The ultrasonic motor has plenty of torque to drive the focusing groups at high speed, making it easy to photograph insects, birds and most living things. In single mode its precision is good using the DSLR’s viewfinder (phase-detection module under the mirror) and the Live View (using contrast detection on the EOS 5DS) and practically every shot came in focus during this review. Here demonstrated with the 2015 EOS 5DS (15 years between camera and lens), the auto focus was near flawless. Such design minimizes optical imperfections from the frame’s center to the edges, and the overall speed is good even possible to shoot sports. A magnetic ring creates energy to push the groups front and back over a track, making the image look bigger (thus magnifying it) on the image plane. Once again it’s surprising to see Canon’s technology from two decades ago: the all-internal focusing system justify this 100mm f/2.8 larger barrel (the 100mm f/2, for example, is much shorter), and the groups move in opposite directions, made to guarantee high optical performance from infinity to MFD. Inside Canon uses a top-of-the-line ring-type USM auto-focusing motor that is high speed, silent and precise, all with a floating-elements design. It’s Canon’s always perfect ergonomics, though with the photographer’s in mind. Also this ring is very precise at 150º with 120º from 31cm (MFD) to 1m and the other 30º to infinity and fast to use. That was an update over the 1991 non-USM EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro and still a highlight Sigma’s 17-70Macro and 18-300Macro doesn’t take this control as seriously. At the center barrel the manual focusing ring is generous at about 3.6cm and nearly completely rubberized, smooth to the touch and offering the excellent full-time manual operation: at any moment one can adjust the ring even with the auto-focus motor set to AF, faster to precisely focus on any subject. At the rear a fixed 5.5cm area houses the top distance window and side control panel, together with an optional tripod collar model B(B), all within fingers reach. It didn’t have to be this thick: the first and last optical elements are certainly smaller than the overall outer barrel, and it’s clear Canon’s intention at making it larger to fit our hands, balanced with the camera. In your hands the ergonomics are pleasing for those born with longer fingers, once everything feels robust. So the simpler 100mm f/2.8 USM is an easy recommendation: opt for the more expensive L version if you must use its built-in stabilizer (nice for video recording) and weather resistance or make peace with the cheaper alternative, that works just as well. What’s important is its solidness and lightness paired with a scratch-resistant external barrel and all-internal focusing mechanism, clearly meant for the professional market just like the identical L series both work well for amateurs as well. A “problem” plaguing some very important lenses on Canon’s lineup, this design uses different steps to separate both handling and adjustments zones, distinct from newer streamlined lenses that are more comfortable to use despite being very robust and easy to use. At 7.9 x 11.9cm of 600g of mostly plastic, rubbers and glass, the first thing we notice on the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM is its “old school” design we can’t deny its 18-years on the EF lineup.
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