100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

FM Forum Rules
Canon SLRs, primes, and zooms lenses reviews

FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell	Search Used
1 2 3 end

Archive 2009 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

digitalbug30d
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.3 #1 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

BennyR wrote:
There's such a price difference between it and the L version that I would think (hope) it would stay but who knows. Bean counters do strange things.
dont think they would discountinue the old one...they still have four versions of the 70-200Ls

Nov 21, 2009 at 06:43 AM

retrofocus
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #2 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

n0b0 wrote:
That theory only works if there's no 3rd party competitors but that's not the case here. Tamron 90mm and Sigma 105mm macro both have a great reputation and they're considerably cheaper than Canon non IS 100mm macro. What do you think people are going to buy if they don't want to spend the money on the 100L and the 100 non-IS is discontinued ?

Yes, there are very good 100 mm macro lenses out there from 3rd party producers. But Canon has this competition calculated in anyway. Focusing on a high-level 100 mm macro L lens leaves a gap to those 3rd party lenses. In fact this is another argument why Canon might get rid of the 100 mm EF macro lens, too. Canon might not really care in the future for customers who only want to spend a couple of hundred bucks for a decent macro lens. Canon is after those customers who are willing to pay for the name "Canon" and for the presumably highest quality of a 100 mm macro lens offered in the lens market which fits to a Canon camera.

Nov 21, 2009 at 11:01 AM

Jman13
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.3 #3 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

Don't think Canon is discontinuing this. When the 100L was announced, DPReview stated "The Canon EF 100mm F2.8L IS USM macro will supplement, rather than replace the existing 100mm F2.8 USM macro."

Canon's own press release says essentially that the 100 non L will stay: "Sitting ahead of the EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro, within the range, the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM supports a full range of accessories"

Nov 21, 2009 at 12:49 PM

n0b0
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #4 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

retrofocus wrote:
Yes, there are very good 100 mm macro lenses out there from 3rd party producers. But Canon has this competition calculated in anyway. Focusing on a high-level 100 mm macro L lens leaves a gap to those 3rd party lenses. In fact this is another argument why Canon might get rid of the 100 mm EF macro lens, too. Canon might not really care in the future for customers who only want to spend a couple of hundred bucks for a decent macro lens. Canon is after those customers who are willing to pay for the name "Canon" and for the presumably highest quality of a 100 mm macro lens offered in the lens market which fits to a Canon camera.

Mate, I'm pretty sure Canon makes more money from their low end gear than they do from their highend ones. I think last year the XSi was the top selling DSLR in Japan, and what kind of lenses do you think most of the buyers would get to use with that XSi? Not the Ls that's for sure.

The same applies here. I'm willing to take a punt that the classic 100 macro is still selling more than the 100L and if Canon discontinue it, they'd just be shooting themselves in the foot.

Decent macro lens? You can't possibly mean the IQ because this is MACRO LENSES we're talking about here. The IQ they produce are generally excellent already.

What is this "high level" 100L you're talking about? Apart from possibly the IS, there's nothing this lens can do that will take your macro or other possible use to the next level. Faster AF? How much faster do you need it to be to shoot macro or even portrait? 9 blade aperture? Tamron's got it, not that it matters since you can barely tell the difference between the bokeh of the 100L to the classic 100. Weather sealing? inconsequential.

Nov 21, 2009 at 01:18 PM

retrofocus
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #5 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

n0b0 wrote:
Mate, I'm pretty sure Canon makes more money from their low end gear than they do from their highend ones. I think last year the XSi was the top selling DSLR in Japan, and what kind of lenses do you think most of the buyers would get to use with that XSi? Not the Ls that's for sure.

Would be interesting to see real numbers here. This can be discussed endless otherwise. BTW - I bought my first L lenses when I still had only my XT camera.

The same applies here. I'm willing to take a punt that the classic 100 macro is still selling more than the 100L and if Canon discontinue it, they'd just be shooting themselves in the foot.

Possible. But maybe also competition from 3rd party suppliers is too strong for Canon to get enough profit margin from selling the classic 100 macro lens.

Decent macro lens? You can't possibly mean the IQ because this is MACRO LENSES we're talking about here. The IQ they produce are generally excellent already.

What is this "high level" 100L you're talking about? Apart from possibly the IS, there's nothing this lens can do that will take your macro or other possible use to the next level. Faster AF? How much faster do you need it to be to shoot macro or even portrait? 9 blade aperture? Tamron's got it, not that it matters since you can barely tell the difference between the bokeh of the 100L to the classic 100. Weather sealing? inconsequential.

As stated above in my earlier post here, I don't believe that the new 100 macro lens version is advantageous for me. But some people might consider this lens for its IS capability especially. As you mentioned above, I am also using the MP-E 65 lens often handheld, so I am very used to do macro without IS.

The overall point is more that people might be lead to buy the more expensive lens version if this is the only one offered by Canon in the 100 mm range. It will be very profitable for Canon - as long as they don't sell the old 100 mm macro lens in much higher quantities. But if they really decide to discontinue the old lens version, they surely will have thought about if this is a profitable move.

Nov 21, 2009 at 02:01 PM

cameron12x
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #6 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

I sold my classic 100mm f/2.8 macro in order to help fund the purchase of the L release. I loved the old lens, but the stabilization is the game-breaker for me. Either you "get the shot," or you don't.

Having said that, I think the old lens is perfectly fine, and I don't think that Canon should discontinue it. They can certainly still sell it.

Nov 21, 2009 at 02:15 PM

n0b0
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #7 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

retrofocus wrote:BTW - I bought my first L lenses when I still had only my XT camera.

I'm still shooting with my XSi and I have a couple of Ls. That said, I only bought them after I decided to get serious about this hobby. I know quite a few people whom are happy with superzooms and other non professional lenses.

It also doesn't mean that these Ls were my first choice. For example, the 100-400L. Before I bought it, I had a look at the Sigma equivalent first since they have quite a few like the 50-500, 150-500, etc. I only bought the 100-400L after weighing the pros and cons against the alternative. If I had found the Sigma to be sufficient for me, I would've bought that one instead.

Possible. But maybe also competition from 3rd party suppliers is too strong for Canon to get enough profit margin from selling the classic 100 macro lens.

Believe me, if Canon didn't think the 100 classic is worth selling, it would've been discontinued a long time ago or at least at the same time the 100L was announced.

The overall point is more that people might be lead to buy the more expensive lens version if this is the only one offered by Canon in the 100 mm range.

This goes back to my original point. Canon can't dictate consumer's spending as long as there are competitions. Tamron 90 and Sigma 105 doesn't compete with 100L, they compete with the 100 classic. If people can't afford or simply don't want to buy the 100L they will look at the 100 classic, but if it's discontinued they will simply buy the alternatives. Canon can't make them buy the 100L just because the 100 classic is discontinued.

Nov 21, 2009 at 02:43 PM

M Vers
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #8 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

n0b0 wrote:
M Vers wrote:
That's not true at all. As I noted earlier in the thread Nikon has done it with the 105.

Well maybe Nikon simply can't support the production of both lenses with their much smaller DSLR market share. Or maybe that kind of decision simply shows why Canon is the more successful company.

A lot of 'maybes' there, n0b0

retrofocus wrote:
Possible. But maybe also competition from 3rd party suppliers is too strong for Canon to get enough profit margin from selling the classic 100 macro lens.

Good point and I'd agree it is very possible. From what I understand retooling for a new lens batch is an expensive and time consuming process. IF Canon isn't making quota on the 100 macro (due to outside competition) it would cut its cost all together and offer a product in it's place that the competition doesn't offer (i.e. IS/VR) at a higher price. All macro lenses are sharp so offering similar products as third party competitors (some being better) will take a toll on sales. Wish we had numbers on this so it wasn't so speculative

Nov 21, 2009 at 04:06 PM

M Vers
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #9 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

Jman13 wrote:
Don't think Canon is discontinuing this. When the 100L was announced, DPReview stated "The Canon EF 100mm F2.8L IS USM macro will supplement, rather than replace the existing 100mm F2.8 USM macro."

Canon's own press release says essentially that the 100 non L will stay: "Sitting ahead of the EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro, within the range, the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM supports a full range of accessories"

Interesting finds, Jordan. I wonder if Canon made that statement as to not giveaway what they had planned for the non-IS version and DPR may have read the same line and assumed the same thing you did (?)

Nov 21, 2009 at 04:33 PM

TBannor
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.3 #10 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

It's still on Canon USA's website. I don't think it's going anywhere:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=155

Nov 21, 2009 at 11:01 PM

alexandre
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.3 #11 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

For me this is nonsense.
It won't be anymore if they discontinue both the 70-200's at the same time.

Nov 22, 2009 at 02:45 AM

n0b0
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.3 #12 · 100/2.8 Macro...Discontinued?

M Vers wrote:
A lot of 'maybes' there, n0b0

Well, if you know more than I do, feel free to prove me wrong.

Nov 22, 2009 at 03:07 AM

1 2 3 end
FM Forums \| Canon-mount SLRs \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 end