Canon Canon EF Macro

EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro

100mm
f/100.0
Macro
650 g
Min focus 0.31 m

Quick answer

The original 1990 EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro, offering life-size 1:1 reproduction. The USM version replaced it in 2000 with a ring USM motor and full-time manual focus.

Pros

True 1:1 magnification
Useful 100mm working distance
Doubles as a short portrait telephoto

Cons

Slower, noisier autofocus than the USM version
No full-time manual focus
No image stabilization

Verdict

Fine for tripod-based macro work. The USM successor focuses faster and adds full-time manual override.

About this lens

The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro is a macro lens covering 100mm at f/2.8 for Canon EF mount cameras. A 1:1 macro lens that also works well as a short-telephoto portrait lens.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro specifications

Brand: Canon
Mount: Canon EF
Focal length: 100mm
Maximum aperture: f/100.0
Lens type: Macro
Format coverage: full-frame
Released: 1990
Optical construction: 10 elements in 9 groups
Aperture blades: 8
Minimum focus distance: 0.31 m
Maximum magnification: 1x
Filter thread: 52 mm
Weight: 650 g
Length: 105.5 mm
Diameter: 75 mm

Specification source: global.canon

What can you shoot with the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro?

Close-up and product photography
Flowers and small objects
Tight portraits

Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.

Full-frame equivalent and field of view

Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.

Sensor	Crop	Equivalent	Horizontal FOV	Diagonal FOV
Full frame	1.0x	100mm	20.4°	24.4°
APS-C	1.6x	160mm	12.8°	15.4°

Try the field-of-view calculator

Frequently asked questions

Is the original EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro life-size?

Yes, it reaches 1:1 magnification. The minimum focus distance is about 31cm, measured from the sensor plane.

What is the difference between the EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro and the USM version?

The later USM model adds a ring-type USM motor with full-time manual focus. The earlier version uses a conventional motor and needs the switch set to MF before turning the focus ring.