Request a product

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM vs Canon EF-S 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

CanonEF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USMCanonEF-S 18–135mm f/3.5–5.6 IS USM
Overview
ReleasedOctober 2009March 2016
Optics
Lens typePrimeZoom
Focal length100 mm18–135 mm
Maximum aperturef/2.8f/3.5–5.6
Minimum aperturef/32f/22–36
Macro lensYes–
Optical constructionFifteen elements in twelve groups16 elements in 12 groups
Special elementsOne UD element according to Canon Camera MuseumOne UD and one aspherical element
Coatings–Super Spectra coatings
Aperture detail–Minimum f/22–36 with one-third-stop increments; f/22–38 with half-stop increments
DiaphragmNine blades with a circular apertureSeven blades with a circular aperture
Angle of viewCanon UK specifies 24° diagonal, 19.8° horizontal and 13.5° vertical; the Japanese manual rounds horizontal and vertical to 20° and 14°–
Mount and compatibility
MountsCanon EFCanon EF-S
Image circleFull frameAPS-C
CompatibilityCanon EF cameras with full-frame or APS-C sensorsCanon EF-S mount APS-C cameras
Teleconverter supportCanon's manual excludes Extender EF1.4X II and EF2X II–
Adaptor supportCanon UK confirms EOS M compatibility using the EF-EOS M Mount AdapterCanon UK supports EOS M cameras with an EF-EOS M mount adaptor
Focus and stabilisation
AutofocusYesYes
Minimum focus distance0.3 m0.39 m
Maximum magnification1×0.28×
Optical stabilisationYesYes
Autofocus detailRing USM with full-time manual adjustment after One Shot AF while holding the shutter half-pressed according to Canon's manualNano USM; Canon claims up to 4.3× the STM predecessor's focus-lens driving speed when focusing from minimum distance to infinity at 135 mm through the viewfinder
Focus distance detailInternal focusing; limiter selects full 0.3 m to infinity, 0.3–0.5 m or 0.5 m to infinityElectronic manual focusing requires an awake camera; manual override in One-Shot AF requires a half-pressed shutter and enabled electronic manual focusing (The Digital Picture)
Magnification detailLife-size 1× reproduction; 0.3 m focusing distance is measured from the image plane, while the manual gives approximately 14 cm working distance from the lens frontMaximum 0.28× at 135 mm
Stabilisation detailHybrid IS corrects angular and lateral shift shake; Canon claims four stops in general shooting, three at 0.5× and two at 1×. The manual notes that subject movement is not correctedFour-stop optical Image Stabilizer with automatic panning detection
Video features–Optional PZ-E1 power zoom adaptor attaches beneath the lens (The Digital Picture)
Design
Dust and moisture resistantYesNo
Filter diameter67 mm67 mm
Maximum diameter77.7 mm77.4 mm
Length123 mm96 mm
Weight625 g515 g
ControlsAF/MF switch, three-position focus-range limiter, stabiliser on/off switch, focus ring and distance windowFocus and zoom rings; AF/MF, stabiliser and zoom-lock switches (The Digital Picture)
Zoom design–Extends towards longer focal lengths; zoom lock retains the retracted position (The Digital Picture)
Weather resistanceDust and moisture resistance with a rubber seal around the lens mountNo full weather sealing or mount gasket (The Digital Picture)
Dimensions detail77.7 mm maximum diameter × 123 mm length; dimensions and 625 g weight are lens-only according to Canon's manual77.4 mm maximum diameter × 96 mm length according to Canon Camera Museum
Tripod mountOptional Ring-type Tripod Mount D (B), removable with the camera attached according to Canon's manual–
Lens hoodSupplied ET-73 hood according to Canon UKOptional EW-73D; optional LP1116 pouch (The Digital Picture)
In the boxLens, E-67U front cap, Lens Dust Cap E, LP1219 case, ET-73 hood and user manual according to Canon UKLens, E-67 II front cap, Lens Dust Cap E and user manual
Release detailCanon Camera Museum records October 2009 marketing; no first-sale day is givenMarketed in March 2016 according to Canon Camera Museum

More comparisons