The Best Beginner Canon Lens is The…

Canon 18-55 IS Lens

This Is The Best Beginner Canon Lens Because…

The Canon 18-55 IS lens is simply the best beginner Canon lens because of the following reasons:

• It’s Sharp
• It’s Light
• It’s CHEAP!

I will get into a bit more details here.

Since this is a kit lens, many people believe that this lens cannot take good pictures. Well, they are simply wrong in my opinion. When used correctly, this lens can take some amazing photos when used from f/5.6 and above. At this aperture, one can hardly differentiate the results from a professional grade lens.

A Sample Shot Using The Canon 18-55 IS Lens

The lightness of this lens will help you take photos easily. Unlike most heavy professional grade lens, this lens is light as feather. This is a great benefit to a beginner photographer because this lens will not wear down the user. You can easily shoot with this lens all day long without experiencing any discomfort. Since this lens is very light, you will not be lazy to bring your camera around with you and hence, your chance of getting great photos will increase.

This lens is extremely cheap for the features that it offers. You will get the IS or Image Stabilization on this lens. It still boggles my mind how a camera manufacturer can include this kind of feature for a lens of this price. You will be able to save your money and you can spend the money for your travel needs for instance.

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“For photography beginners, this can be the ONLY lens that they need.”

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Complements to The Best Beginner Canon Lens?

If you think this lens might not be enough for you, I have several alternatives that will work wonder when combined with the Canon 18-55mm IS lens. Here they are:

1. Canon 55-250mm IS
2. Canon 10-22
3. Canon 50mm 1.8

The Canon 55-250 is the budget telephoto lens that will complement the Canon 18-55 lens nicely. You will be able to take a faraway photo with this lens with ease. It has an Image Stabilization as well just like the Canon 18-55 lens and this will really help you getting sharp pictures during handheld shooting.

If you need an ultra wide angle lens, then the Canon 10-22 lens will work wonder. This is not a cheap lens by any means but I know many photographers who swears by this lens. The sharpness and the optical perfection on this lens will make any photographers drool.

My favorite prime lens for low light situation is the Canon 50mm 1.8 lens. This is an extremely cheap lens with ultra wide aperture. With this lens, you can take pictures on dim light situation easily. Just set it to f/1.8 and you are all set. What about sharpness? For the price, this lens can easily beat the more expensive lenses priced at $1000 and above.

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“Throw in those lenses above to your lens arsenal and you can take pretty much any shots.”

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If you want to see more information on those lenses, simply click any of the link above. You will be able to see what the best price online for those lenses as well.

This ends my short commentary.

Some few last words to you: If your Canon DSLR come with the 18-55 IS lens, don’t throw it away because it is the best beginner Canon lens!

The Canon 50mm 1.2 lens is the king among all Canon 50mm prime lens. You can get this lens from Amazon. B&H Photo and Adorama also have it in stock.

This lens is the successor of the legendary Canon 50mm f/1.0L USM lens, the widest lens ever produced in the world.

In this update, Canon decided to reduce the aperture a bit probably because of cost issue.

The good news is, this lens cost much lower than the initial one. However, this is not a cheap price for many people by any means.

This lens is clearly aimed at the professional photographers. The typical use of this lens are for portraiture and low light photography.

That is not all by any means as you can definitely find more use for this lens.

Most people’s worry is the optical performance of this lens and many wonder whether it is worth it to get the f/1.2 aperture.

If you are not using this lens for professional photography, then I would suggest looking at the Canon 50mm 1.8 or Canon 50mm 1.4 lens instead. It will save you a lot of money and give you the performance that you need.

However, if you have extra cash to spend on your photography hobby or shooting professionally and consider getting this lens, then read on my Canon 50mm 1.2 review below.

Canon 50mm 1.2 Specs

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Official Name:
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Focal Length Markings:
50mm

Features:
EF – Electro Focus – Compatible with both full frame and cropped sensor DSLR camera.

L – Canon’s “L”uxury lens. The lens is a professional grade lens with superb build quality.

USM – Ultra Sonic Motor – Canon’s autofocus technology for fast and silent autofocusing mechanism.

Full Technical Specs (from Canon’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	6 / 8
Angle of View	46° (FF)
Number of Blade Diaphragm	8
Minimum Aperture	1.48ft. (0.45m)
Minimum Focusing Distance	1.48ft. (0.45m)
Filter Thread	72mm
Weight	19.2oz (545g)
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	ø3.4 x 2.6in. (ø85.4 x 65.6mm)
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.15X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama

Optical Performance

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Canon 50mm 1.2 Sharpness

This lens is very sharp on the center. The sharpness is excellent at any aperture.

Border is a bit soft at the f/1.2 and f/2, which is a bit unfortunate. At f/2.8 and above it is very sharp.

To get the maximum sharpness, shoot at f/2.8.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Center Sharpness

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Border Sharpness

Distortion

There is a very slight barrel distortion on this lens which can be ignored in most condition.

You can see the barrel distortion test below.

Canon 50mm 1.2 Distortion

Vignetting

Just as expected, vignetting is visible at the widest aperture of f/1.2. If you stop down to f/2.8, it will be completely gone.

See the full vignetting test result below.

Canon 50mm 1.2 Vignetting

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is fairly well controlled on this lens. It is low at any aperture and focal length.

See the complete chromatic aberration test table below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

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Materials

Being an L lens, the build quality of this lens is exceptional. Additionally, it has a dust and moisture proof sealing.

Focusing

The focusing ring is very smooth on this lens. This lens will remain constant during focusing.

The autofocus is fast, silent and accurate on this lens due to the USM mechanism. Full time manual focusing is also available.

The front filter does not rotate on this lens so you can use a polarizing filter with ease.

Image Stabilization

There is no Image Stabilization feature on this lens which would be unnecessary for a lens this fast.

Compatibility

Being an EF lens, this lens is compatible with cropped sensor DSLRs, full frame DSLRs such as Canon 5D Mark II and 35mm film SLR cameras.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample shots that I took using this lens. Click on any thumbnail to open the image.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama.

Conclusion

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Here is the conclusion for this Canon 50mm 1.2 lens review.

Both the aperture and the price on this lens are quite shocking needless to say.

Although the center sharpness is excellent at f/1.2, it is less so on the borders. To get a sharp border, you need to stop down to f/2.8.

Distortion and chromatic aberration is not a problem on this lens. Vignetting on the other hand, is quite visible due to the nature of the f/1.2 aperture.

Build quality on this lens is truly exceptional, typical of an L lens. USM motor also makes the autofocusing very fast, silent and accurate.

Many users might sway from this lens because of the price. If you are not shooting professionally, then this might not the lens for you.

However, if you do shoot professionally, just the presence of this lens will invite a lot of attention to you.

In some cases, I have seen that just by showing this lens, many clients will immediately sign up for a photography service.

Drawbacks

• Soft borders at f/1.2
• Visible vignetting at f/1.2
• Very expensive

Positives

• Very sharp on the center at any aperture, including f/1.2
• Sharp borders at f/2.8 and above
• Good vignetting control above f/1.2
• Barrel distortion is non-existent
• Good chromatic aberration control at any aperture
• Superb build quality, typical of an L lens
• Fast, silent and accurate USM autofocus mechanism
• Very pleasing out of focus blur (bokeh) at f/1.2

Good For

• Portraiture
• Low light photography
• Professional normal, standard lens for full frame DSLR (medium telephoto on cropped sensor)

Not So Good For

• Travel or vacation lens – heavy and will attract unwanted attention

What Others Are Saying…

by “Mark J.”

The reviews of the 50mm f/1.2L are useless. All you hear is “Spend your money on the 35L or 85L instead” or “the focusing issues make this lens unuseable”. But something makes me think that…
Click here to see the full review

by “Dong W.”

I am not a professional photographer, or make living with taking pictures. I am just a person who loves to take pictures & enjoys good pictures. And, I know how expensive this lens is, and YES, I…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Canon 50mm 1.2 lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon

B&H Photo

Adorama

See the following Canon 50mm lens review below to see more options.

• Canon 50mm 1.2
• Canon 50mm 1.8 Review
• Canon 50mm 1.4
• Canon 35mm 1.4

Thank you for reading this Canon 50mm 1.2 lens review and I hope you have found this helpful.

This Canon 35mm 1.4 lens is one step upgrade in terms of aperture from the Canon 35mm f2 lens. It was released on the late 90s. You can get this lens from Amazon. B&H Photo and Adorama also have it in stock.

Although this lens is a step update in terms of aperture, it is not a step increase in terms of price.

If you checked the price on any of those store, you might be shocked.

This is an L lens which is made from solid metal for heavy professional use.

Also, this is an EF lens which can be used for both cropped sensor and full frame DSLR camera.

The target market is definitely professional photographer here.

Does this lens perform well optically as well given the price?

Let us see it in my in-depth Canon 35mm 1.4 review below.

Canon 35mm 1.4 Specs

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Official Name:
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

Focal Length Markings:
35mm

Features:
EF – Electro Focus – Compatible with both full frame and cropped sensor DSLR camera.

L – Canon’s “L”uxury lens. The lens is a professional grade lens with superb build quality.

USM – Ultra Sonic Motor – Canon’s autofocus technology for fast and silent autofocusing mechanism.

Full Technical Specs (from Canon’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	9 / 11
Angle of View	63°
Number of Blade Diaphragm	8
Minimum Aperture	f/22
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.3m
Filter Thread	72mm
Weight	580g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	ø79 x 86mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.18X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama

Optical Performance

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Canon 35mm 1.4 Sharpness

This lens is extremely sharp on the center, even at the f/1.4 aperture which is absolutely fantastic!

Border sharpness is also superb at any aperture.

To get the maximum sharpness, shoot at f/2, just one stop above the widest aperture.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Center Sharpness

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Border Sharpness

Distortion

There is simply no visible barrel distortion on this lens. Canon really did very well on the distortion control.

You can see the distortion test below.

Canon 35mm 1.4 Distortion

Vignetting

Being an ultra fast wide angle lens, vignetting is visible at f/1.4. If you stop down to f/2.8, the vignetting will be greatly reduced to the point that it will not be noticeable.

Above f/2.8, vignetting can be ignored altogether.

See my vignetting test chart below for this lens.

Canon 35mm 1.4 Vignetting

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is very well controlled on this lens. It is very low at any aperture and can simply be ignored.

You can see the full chromatic aberration test result below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

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Materials

Being an L lens, this lens is made from solid metal and is a joy to use.

It is a bit heavy though at around 1lbs.

Focusing

The focus ring is smooth and well damped. The front element of this lens is a non-rotating one so you can use a polarizing filter easily.

Autofocusing is very fast, silent and accurate thanks to the USM feature. Unlike the older version, full time manual focusing is possible on this lens.

Image Stabilization

There is no Image Stabilization on this lens and there is no need for one given the wide aperture.

Compatibility

Being an EF lens, this lens is compatible with full frame DSLR cameras such as the Canon 5D Mark II, cropped sensor DSLR cameras or 35mm film SLR cameras.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample shots that I took using this lens. Click on any thumbnail to open the image.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

In this section, I will conclude this Canon 35mm 1.4 lens review.

Although this lens is very expensive, the optical performance and build quality really stands out.

Therefore, this lens is very worth the price.

It is very sharp even wide open at f/1.4 at any aperture both on the center and borders.

Distortion and chromatic aberration is extremely well controlled on this lens and you should not worry about them at all.

Vignetting is visible at f/1.4, which is typical for any wide angle, fast prime lens. Stopping down to f/2.8 will eliminate it totally.

In terms of build quality, it is what you should expect from an L lens. Metal construction and professional grade.

USM motor is blazingly fast and silent as well.

In conclusion, if you are shooting professionally, this is a lens that should be inside your bag.

Drawbacks

• Visible vignetting at f/1.4
• Expensive

Positives

• Very sharp on the center and border even at f/1.4
• No distortion
• No vignetting above f/1.4
• Chromatic aberration is extremely well controlled
• Superb build quality, typical of an L lens
• Fast, accurate and silent USM operation

Good For

• Low light photography
• Street photography
• Normal lens for cropped sensor DSLR
• Moderate wide angle lens for full frame DSLR
• Wedding photography
• Other professional photography use such as landscape, etc.

Not So Good For

• Walk around or vacation lens due to its weight

What Others Are Saying…

by “Hidenori Inagaki”

I have this lens for very long time, and it is still one of the most frequently used L Prime for my assignment. Indeed, this lens has been very popular among commercial photographer who are doing full body portrait…
Click here to see the full review

by “Roy”

It is as expensive as a 24-70L, and costs 4 times more than a 35/2. It is fixed length and “only” 2 stops faster. It is not noticably sharper at f4 and higher. But I find I fall in love with it…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Canon 35mm 1.4 lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon

B&H Photo

Adorama

See the following lens review below to see more options.

• Canon 35mm 1.4
• Canon 35mm f2
• Canon 50mm 1.2
• Canon 50mm 1.8 Review

Thanks for reading this Canon 35mm 1.4 lens review and I hope you have enjoyed my site.

This will be a review of the Canon 20mm 2.8 lens. You can get one from Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping), B&H Photo or Adorama.

This Canon 20mm 2.8 lens is an old lens that was released way back in 1992. It still uses Canon’s older lens design both in the optics and on the body.

Being an EF lens, it is compatible with both Canon full frame and cropped sensor DSLR camera.

Used on a cropped sensor DSLR, it has a field of view equivalent to 32mm focal length so it will not be as wide as compared to when used with a full frame camera.

Although it still uses old mechanic design, I was quite surprised with the autofocus performance. It is just as fast and silent as newer lenses with the newer USM feature.

In terms of optics, it is sharp both on the borders and on the centers. Distortion, vignetting and chromatic aberration are all well controlled.

The only downside would be the price and average build quality for the price.

If you are looking for a wide angle lens that is sharp and compatible with both full frame and cropped sensor DSLR and want to enjoy fast focus for landscape and street photography, then this is the lens to get.

To see the full Canon 28mm 2.8 review, read on.

Canon 20mm 2.8 Specs

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Official Name:
Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM

Focal Length Markings:
20mm

Features:
EF – Compatible with either a Full Frame or Cropped Sensor DSLR camera. Also compatible with film SLR camera.

Full Technical Specs (from Canon’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	9 / 11
Angle of View	94° (on Full Frame Sensor)
Number of Blade Diaphragm	5
Minimum Aperture	f/22
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.25m
Filter Thread	72mm
Weight	405g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	ø77.5 x 70.6mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.14X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Canon 20mm 2.8 Sharpness

Center sharpness is perfect at any aperture.

Border sharpness is also perfect at any aperture.

To get the maximum sharpness, shoot at f/4.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Canon 20mm f/2.8 EF USM Center Sharpness

Canon 20mm f/2.8 EF USM Border Sharpness

Distortion

Being a wide angle lens, distortion is visible in this lens.

However, it can be considered light and you should not worry about it much. See the distortion grid test below.

Canon 20mm 2.8 Distortion

Vignetting

Typical of a wide angle lens, vignetting is very pronounced at the widest aperture of f/2.8.

To reduce the vignetting significantly, stop down to f/4 or more.

See my vignetting test chart below.

Canon 20mm 2.8 Vignetting

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is very well controlled on this lens.

It is very low at any apertures. See the test result below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Materials

Good quality plastic, Made in Japan.

Focusing

Focus ring operates smoothly. This lens feature a true IF design so the length will remain constant during focusing.

Front element does not rotate so using a polarizing filter is possible.

Surprisingly, even though this is an old lens, this lens features a fast and dead silent focusing thanks to the USM motor.

This lens also includes full-time manual focusing (FTM) in one-shot AF mode.

Image Stabilization

There is no image stabilization built in this lens.

Compatibility

The EF designation menas that this lens can be used with both full frame camera such as Canon 5D Mark II, cropped sensor DSLR, or 35mm film SLR camera.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample shots that I took using this Canon 20mm 2.8 lens. Click on any thumbnail to open the image.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama.

Conclusion

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In this section, I will summarize this Canon 28mm 2.8 review.

This lens is an old lens that was released in 1992. It still uses older Canon lens design.

I can only describe this lens as an oldie, but goodie lens.

It has sharp optics and surprisingly fast autofocus mechanism. The lens features an IF design as well so it does not change dimension during autofocus.

Distortion, chromatic aberration and vignetting (except at f/2.8) are all well controlled.

The only drawback would be the average build quality for the price. Given this price, surely Canon can give more to us.

However, considering this is an old lens, the price might be considered a bargain back then when they still did not have too many options.

See my conclusion below for the summary:

Drawbacks

• Average build quality for the price
• Visible vignetting at the widest aperture of f/2.8

Positives

• Sharp on the center and borders at any aperture
• Good distortion control
• Good vignetting control (except at f/2.8)
• Superb chromatic aberration control
• Surprisingly fast autofocus for old lens

Good For

• Landscape photography
• Street photography
• Low light photography

Not So Good For

• Portrait photography

What Others Are Saying…

by “Trevis Rothwell”

I’ve used this lens both on 1.6x crop (Digital Rebel XT) and full frame (5D and EOS 3) cameras. On the 1.6x crop, the 20mm focal length looks like 32mm. I personally find that to be a wonderful focal length for general purpose use…
Click here to see the full review

by “Matt”

If there is one thing in this universe that is more rare than gold, it is a positive review of this particular lens. Now I don’t know if I just got lucky and got a good sample. But this has been a GREAT lens for me…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Canon 20mm 2.8 lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (Best price + FREE Shipping)

B&H Photo

Adorama

See the related lens review post below if you’d want to explore your options further.

• Canon 20mm 2.8
• Canon 24mm 2.8
• Canon 24mm 1.4
• Canon 28mm 2.8

Thanks for reading my Canon 20mm 2.8 review and I hope you can make a good purchasing decision based on this review.

This Canon 200mm f2.8 is one of my favorite portrait and sports lens.

You can get this lens from Amazon, where I got it. B&H Photo and Adorama also have it in stock.

This lens is actually quite an old lens. It was first released back in 1996.

You might notice the “II” mark. This simply means that this is the second version of the lens released. The first version of the lens have a built-in lens hood.

On the II version, Canon decided to replace it with a removable one.

Although this is an old lens, do not underestimate its performance.

Even when compared to today’s lens, this lens can outperform most of its competitors.

It is sharp, have superb build quality and very affordable (for an L lens).

If you are looking for an excellent portrait photography and sports photography lens, and want to spend below $1000, then this is the lens to get.

Read on to see my full review of this Canon 200mm f2.8 lens below.

Canon 200mm f2.8 Specs

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Official Name:
Canon EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM

Focal Length Markings:
200mm

Features:
EF – Electro Focus – Compatible with both full frame and cropped sensor DSLR camera.

L – Canon’s “L”uxury lens. The lens is a professional grade lens with superb build quality.

USM – Ultra Sonic Motor – Canon’s autofocus technology for fast and silent autofocusing mechanism.

Full Technical Specs (from Canon’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	7 / 9
Angle of View	12°
Number of Blade Diaphragm	8
Minimum Aperture	f/32
Minimum Focusing Distance	1.5m
Filter Thread	72mm
Weight	765g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	ø83.2 x 135.2mm)
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.16X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama

Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Canon 200mm f2.8 Sharpness

Center sharpness is excellent, at f/2.8 it is less sharp than the other apertures, but this is quite normal.

Border sharpness is also excellent. It has very similar characteristic to the center sharpness.

To get the maximum sharpness, shoot at f/4.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Canon 200mm f/2.8L EF II USM Center Sharpness

Canon 200mm f/2.8L EF II USM Border Sharpness

Distortion

Distortion is very low and can be ignored on this lens.

See the distortion test chart below.

Canon 200mm f2.8 Distortion

Vignetting

Vignetting is just slightly apparent at f/2.8. You’d have to look very closely to see it.

At other aperture it can be ignored safely. See the vignetting test chart below.

Canon 200mm f2.8 Vignetting

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is very well handled on this lens.

It is negligible at any aperture.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Canon 200mm f/2.8L EF II USM Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

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Materials

Typical of Canon “L” lens, the build quality is made of metal. It is of very high quality.

Focusing

The USM autofocus motor works very well on this lens. Autofocus is fast, silent and accurate.

Full time manual focusing is possible in one shot autofocus mode.

The focusing ring is a joy to use for manual focus as ewll.

Image Stabilization

There is no Image Stabilization feature on this lens.

Compatibility

Being an EF lens, this lens can be used with Canon cropped sensor DSLR or full frame DSLR such as Canon 5D Mark II or even 35mm film SLR camera.

This lens is also compatible with the 1.4x and 2x teleconverter.

Sample Image

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Below are some sample shots that I took using Canon 200mm f2.8 lens. Click on any thumbnail to open the image.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

The Canon 200mm f2.8 lens is both a joy to test and use.

In terms of optical performance, it is very sharp and do not have any major optical flaw. Chromatic aberration, vignetting and distortion can all be considered negligible.

The build quality is typical of a Canon L lens: superb, solid and sturdy. Handling this lens is one of my favorite thing to do.

To make things even better, I think this is one of the most affordable Canon L lens that you can buy.

All in all, I would highly recommend this lens for anyone shooting portrait or sports.

See my conclusion below for the summary:

Drawbacks

• Very slight vignetting at f/2.8
• At f/2.8 is a tad soft

Positives

• Very sharp at any aperture both on the center and on the borders
• Superb distortion control
• Negligible chromatic aberration at any aperture
• Vignetting is well controlled
• Superb build quality
• Excellent autofocus mechanism
• Excellent value for money

Good For

• Portrait photography
• Sports photography (both at daylight and night)

Not So Good For

• All around lens (200mm might be too long for general picture taking purpose)

What Others Are Saying…

by “David Indech”

The grand appeal of this prime is that offers the telephoto reach and fast f/2.8 aperture of Canon’s 70-200/2.8 professional lenses, but at far less cost and size. In practical terms, the 200/2.8 is fast enough to shoot nighttime…
Click here to see the full review

by “F. Ehorn”

Canon L lenses are known for their great optics and priceyness. This fast tele is an excellent value. Some pictures I took at the Phoenix zoo with this lens are superb. Use your tripod and get tack-sharp images…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Canon 200mm f/2.8L EF II USM from these sites (best price online):

Amazon

B&H Photo

Adorama

Thank you for reading my Canon 200mm f2.8 lens review and I hope you have enjoyed it.

This Canon 180mm Macro lens is available from Amazon. B&H Photo and Adorama also have it in stock.

This Canon 180mm Macro lens is currently Canon’s longest macro lens. It was first made in the 1996.

If you are serious about shooting macro, then this is the lens to get. It will allow you to shoot extremely small objects such as insects and will give you greater working distance due to the long focal length.

It can also be used for occasional portrait photography as well as sports photography in good lighting condition.

The optical performance of this lens is very good and the build quality is superb. Being a Canon’s “L” lens, this lens is a metal built lens that can stand serious working abuse.

The metal will make the lens heavy and I do recommend you use a tripod to minimize the shake when using the lens.

I tested the lens with my Canon EOS 7D Camera, a cropped sensor DSLR.

This lens accepts all Canon tele-converters. When used with the 1.4x teleconverters, it will result in a 252mm f/4.5 lens. When used with a 2x teleconverters, it will result in a 360mm f/7 lens. Note that the maximum object magnification will decrease when you use teleconverter on this lens.

Note that most Canon EOS camera, except the professional ones will not give you autofocus when you use the 2X teleconverter since it will exceed the required f/5.6 aperture for autofocus.

All in all, I can highly recommend this lens for any professional photographer who wants to get serious in the macro photography field.

Read on the Canon 180mm Macro lens review below to see more results from this test.

Canon 180mm Macro – Specs

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Official Name:
Canon EF 180mm f/3.5 L Macro USM

Focal Length Markings:
180mm

Features:
EF – Compatible with both full frame and cropped sensor DSLR camera.

L – Luxury – Canon’s designation for superbly built, all metal lens.

Macro – Allows shooting at extremely close distance. The magnification ratio is 1:1 with this lens.

USM – Ultra Sonic Motor – Canon’s special autofocus motor that enables fast and silent autofocusing mechanism.

Full Technical Specs (from Canon’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	12 / 14
Angle of View	13° 40′
Number of Blade Diaphragm	8
Minimum Aperture	f/32
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.48m
Filter Thread	72mm
Weight	1090g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	ø82.5 x 186.6mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	1:1
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Canon 180mm Macro Sharpness

The center sharpness is great at all aperture. There does not seem to be major differences shooting from one aperture to the next one.

For me, the maximum aperture seems to be at f/5.6.

Border sharpness is also very similar to the center sharpness performance. Below are the complete sharpness table.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Canon 180mm f/3.5L EF Macro USM Center Sharpness

Canon 180mm f/3.5L EF Macro USM Border Sharpness

Distortion

Being a macro lens, barrel distortion is completely negligible on this lens.

See my distortion test image below.

Canon 180mm Macro Distortion Test

Vignetting

Vignetting is lightly apparent on the maximum aperture f/3.5 which is very common for all lenses. At other apertures it can be safely ignored.

See my vignetting test chart below.

Canon 180mm Macro Vignetting Test

Chromatic Aberration

Tested on a cropped sensor DSLR, chromatic aberration is negligible at any aperture. You can see the result of the chromatic aberration test below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

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Materials

This is an “L” lens, meaning it is built from solid metal by Canon. This heavy and solid lens is Made in Japan.

Focusing

The focus ring is very smooth to operate. The lens features an Internal Focusing mechanism which allow the lens to keep the same dimension during focusing.

Autofocus speed is very quick because of the USM motor. If you are using the lens for non-macro course, I would recommend using the focus limiter to make the focusing even faster.

I usually shoot using manual focus for macro shot. If you are like me, you can use the pre-focusing technique before shooting.

Image Stabilization

Image Stabilization or IS is not available in this lens. Although I always use tripod when shooting macro, it would be wonderful to have it for non-macro shots.

Compatibility

Being an EF lens, this lens is compatible with both full frame camera like Canon 5D Mark II and cropped sensor DSLR camera.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample images from the Canon 180mm Macro lens. Click on any thumbnail to open the image.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are the conclusion for the Canon 180mm Macro lens review.

This Macro lens is currently Canon’s longest macro lens and offer superb built quality as well as good optical quality.

Being an old lens, this lens can still compete in today’s rapidly changing DSLR lens market.

The major downside is its expensive price and the lack of Image Stabilization. Other than those two, this is a lens that every professional macro shooter should have.

See my conclusion below for the summary:

Drawbacks

• Expensive
• No Image Stabilization
• Heavy

Positives

• Great optical quality throughout the apertures
• Excellent distortion control
• Excellent vignetting control
• Chromatic aberration is negligible
• Built like a tank from solid metal
• USM allows fast and quiet autofocusing
• Good 1:1 Macro capability

Good For

• Serious Macro photography
• Shooting very small objects such as insects
• Occasional portrait photography use

Not So Good For

• Fast moving sports photography in low light

What Others Are Saying…

by “Jesse R. Hunter”

May I introduce you to one of the least know and yet most superb lenses Canon makes. You probably even stumbled on to this page by accident, looking for another Canon lens, looking at various macros, or even just intrigued by this higher-priced lens you’ve probably never even considered…
Click here to see the full review

by “Brian Koch”

When this lens is used with a 1.6X camera body such as the XT, 20D, or 30D it ends up giving you an amazing 288mm Macro or you can go one step further with the 1.4x or 2X TC’s and make it a 403/576mm super power…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Canon 180mm Macro lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (best price + FREE shipping)

B&H Photo

Adorama

See the following related post on this site below if you need more options.

• Canon 180mm Macro
• Canon 100 Macro
• Canon 100mm Macro IS
• Canon 60mm Macro Review

Thanks for reading this Canon 180mm Macro review!

The Canon 100mm Macro IS lens is a very welcome update to the already excellent Canon 100mm Macro lens. You can get this lens from Amazon. B&H Photo and Adorama also have it in stock.

This lens provides the two elements that are missing from the previous model: Solid build quality and Image Stabilization.

Canon throws in the L label on this lens and the build quality is simply superb. In addition, the Image Stabilization works well. I was able to get up to 3 to 4 extra f-stops with it.

The only catch here is the price. At around $999, it is significantly more expensive when compared to the older version.

I really think Canon updated this lens for specific photographers in mind: Macro photographers who often shoot portrait and sports. Both the IS and better build quality will surely appeal to those group.

If you only shoot macro and rarely shoot portrait and sports, you can save money by getting the Canon 100mm Macro instead.

You can read on my full Canon 100mm Macro IS review below to see if this is the right lens for you.

Canon 100mm Macro IS Specs

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Official Name:
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM

Focal Length Markings:
100mm

Features:
EF – Electro Focus – Compatible with both full frame and cropped sensor DSLR camera.

L – Canon’s “L”uxury lens. The lens is a professional grade lens with superb build quality.

IS – Image Stabilization – Technology to reduce bulrriness caused by unsteady hands.

USM – Ultra Sonic Motor – Canon’s autofocus technology for fast and silent autofocusing mechanism.

Full Technical Specs (from Canon’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	12 / 15
Angle of View	24°
Number of Blade Diaphragm	9
Minimum Aperture	f/32
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.3m
Filter Thread	67mm
Weight	625g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	ø77.7 x 123mm)
Macro Magnification Ratio	1:1
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Canon 100mm Macro IS Sharpness

Center sharpness is excellent at any aperture, including the widest one (f/2.8).

Border sharpness is also very sharp at any aperture.

To get the maximum sharpness, shoot at f/5.6 on this Canon 100mm Macro IS lens.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Center Sharpness

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Border Sharpness

Distortion

Since this is a macro lens, distortion can be completely neglected.

You will not be able to see it on this lens. See the distortion grid test result below.

Canon 100mm Macro IS Distortion

Vignetting

Vignetting is just slightly visible (barely noticeable) at f/2.8. Stop down to f/4 and it will disappear.

See my vignetting test chart below.

Canon 100mm Macro IS Vignetting

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is very low at all apertures on this lens. It can safely be ignored at any apertures.

See the chromatic aberration test result below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Materials

Superb high quality plastics with metal mount. The “L” designation speaks for itself.

Focusing

The focus ring is smooth and easy to operate. This lens features an IF (Internal Focusing) mechanism so the lens dimension does not change during focusing.

The USM (UltraSonic Motor) is very fast, accurate and silent. Canon also provides a three step focus limiter to even make the autofocus faster when shooting non-macro.

Although all these features are great, I still do manual focusing whenever shooting macro. Some people, especially the one who use this lens for portrait or sports photography will find those features helpful.

Image Stabilization

The Image Stabilization works well on this lens. I was able to get 3 to 4 extra f-stops from using the IS.

Compatibility

This is an EF lens which means you can use it for both cropped sensor (APS-C) DSLR camera and full frame DSLR camera such as Canon 5D Mark II. It is also compatible with 35mm film SLR cameras.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample shots that I took using this lens. Click on any thumbnail to open the image.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

The Canon 100mm Macro IS is simply a good update from the already excellent Canon 100mm Macro lens.

In terms of optical quality, it performs almost identical to the Canon 100mm Macro lens.

It is sharp both on the center and on the borders, have excellent distortion, chromatic aberration and vignetting control.

The extra comes in the build quality and image stabilization.

The build quality is simply superb, typical of a Canon L lens. The Image Stabilization is also excellent which offers up to 3 to 4 stops.

I really think Canon is making this lens for Macro users that shoot portrait or sports frequently. The addition of a better build quality and an Image Stabilization will surely satisfy those crowd.

Drawbacks

• More expensive than previous model

Positives

• Superb optical quality – very sharp on the center and borders
• Excellent distortion control
• Good vignetting control
• Very low chromatic aberration at any aperture
• Solid build quality, trademark of an L lens
• Fast, silent and accurate autofocus
• Good Image Stabilization performance

Good For

• Macro photographers who often shoot sports and portrait photography

Not So Good For

• Photographers that only shoot macro – the old Canon 100mm Macro lens will be a better option

What Others Are Saying…

by “Katherine”

I hardly ever write reviews but I felt that I really needed to write a quick note about how amazing this macro lens is. I used to be a Nikon gal until I sold my D300 for the Canon 7D. I also gave up my beloved…
Click here to see the full review

by “Electronics Kids”

I wasn’t certain this lens would be a good value or choice for an APS-C camera. Having recently purchased a 7D, I felt the focal length might be too long, but didn’t want the EF-S 60mm macro, when I expect…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Canon 100mm Macro IS from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping)

B&H Photo

Adorama

To see more related lens review, check out the post below.

• Canon 100mm Macro IS
• Canon 100mm Macro
• Canon 180mm Macro
• Canon 50mm Macro

Thank you for reading this Canon 100mm Macro IS review and I hope you find this post helpful.

This Canon 100 Macro is simply an excellent lens that I have ever tested. You can get this sharp, fast focusing and cheap lens at Amazon. B&H Photo and Adorama also have it in stock.

This lens is very sharp both on the center and on the borders. All other optical defects are kept to a minimum on this lens.

Distortion and chromatic aberration can be completely ignored. Vignetting is only slightly visible at f/2.8, but at other aperture it is not visible.

What really impresses me the most is the build quality.

This lens features an IF (Internal Focusing) mechanism which means it will retain the same dimension during focusing. This kind of feature is very rare seen implemented at a macro lens and is certainly welcomed by many photographers.

The autofocusing mechanism is extremely fast and accurate as well, thanks to the addition to the USM motor.

On top of all that, this lens is priced very moderately below $599 USD.

Overall, I find it very hard to find any flaws on this lens. This lens can simply be the ideal lens for macro, portraiture and sports photography altogether in one package.

If you plan to get excellent results for those kind of photography, I would recommend this lens in a heartbeat.

Read on my complete Canon 100 Macro review below to learn more about this lens.

Canon 100 Macro Specs

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Official Name:
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

Focal Length Markings:
100mm

Features:
EF – Electro Focus – Compatible with both full frame and cropped sensor DSLR camera.

Macro – A special lens that allows you to focus closer for close up photography. This lens has 1:1 magnification ratio.

USM – Ultra Sonic Motor – Canon’s autofocus technology for fast and silent autofocusing mechanism.

Full Technical Specs (from Canon’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	8 / 12
Angle of View	24°
Number of Blade Diaphragm	8
Minimum Aperture	f/32
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.31m
Filter Thread	58mm
Weight	600g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	ø79 x 119mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	1.00X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Canon 100 Macro Sharpness

Center sharpness is excellent at any aperture, including at f/2.8.

Border sharpness is also excellent at any aperture, complementing the center nicely.

To get the maximum sharpness, shoot at f/4.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Center Sharpness

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Border Sharpness

Distortion

Being a macro lens, distortion is negligible on this Canon 100 Macro lens.

You can see the result below.

Canon 100 Macro Distortion

Vignetting

Vignetting is slightly visible at f/2.8 which is the widest aperture.

Stop down to f/4 to reduce the vignetting significantly. Beyond this aperture, vignetting is non-existent.

See my vignetting test chart below.

Canon 100 Macro Vignetting

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is extremely well controlled on this lens. It is not visible at any aperture and can safely be ignored.

See the chromatic aberration test result below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Materials

High quality plastics with metal mounts.

Focusing

The focusing features on this lens is really amazing. First of all this lens has the IF mechanism (Internal Focus) which means it will not change dimension during focusing.

This is extremely rare for a macro lens.

The autofocus speed is blazingly fast and silent due to the USM motor. Canon did not stop here, however. They installed the focus limiter to prevent focus hunting when you are shooting non-macro shots. This is extremely helpful for sports photography.

The focusing ring is very smooth to operate and this is a true macro lens with 1:1 macro magnification ratio.

Image Stabilization

There is no Image Stabilization feature on this lens.

Compatibility

The EF designation means that this lens can be used with both cropped sensor and full frame DSLR such as Canon 5D Mark II. It is also compatible with 35mm film SLR camera.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample shots that I took using this Canon 100 Macro lens. Click on any thumbnail to open the image.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Here I will conclude this Canon 100 Macro lens review.

It is very difficult to find bad things about this lens because it is such an excellent one.

In term of sharpness, this lens is extremely sharp both on the borders and on the center at any aperture.

All the optical defects are kept to a very minimum degree. Distortion and chromatic aberration can be completely ignored.

Vignetting on the other hand, is slightly apparent at f/2.8 (which is typical). Stopping down to f/4 will eliminate it completely.

In terms of build quality, this lens is pretty decent. Although not an L lens, the build quality is good enough for most photographers.

Autofocusing is an aspect that really stands out from this lens. The USM motor is blazingly fast and accurate.

Canon was also being thoughtful by installing a focus limiter switch on this lens which makes this lens a joy to use for sports photography as well.

In conclusion, for the price, you really cannot go wrong with this lens.

Highly recommended.

Drawbacks

• Slightly visible vignetting at f/2.8 – stop down to f/4 to eliminate it completely
• No Image Stabilization

Positives

• Super sharp optics – excellent sharpness both on the center and borders
• Excellent distortion control
• Superb chromatic aberration control
• Great vignetting control (except at f/2.8)
• Good build quality
• Excellent value for money

Good For

• All around macro photography lens
• Portrait lens
• Sports photography

Not So Good For

• Shooting in extreme weather – this is where the L and IS version of this lens comes in (will be reviewed soon on this site)

What Others Are Saying…

by “Scott Burgess”

An excellent lens for the budding nature photographer! Prospective buyers of a macro lens for a Canon EOS system have a great first choice in this 100mm Macro. The extra length over a 50mm macro gives much better working distance (space between lens and subject) in the field…
Click here to see the full review

by “G. Clark”

Sharp, versatile and a bargain! The 100 f/2.8 macro is very sharp, even for general shooting, so it works great for portraits, too. When I’m not using a zoom, this is my walkaround lens for people, relatively tight scenes and even indoor sports…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Canon 100 Macro from these sites (best price online):

Amazon

B&H Photo

Adorama

See the related lens review post below to see more Canon macro lens options.

• Canon 100 Macro
• Canon 100mm Macro IS
• Canon 60mm Macro
• Canon 180mm Macro

Thank you for reading my Canon 100 Macro lens review and I hope you’ve found this post helpful.

This will be my review on the Canon TS-E 90mm lens. You can get this lens from Amazon, B&H Photo or Adorama.

The TS-E stands for Tilt Shift lens. If you don’t know what a Tilt-Shift lens is, it is basically a lens that allows you to control perspective distortion (the converging effect that you get when you shoot tall building from below).

They do it by shifting the optical path off its horizontal axis.

Now, most people will wonder why you would want to have such lens. Most will argue that you can fix the distortion in Photoshop.

They may be right, but you will lose image quality when you do that.

In addition, there is another thing why you might get this lens for landscape photography. You can get deeper depth of field with LARGER aperture.

Yes, this lens also allows you to control the amount of depth of field as well.

If you see the price, you’ll notice that this is not the lens for everyone. If you are a photographer newbie, then I would advise against getting this lens.

However, if you are shooting professional architecture or landscape photography, then this is an absolute lens to get.

See the full Canon TS-E 90mm review below.

Canon TS-E 90mm Specs

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Official Name:
Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8

Focal Length Markings:
90mm

Features:
TS-E – This is a special lens used for professional architecture photography. The lens features a tilting mechanism for controlling perspective distortion and depth of field.

EF – Compatible with both Canon cropped sensor camera and full frame DSLR camera.

Full Technical Specs (from Canon’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	5 / 6
Angle of View	27°
Number of Blade Diaphragm	8
Minimum Aperture	f/32
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.5m
Filter Thread	58mm
Weight	565g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	ø73.6 x 88mm
Macro Magnification Ratio	0.29X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Canon TS-E 90mm Sharpness

Being a professional lens, center sharpness is superb at any aperture. Just like the center sharpness, border sharpness is superb as well at any aperture.

To get the maximum sharpness, shoot at f/4.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8 Center Sharpness

Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8 Border Sharpness

Distortion

Being a TS-E lens, you can expect this lens to have 0 distortion.

Well, this is supposed to be a lens that control distortion, so it is normal here

See the distortion grid test below.

Canon TS-E 90mm Distortion

Vignetting

Vignetting is non-existent at any aperture. Considering the price you pay for this lens, this is well deserved.

See the vignetting test chart below.

Canon TS-E 90mm Vignetting

Chromatic Aberration

As expected, this lens has negligible chromatic aberration at any aperture.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Canon TS-E 90mm f/2.8 Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Materials

Made of superb quality metal. Made in Japan.

Focusing

The focus ring operates smoothly. The lens will extend when you focus on closer distances.

Note that this is a special TS-E lens which means you will NOT get the autofocus feature.

Image Stabilization

There is no Image Stabilization feature on this lens.

Compatibility

Being an EF lens, this lens is compatible with both Canon cropped sensor and full frame DSLR camera such as Canon 5D Mark II or 35mm film SLR camera.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample shots that I took using this lens. Click on any thumbnail to open the image.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Here is the conclusion for this Canon TS-E 90mm lens.

Given the price, this lens gives the absolutely perfect performance.

In terms of optical performance, it is perfect. It is very sharp both on the center and borders, have 0 distortion and perfect chromatic aberration as well as vignetting control.

In terms of build quality, it is super solid. It is made of metal and will stand the test of time and professional use.

Note that this is a TS-E lens which means it will not autofocus with any camera.

I would not recommend this lens if you are new to photography. This is because this lens is geared towards specific photography crowd and you really need to know how you will use this lens before purchasing one.

If you are a professional architecture photographer, you will want to have this lens in your bag.

See my conclusion below for the summary:

Drawbacks

• Expensive. However, given the performance, the price is justified.

Positives

• Excellent optical quality. Sharp on the center and borders.
• Perfect distortion control
• Excellent vignetting control
• Chromatic aberration is non-existent
• Superb and solid build quality

Good For

• Professional architecture photography
• Professional landscape photography

Not So Good For

• Anything other than the above

What Others Are Saying…

by “ShutterFlash”

This lens is a macro, a short telephoto, a portrait lens, and a landscape lens that offers new creative possibilities. Because depth of field can be manipulated as in a view camera, this is proving to be my most versatile lens in my bag, in spite of the fact it is “just” a 90mm prime lens…
Click here to see the full review

by “AV Rob”

I also own the newer Canon 24mm 3.5L mark II tilt shift so I wasn’t sure if I’d be happy with this earlier version of a Canon tilt/shift but I wanted to add tilt/shift capabilities in a 90mm. After using it for a few weeks, I must say it is a very impressive lens. While this one does not sport the “L” designation…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Canon TS-E lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon

B&H Photo

Adorama

See the following related lens review below as well if you want to see more options.

• Canon TS-E 90mm
• Canon TS-E 24mm
• Canon 180mm Macro
• Canon 20mm 2.8

Thanks for reading my Canon TS-E 90mm lens review and I hope this helps you in making a correct purchasing decision.

The Canon 60mm Macro is quite a recent addition to the Canon Macro lens lineup. You can consider this as an upgrade from the Canon 50mm Macro lens.

You can get this lens from Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping). B&H Photo and Adorama also have it in stock.

There are quite a few things that are different than the 50mm Macro.

First is the EF-S designation. This lens is only compatible with the cropped sensor DSLR camera (unlike the 50mm which is compatible with both full frame and cropped sensor DSLR).

This is not necessarily a bad thing because Canon would be able to improve upon the optical performance and mechanical performance at the same time without inflating the price.

And that is precisely what they did.

In terms of optical performance, this lens is very sharp on the center and on the borders. All optical defects are minimum and can be ignored.

In addition, they installed the USM mechanism which makes this the fastest autofocusing macro lens that I have ever tested to date.

If you are not a professional macro shooter, want to explore more about macro photography and want to have a sharp portrait lens, then I would recommend you go for this Canon 60mm Macro lens.

Given the combination of optical clarity, solid build and reasonable price, it is very hard to find a reason why you should not get this lens.

Read on my Canon 60mm Macro review below to learn more about this lens.

Canon 60mm Macro Specs

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Official Name:
Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM

Focal Length Markings:
60mm

Features:
EF-S – Electro Focus, Short Back Focus – Only compatible with Canon cropped sensor DSLR camera.

Macro – A special lens that allows you to focus closer for close up photography. It has 1:1 magnification ratio.

USM – Ultra Sonic Motor – Canon’s autofocus technology for fast and silent autofocusing mechanism.

Full Technical Specs (from Canon’s website):

Technical Specifications
Groups / Elements	8 / 12
Angle of View	24° 30′
Number of Blade Diaphragm	7
Minimum Aperture	f/32
Minimum Focusing Distance	0.20m
Filter Thread	52mm
Weight	335g
Dimension (Diameter x Length)	ø73 x 69.8mm)
Macro Magnification Ratio	1.0X
Available at	Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama

Optical Performance

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Canon 60mm Macro Sharpness

Center sharpness is excellent at any aperture, including f/2.8.

Border sharpness also follows the center sharpness characteristics. It is very sharp at any aperture.

To get the maximum sharpness on this Canon 60mm Macro lens, shoot at f/4.

Sharpness Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Excellent
(4) Great
(3) Good
(2) Fair
(1) Poor

Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Center Sharpness

Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Border Sharpness

Distortion

Since this is a macro lens, distortion is kept to a minimum. You can safely ignore the distortion on this lens.

See my distortion test result below.

Canon 60mm Macro Distortion

Vignetting

Being an EF-S lens, vignetting is a bit heavy on the widest aperture of f/2.8. Stop downt to f/4 to dramatically reduce the vignetting.

See my vignetting test chart below.

Canon 60mm Macro Vignetting

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic aberration is very well handled on this lens. You can safely ignore it at any aperture.

See the chromatic aberration test result below.

Chromatic Aberration Scale (from Best to Worst):
(5) Negligible
(4) Very Low
(3) Low
(2) High
(1) Very High

Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Chromatic Aberration

Build Quality

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Materials

Good quality plastic with metal mount. Made in Japan.

Focusing

This lens has a true Internal Focus mechanism which keeps the lens dimension constant during focusing.

In addition, the front element does not rotate so using a polarizing filter is not a problem.

Autofocus speed is unusually fast for a macro lens, thanks to the USM motor. Full time manual focus override is also possible in single AF mode.

The focus ring tested was smooth and responsive.

Image Stabilization

There is no IS (Image Stabilization) feature on this lens.

Compatibility

The EF-S designation means that this lens is only compatible with cropped sensor or APS-C Canon DSLR camera. It is not compatible with Canon full frame DSLR such as Canon 5D Mark II or Canon 35mm film SLR camera.

Sample Image

Back to: Menu • Introduction

Below are some sample shots that I took using this Canon 60mm Macro lens. Click on any thumbnail to open the image.

Get the best price online from these sites: Amazon, B&H Photo, Adorama.

Conclusion

Back to: Menu • Introduction

This Canon 60mm Macro is surely a pleasant upgrade from the Canon 50mm Macro.

Canon has been able to keep the optical quality very good and added some elements that are missing from the 50mm Macro lens.

The autofocus is very fast, thanks to the addition of a USM motor. The focusing ring is a joy to use and the length of this lens does not change during focusing (due to the nice IF design).

In terms of optical performance, this lens is very sharp both on the center and on the borders. Distortion and chromatic aberration can be ignored.

The only downside is the visible vignetting at f/2.8. Other than this aperture, vignetting can be ignored.

If you are looking for a fast focusing macro lens that that can also act as an excellent portrait lens for your cropped sensor DSLR, I would highly recommend this lens to you.

You will get super sharp glass with excellent mechanics at a fair price.

Drawbacks

• Visible vignetting at f/2.8

Positives

• Very sharp on the center and borders at any aperture
• Excellent distortion control
• Good vignetting control (except at f/2.8)
• Superb chromatic aberration control
• Good build quality
• Very fast autofocus thanks to the USM
• IF feature keeps the lens dimension constant during focusing
• True 1:1 macro lens

Good For

• Macro shooter who are using cropped sensor DSLR
• General purpose macro photography
• Portrait photography
• Moderate use for sports photography

Not So Good For

• Shooting very far object or extremely small ones – 60mm might not be far enough

What Others Are Saying…

by “Brian Koch”

This was one of the first lenses that I purchased with my Rebel XT. Now after taking several thousand pictures with it I can honestly say it was well worth the cost. I very rarely have any unsharp pictures with this lens…
Click here to see the full review

by “R.W Patton”

I once thought that macro lenses were too specialized and that I would seldom need something so fine that I could photograph the segments in an insect’s eye. That was until I bought this lens…
Click here to see the full review

Where to Buy

Support this site, buy the Canon 60mm Macro lens from these sites (best price online):

Amazon (Best Price + FREE Shipping)

B&H Photo

Adorama

Be sure to also check out the related post below to see more macro lens options.

• Canon 60mm Macro
• Canon 50mm Macro
• Canon 100mm Macro
• Canon 100mm Macro IS

Thanks for reading my Canon 60mm Macro review and I hope this review has helped you in your buying decision.