Canon Macro lens comparison

Mystery57 said:
Which lens would you choose the Macro 100L or the 180L.
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I think you need to define your preferred subject matter and style of shooting, Andrew. They're both excellent lenses but have their strengths in different areas.

Bob
 
My macro needs are predominantly things like butterflies, bees etc that being the main reason I can think of.

Is the 180 significantly heavier and am I right in thinking it doesn't have IS ?

One off putting factor is am I also right in thinking that the ring flash and the other attachment wont fit to the filter thread on this one ?
 
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There is an adapter (Macrolite 72C) that mounts the MR-14 or MT-24 on the 180L.

Yes, it's heavier and doesn't have IS but it's the one I would choose for butterflies and bees as it'll give a bit more working distance. If they're your main subjects then I'd also consider a 300/4 IS. Not a macro lens by a long way but is excellent for this type of subject with it's ability to focus closely....a tube or 500D dioptre also fits very well on it.

Bob
 
Left-field suggestion - 100L IS with extender? Still sharp, greater working distance, retains IS and AF. I think Kenko will fit.
 
The Kenko 1.4x extender does fit the 100 L as I tried it a while back. It does slow the AF speed down a little bit but it's still fast enough for most things on my 5D3. I'm so used to the focussing on the 100 that it threw me off for a while with the extender. I also tried a Kenko extension tube set as well, which also worked well with the 100 L. I haven't used a 180 macro so I can't compare directly, but the 100 is excellent.

I had an MP-E65 for a short while as well and got some great indoor shots (the eye of a needle measured in at 10") but due to health reasons I couldn't get the best out of it so I sold it but kept the 100.
 
Mystery57 said:
Had been trying a Kenko with the 100-400 lens - not to my liking that's why will probably sell the Kenko on again
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Hardly the same thing is it?
 
Mystery57 said:
Had been trying a Kenko with the 100-400 lens - not to my liking that's why will probably sell the Kenko on again
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As Richard has said, a teleconverter on a top quality macro lens isn't going to produce the same degradation as it does when it's used on a cheesy zoom.

Bob
 
Mystery57 said:
Umm Bob, I would hardly call the Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 L IS USM EF a cheesy zoom though ! :clap:
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Maybe you're right but I'm struggling to come up with a current L prime or L zoom, with the exception of its sibling 28-300, that is optically inferior to the 100-400?

Bob
 
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