{"id":9570,"date":"2014-06-25T14:45:13","date_gmt":"2014-06-25T19:45:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog-vm.journeyoflight.com\/?page_id=9570"},"modified":"2014-06-25T14:45:13","modified_gmt":"2014-06-25T19:45:13","slug":"magnifying-the-world-with-the-canon-100-f2-8l-is-lens","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/blog-vm.journeyoflight.com\/magnifying-the-world-with-the-canon-100-f2-8l-is-lens\/","title":{"rendered":"Magnifying the World with the Canon 100 f\/2.8L IS Lens"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Canon<\/a>
Canon 100 f\/2.8L IS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Macro photography, what better way to make a praying mantis look like a huge evil invader.\u00a0 Or to make water droplets look so big that you feel like you could swim around inside of one.\u00a0 When I first ventured into nature photography, macro was something that interested me, but I was determined to make grandiose images with spectacular light that would awe people with the glory of landscape photography with intense light.\u00a0 What I found as I began my photographic journey was that there were neat things I would see by the side of the trail or field.\u00a0 Maybe it was a little flower, or a cool pine cone scene, or mushrooms on the bottom of the forest floor, regardless, I would stop and take in these scenes and wish I had a way to capture them.<\/p>\n

\"Phlox<\/a>
Phlox at Fontenelle Forest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was not long until I purchased the 50 CM.\u00a0 A solid macro lens, I really got it for the size, and the price.\u00a0 I also needed something to capture portraits of the kids.\u00a0 There\u2019s only so many cute portraits you can get of your children with wide-angle lenses before the grandparents start asking for a view that\u2019s a little more \u201cnormal\u201d.\u00a0 It was a workhorse lens for me capturing thousands of macro images (and hundreds of portraits).\u00a0 After a while though, and after one too many times in the forest where a slight breeze moved my subject before the sloooooowwwww autofocus of the 50 CM could lock on that I decided to purchase the 100 f\/2.8L with IS<\/a>. This article are my subjective experiences with the Canon 100 f\/2.8L<\/a> IS Macro lens.<\/p>\n

Upon purchase, I immediately took the lens home and mounted it to my Canon 5D Mark II and was amazed at how fast the autofocus locked on my subject, and in low light too!\u00a0 I then placed it on my SL1<\/a> and loved the combination with the added crop.\u00a0 I could now lock autofocus almost twice as fast.\u00a0 The 1:1 magnification of the 100 f\/2.8L<\/a> IS allowed me to focus closer than ever before on my subjects and without my extension tube.\u00a0 With my extension tube added, I was getting so close that I felt like I was actually being miniaturized when I looked through my viewfinder.<\/p>\n

\"Tulips\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Of course, as they say the proof is in the pudding.\u00a0 Actually, I\u2019m not really sure who says that and what proof you can find in pudding, but no matter.\u00a0 I downloaded my photographs and loved the crispness of the images and the bokeh, outstanding.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong, the 50CM had decent bokeh and crisp images, and it never held me back from making salable images, but the 100 2.8L<\/a> I felt opened new possibilities for me.<\/p>\n

The next test?\u00a0 Portraits.\u00a0 One of the advantages of macro lenses, especially in the 100 mm range is that they are at a good focal length for taking portraits.\u00a0 On an unseasonably warm February day I took my daughter out to the park to capture some photographs.\u00a0 Using the Canon 100 f\/2.8L<\/a> I experimented with various lighting and poses.\u00a0 I was pleased with the autofocus and the bokeh at portrait ranges and felt the flare was well controlled.\u00a0 It was almost as good as my 135 f\/2L<\/a>.\u00a0 Almost.\u00a0 By the way, I recommend taking a look at my 135 f\/2L report<\/a> if you are interested in seeing the best portrait lens at 135mm that canon has to offer or one of my favorite lenses of all time (even though it is one of the most rarely used in my collection).\u00a0 Anyway, I digress.\u00a0 the 100 2.8L IS Macro<\/a> performed admirably.\u00a0 The IS was a really nice addition with this as well and the focal length worked well on my full frame like the Canon 5D Mark II, but it was a bit close on a crop camera like my Rebel SL1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Riley\"<\/a>
Riley<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Overall, I highly recommend Canon\u2019s 100mm f\/2.8L Macro lens<\/a>.\u00a0 Of all the macro lenses I\u2019ve used this one by far was the one that has consistently performed for me.\u00a0 Fast autofocus, close focus, IS, crisp, and a great portrait lens to boot.\u00a0 Please take a look at my images and if you decide to purchase the Canon 100 f\/2.8L<\/a> macro lens please do so using the link below.\u00a0 B and H has been a great provider of photography equipment for me and I recommend their services.<\/p>\n

\"W-_Valentine---May-2014_prints_IMG_3749-droplets-snake-river-falls\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Remnants of Autumn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Branch<\/a>
Branch of Blossoms at Schramm State Recreation Area<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Tulips\"<\/a><\/p>\n