using these links supports this site)
Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens at LensRentals.com
* If out of stock, ask the rental company if they can accommodate your need.
More Canon EF 100mm f/2.0 USM Lens Reviews & Information
FredMiranda.com
Photo.net
William Castleman
