Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM vs Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CanonEF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM | CanonRF 100mm F2.8 L Macro IS USM | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | March 2000 | July 2021 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Prime | Prime |
| Focal length | 100 mm | 100 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/2.8 | f/2.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/32 | f/32 |
| Macro lens | Yes | Yes |
| Optical construction | Twelve elements in eight groups with three-group floating focusing | Seventeen elements in thirteen groups |
| Coatings | – | Super Spectra coating and front-element fluorine coating |
| Aperture detail | – | Maximum f/2.8 at infinity; effective f-number becomes f/6.6 at 1.4× magnification according to the manual |
| Diaphragm | Eight blades; Canon UK's store describes a circular aperture | Nine aperture blades |
| Angle of view | 24° diagonal, 20° horizontal and 14° vertical according to Canon's manual | – |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Canon EF | Canon RF |
| Image circle | Full frame | Full frame |
| Compatibility | Canon EF cameras with full-frame or APS-C sensors | Canon RF mount for full-frame and APS-C EOS R cameras; EF12 II and EF25 II extension tubes not compatible |
| Teleconverter support | Canon's manual excludes Extender EF1.4X II and EF2X II | Canon extenders not compatible |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.31 m | 0.26 m |
| Maximum magnification | 1× | 1.4× |
| Optical stabilisation | No | Yes |
| Autofocus detail | Ring USM; full-time manual adjustment after One Shot AF while holding the shutter half-pressed according to Canon's manual | Dual Nano USM; electronic manual focusing with full-time manual override in One Shot AF when enabled in camera settings |
| Focus distance detail | Internal focusing keeps the length constant and the front ring stationary; focus limiter selects 0.31 m to infinity or 0.48 m to infinity | Minimum focus 0.26 m from the imaging plane; 8.6 cm working distance from the lens front; limiter settings full, 0.5 m to infinity or 0.26–0.5 m |
| Magnification detail | Life-size 1× reproduction without attachments; Canon Camera Museum gives 149 mm working distance at life-size, distinct from 0.31 m image-plane focusing distance | Maximum 1.4×; approximately 25 × 17 mm field of view at minimum focus |
| Stabilisation detail | No optical stabilisation according to The Digital Picture's exact-model specification table | Hybrid IS rated up to 5 stops with EOS R; 2 stops at 1.0× under Canon test standards; up to 8 stops coordinated with EOS R5 IBIS under CIPA yaw/pitch testing |
| Design | ||
| Dust and moisture resistant | No | Yes |
| Filter diameter | 58 mm | 67 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 79 mm | 81.5 mm |
| Length | 119 mm | 148 mm |
| Weight | 600 g (better) | 685 g |
| Controls | AF/MF switch, focus-range switch, focus ring, distance window and reproduction-ratio scale | Manual-focus and customisable lens control rings; AF/MF, stabiliser and focus limiter switches; Spherical Aberration control ring with central-position lock. SA adjustment changes bokeh, soft focus, angle of view and exposure; its effect disappears at 0.26 m |
| Weather resistance | No weather sealing according to The Digital Picture's exact-model specification table | Dust and moisture resistant construction; front fluorine coating |
| Dimensions detail | Canon Camera Museum gives 79 mm diameter × 119 mm length and 600 g; Canon's Japanese manual instead lists 78.6 × 118.6 mm and 580 g. Both describe the same model; no separately marketed revision is identified | Approximately 81.5 mm maximum diameter × 148 mm length |
| Weight detail | Headline weight follows Canon Camera Museum's historical specification; the manual's 580 g figure is lens-only, excluding caps and optional tripod ring | Approximately 685 g lens only, excluding caps and optional tripod mount |
| Tripod mount | Optional Ring-type Tripod Mount B (B), with the adaptor specifically for this lens, according to Canon's manual | Tripod mount ring E (B) with dedicated adapter sold separately |
| Lens hood | ET-67; optional according to the two reviews | ET-73C hood included |
| In the box | – | Lens, E-67 II front cap, RF dust cap, ET-73C hood, LP1222 lens case and user manual kit (Canon UK store) |
| Release detail | Canon Camera Museum records March 2000 marketing and explicitly says this replaces the earlier EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro. Its predecessor year of 1991 conflicts with the original lens's own Museum table, which gives April 1990 | July 2021 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum |
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