Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

[shinksma]

There isn't a thread dedicated to this lens yet (though there is one asking a question about it), so I thought I would create one.

I received one of these a couple of days ago, and I like it! Much easier to shoot handheld thanks to the IS (and IBIS of the R7) compared to my old EF 100mm non-IS macro on a T3i.

It's a bit heavier than the non-L EF, but with the EF-R adapter it comes out about the same "heft".

I've posted some photos elsewhere (e.g. Lens Sample Archive), so I'll just toss this one in as an example of how it performs for a very unpracticed macro shooter, demonstrating the very narrow DoF at f/2.8. Firecracker Bush flowers:

 

[joayne]

Actually I think this is the thread you're looking for

Thread 'Canon RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM Official Image Thread'

13 Nov 2023

Canon RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM​

The Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM lens was officially announced on April 14, 2021 and became available for purchase on July 29, 2021. Launch price was of $1400 USD.

• Image Size: Full Frame
• Focal Length: 100mm (35mm equivalent)
• Angle of View: 20° horizontal, 14° vertical, 24° diagonal
• Lens Construction: 17 elements in 13 groups
• Materials Magnesium alloy
• Diaphragm Blades: 9 rounded blades
• Minimum Aperture: f/32
• Closest Focusing Distance: 0.26 meters...

• MMP
• Replies: 68
• Forum: Lens Sample Archive

• 

 

[shinksma]

Actually I think this is the thread you're looking for

Thread 'Canon RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM Official Image Thread'

13 Nov 2023

Canon RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM​

The Canon RF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM lens was officially announced on April 14, 2021 and became available for purchase on July 29, 2021. Launch price was of $1400 USD.

• Image Size: Full Frame
• Focal Length: 100mm (35mm equivalent)
• Angle of View: 20° horizontal, 14° vertical, 24° diagonal
• Lens Construction: 17 elements in 13 groups
• Materials Magnesium alloy
• Diaphragm Blades: 9 rounded blades
• Minimum Aperture: f/32
• Closest Focusing Distance: 0.26 meters...

• MMP
• Replies: 68
• Forum: Lens Sample Archive

• 

That's the thread for posting images using the lens, not discussing the merits / characteristics of the lens. The Lens Sample Archive states as such:

"Discuss your lenses in the gear section but here showcase them with your best images."

Thusly, I created this thread in the Gear section, because I want to discuss it, and provide the opportunity for others to discuss. I posted an image here because that still can happen here in the "Cameras & Lenses" section. I had been asking questions in that thread because this thread didn't exist, but frankly they don't belong there.

e.g.: who uses the SA Control ring? I left it in the central "neutral" position for my shots so far, so I haven't had any chance to play with it. Has it ever done something for you that made you glad the feature exists, or is it just something you never use?

 

[Michael456]

e.g.: who uses the SA Control ring? I left it in the central "neutral" position for my shots so far, so I haven't had any chance to play with it. Has it ever done something for you that made you glad the feature exists, or is it just something you never use?

I'm very curious about that, too.
I'd love to see examples (and read descriptions) on how people use the SA control ring for good-looking bokeh effects. I've tried to use the ring several times and all that ever happens is that everything looks OOF as soon as the ring isn't at the "0" position.

 

[Michael456]

I'd really love to have a discussion/exchange on using the SA control ring.
Who uses the ring and how? What settings and conditions are necessary for pleasing results?

Here are a couple of my feeble attempts. I don't like how everything seems to go hazy/OOF when turning the ring in either direction. Plus, I don't really see the bokeh improving, TBH.

 

[Michael456]

Another one.
"OOF circles" can apparently turn into some kind of bubble-bokeh with the ring turned to+2, but I really dislike the hazy (supposed to be in focus) subject:


Almost the same shot but in landscape orientation. The flower looks even more hazy here:

 

[Tom in Arizona]

Another one.
"OOF circles" can apparently turn into some kind of bubble-bokeh with the ring turned to+2, but I really dislike the hazy (supposed to be in focus) subject:
View attachment 152341

Almost the same shot but in landscape orientation. The flower looks even more hazy here:
View attachment 152342

Hi Michael...

I really like these two posts. The softness of the flowers and the backgrounds are dream-like. The photographs are a silky tribute to Spring. You may not care for the softness, but it has a wonderful appeal for me.

Tom

 

[shinksma]

Another one.
"OOF circles" can apparently turn into some kind of bubble-bokeh with the ring turned to+2, but I really dislike the hazy (supposed to be in focus) subject:
View attachment 152341

Almost the same shot but in landscape orientation. The flower looks even more hazy here:
View attachment 152342

Hi Michael...

I really like these two posts. The softness of the flowers and the backgrounds are dream-like. The photographs are a silky tribute to Spring. You may not care for the softness, but it has a wonderful appeal for me.

Tom

Hmm, I think I agree with Tom here, in the sense that the SA control ring is "messing with something" to get the OOF bokeh to change characteristics, which also (intentionally or not) has an impact on the actual in-focus subject, and it is up to the photog to decide if that is desired or not.

Those shots with the "dreamy flower" and bubbly bokeh do impart a different artistic look, which in this case I think looks quite awesome! But if you are looking for the subject to be perfectly in focus like a normal macro (or not) shot, I think the use of the SA control ring will be minimal. Perhaps because the exact part of the image that is at the focal plane is unaffected, but anything even the slightest bit on either side will start to feel the effects of the SA control in order to attain the more extreme results further OOF, like your bubbly bokeh.

 

[shinksma]

Oh, and if I have the time, wherewithal, and remember to do so, maybe I'll mess with the SA Control ring next time I pick up the camera - the 100L macro is currently attached, IIRC.

 

[Michael456]

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate them very much. It's quiet interesting to hear other's opinions.
I do like a bit of a dreamy look. The EF 100-400mm II does that at MFD wide open at 400mm (the effect is much more pronounced on an APS-C camera compared to full-frame). To my (current?) taste, the dreamy look the SA control ring achieves is a bit "too much".
I'll definitely more with it, weather permitting this weekend, I hope.

 

[Dennis]

Fungi in Toohey Forest after an unusually long lasting wet spell.

Tripod mounted using Focus Bracketing and Continuous Flash.

Dennis.

 

[Dennis]

Here is another one, mainly spotted at the base of trees.

Dennis.

 

[Mk1Racer]

Fungi in Toohey Forest after an unusually long lasting wet spell.

Tripod mounted using Focus Bracketing and Continuous Flash.

Dennis.

View attachment 153078


View attachment 153077

The crop is an amazing shot!

 

[Dennis]

Nice collection of fungi taken in our local Toohey Forest after an extensive rain period.

Tripod mounted, Focus Bracketing and Continuous Flash for 30 frames Aligned and Blended in PS CC.

Dennis.

 

[Michael456]

Nice collection of fungi taken in our local Toohey Forest after an extensive rain period.

Tripod mounted, Focus Bracketing and Continuous Flash for 30 frames Aligned and Blended in PS CC.

Dennis.

View attachment 153141


View attachment 153140

Nice shots!
Nice contrast of the color and texture of the fungus and the background.
Consider me jealous of that R5 Mark II. I'd love to be able to do focus-bracketing with flash...

 

[Michael456]

I experimented some more with the SA control ring yesterday and tried for some more bubble-bokeh. I find it very hard to find an attractive subject together with a background that can produce the bubbles.
This is the best I managed to produce:

 

[Michael456]

Two more shots from yesterday. I went for a dreamy look with these, unfortunately no bubbles.

 

[Tom in Arizona]

Your "no bubbles" remark reminds me of the old Don Ho song "Tiny Bubbles." You have to be pretty old (okay, really old) to remember it however.

Well done.
Tom

 

[Dennis]

Nice shots!
Nice contrast of the color and texture of the fungus and the background.
Consider me jealous of that R5 Mark II. I'd love to be able to do focus-bracketing with flash...

Thanks Michael, yes it does help by making the process quite seamless.

With my original EOS R5 I used a macro focusing rail and just turned the knob a ¼ of a turn, took a shot which fired the flash, then I repeated the process for the entire stack. Slow and tedious for sure, but okay when the subject is static, and you have a solid tripod.

Dennis.

 

[Mr Roboto]

Your "no bubbles" remark reminds me of the old Don Ho song "Tiny Bubbles." You have to be pretty old (okay, really old) to remember it however.

Well done.
Tom

I remember it very clearly.
I don't think I'm that really old