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Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro vs Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

CanonEF 100mm f/2.8 MacroCanonEF 24–105mm f/4L IS II USM
Overview
ReleasedApril 19902016
Optics
Lens typePrimeZoom
Focal length100 mm24–105 mm
Maximum aperturef/2.8f/4
Minimum aperturef/32f/22
Macro lensYes–
Optical constructionTen elements in nine groupsSeventeen elements in twelve groups
Special elements–Four aspherical elements
Coatings–Air Sphere Coating; front and rear fluorine coating according to The Digital Picture
DiaphragmEight blades according to Canon Camera Museum; minimum f/32Ten blades with a circular aperture
Angle of view24° diagonal, 20° horizontal and 14° vertical according to Canon's manual84°–23°20′ diagonal, 74°–19°20′ horizontal and 53°–13° vertical
Mount and compatibility
MountsCanon EFCanon EF
Image circleFull frameFull frame
CompatibilityCanon EF cameras with full-frame or APS-C sensorsCanon EF full-frame and APS-C DSLRs; EOS M cameras require an EF-EOS M mount adaptor
Teleconverter support–Canon's manual excludes extenders
Adaptor support–EF12 II gives 0.60–0.50× at 24 mm and 0.41–0.12× at 105 mm; EF25 II is incompatible at 24 mm and gives 0.61–0.27× at 105 mm
Focus and stabilisation
AutofocusYesYes
Minimum focus distance0.31 m0.45 m
Maximum magnification1×0.24×
Optical stabilisation–Yes
Autofocus detailAutofocus and manual focus selected with the AF/MF switch; Canon's manual lists Full and Limit focusing-range settingsUSM autofocus with full-time manual focusing. Canon's manual specifies turning the ring with the shutter half-pressed after One Shot AF
Focus distance detailFull range is 0.31 m to infinity; the manual describes the close-up Limit setting as 0.31–0.57 m and its specification table also lists 0.57 m to infinity as a limited rangeInternal focusing according to The Digital Picture; Canon instructs users to finish zooming before focusing
Stabilisation detail–Canon claims four-stop optical stabilisation. The exact manual describes automatic adjustment for still subjects and panning, with correction perpendicular to the panning direction
Magnification detailLife-size 1× reproduction without a converter; minimum focusing distance is measured from the camera's image plane according to Canon's manual–
Design
Dust and moisture resistant–Yes
Filter diameter52 mm77 mm
Maximum diameter75 mm83.5 mm
Length105.5 mm118 mm
Weight650 g795 g
ControlsAF/MF switch, Full/Limit switch, focusing ring, distance window, reproduction-ratio and depth-of-field scalesAF/MF and stabilisation switches, separate focus and zoom rings, distance window, infrared index and transport lock at 24 mm
Zoom design–Extending barrel; zoom lock holds the shortest 24 mm position
Weather resistance–Canon UK describes dust and moisture sealing; the manual identifies a rubber mount ring. The Digital Picture recommends a protective filter to complete front sealing
Filter detailFront screw-in filter; Canon's manual permits one filter at a time–
Dimensions detailCanon Camera Museum gives 75 mm maximum diameter × 105.5 mm length and 650 g. Canon's original manual instead lists 105.3 mm length, with 21.5 mm added for front and rear caps; dimensions and weight are lens-onlyMaximum diameter × retracted length; size and 795 g weight are lens-only. Caps add 24.2 mm to length according to Canon's manual
Lens hood–EW-83M hood with release button; reversible for storage
In the box–Lens, E-77 II front cap, Dust Lens Cap E, EW-83M hood, LP1219 case and manual according to Canon UK
Release detailCanon Camera Museum records April 1990 marketing; no first-sale day is givenCanon Camera Museum's exact-model table records October 2016 marketing; its later RF 24–105mm page retrospectively says November 2016. The year is used because the maker gives conflicting months without explaining a regional difference

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