Canon's new hybrid IS EF 100mm Macro lens

Matthew Fitzgerald | Sep 02, 2009

EF 100mm F2.8 L IS USM. (Credit: Canon)

With Canon's announcement of the new Hybrid IS EF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM lens, Canon has made two firsts: It's the first EF lens to offer Canon's new Hybrid IS technology, and also the first EOS macro lens to offer Image Stabilization. The new Hybrid IS system features up to four stops of correction of camera shake. Low friction ceramic balls support the lens elements to allow for smoother movements when correcting for camera during macro shooting, which requires very subtle corrections.

Besides being the first new Hybrid IS lens it is also the first EOS macro lens to offer Image Stabilization at all. Allowing for many great closeup shots to be taken without a tripod, superb for nature photographers where carrying a tripod is not always easy or convenient.

The new L series professional-grade lens features dust and weather seals, as all L series lenses do. It has a nine-blade, circular aperture for a pleasing bokeh, or background blur in photos taken with a wide aperture.

There are ultra-low dispersion (UD) lens elements to correct color and minimize chromatic aberrations. Super Spectra coating for improved contrast and reducing glare and lens flare. A high-speed USM autofocus motor for fast, silent AF. Specific to it's macro design is a three position focus limiter switch to tailor the focus range to shooting conditions.

There are several accessories supported by the 100mm Macro IS, such as the Tripod Mount D, Macro Lite adapter 67, Lens Hood ET-73, and the EF12 II and the EF25 II extension tubes.

The EF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM lens with be available in September 2009 for about US$1,050.

Via CNET Crave

Filed under: Digital Cameras
Leave a comment | Bookmark | Share