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snowblind-2
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Registered: Apr 22, 2019
Location: United States
Posts: 258
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Review Date: Jun 25, 2019
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,000.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Super sharp. Excellent contrast. Well built. Stops down to f32. 1x1 at a distance allows greater depth of field. Minimal distortion.
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Cons:
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Slow autofocus. Stock tripod ring. Size and weight when hiking.
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This is one of Canon's sharpest lenses. Beyond the sharpness it also offers excellent contrast and color saturation. Overall image quality is superior to the 70-200/f2.8II.
The 180mm length provides a big advantage over Canon's 100mm and 65mm macros in that it achieves max magnification at a much greater distance. This increase in focus distance allows for more depth of field AND increased background blur at the same time. A minimum aperture of f32 ensures the maximum depth of field possible.
The only real negative is the crappy Canon tripod collar. I added a Kirk-CRC1 tripod collar for much improved usability.
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 Jun 25, 2019
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hdm1990
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Registered: Mar 6, 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 46
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Review Date: Apr 22, 2014
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Very nice Image quality and colors.Great construction.
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Cons:
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none
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The colors and image quality you get from this lens are amazing. IQ wise it's the best lens I have. Bokeh is amazing on it too! Easy to do macro on insects that I don't want to get really close to. Overall a great lens. I have used it to take pictures of people, but the IQ is so good you can see every imperfection on the skin. The AF is quick if you use the distance switch. Makes a BIG difference. Construction wise its very sturdy and well built. Its a bit heavy but that is not a problem. GREAT lens and totally worth it.
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Apr 22, 2014
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ac427
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Registered: Jan 4, 2006
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 21
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Review Date: May 1, 2013
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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A great lens. excellent quality, even the AF is quick.
The telephoto aspet is a bonus too.
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Cons:
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Only the cost but it is really worth it
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I just got this and i am still experimenting but it is great.
Some people mentioned the weight of the lens but it is not that bad. If you can handle a EF70-200L IS you will have no problem. Anyway this is a macro lens so a tripod is in order.
Really high quality images and the extra working distance of the Tamron 90mm Di Macro i have is a real bonus.
You will need a 72c adaptor ring to use the MT-24EX it was £30 here in the UK so probabaly only $30 in America ;-)
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May 1, 2013
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KKFung
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Registered: Dec 19, 2008
Location: China
Posts: 1559
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Review Date: Nov 22, 2010
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Super sharp and details, good color, perfect PQ
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Cons:
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Cannot use this lens for taking protrait especially girls/women from 16 and up :-) because the PQ is really too sharp and details to show you everything!
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Found the boken is also amazing when compare to other macro lens.
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Nov 22, 2010
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bateleur
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Registered: Nov 25, 2003
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 409
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Review Date: Jul 12, 2010
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp wide open from corner to corner, Stopped down even sharper, lovely bokeh, blurred background, build like a tank, tripod ring included
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Cons:
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Weight, price, (no IS...?)
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This is a very, very good lens! It is one of the best lenses I ever owned. As a macro lens it produces stunning blurred backgrounds. It is very sharp from corner to corner wide open provided your subject is perfectly flat and parallel to the sensor. Stopped down it is as sharp as one can get, amazing!
It is also a very fine telelens, it is sharper than my 70-200 4.0L IS at 200mm esp. towards the corners.
This copy is the second one I own, I sold the first one a few years ago because it wasn't used that much that time and the AF was terrible slow. Looking back at the pictures I made with this lens I realized it was a mistake to sell the lens.
The new one is produced november 2009 so it is quite new, I don't know what Canon has done with this lens or the latest DSLR's but this copy is focussing as fast as all my other L lenses when used with the AF limiter set at 1.5m to infinity. Setting AF to full range, focussing at short distances, it is focussing a bit slower but AF is dead on (used with 550D and 5DmkII) Still this new copy is much, much faster than the old one.
This is a keeper for me and I will use it as a mediate tele lens as well.
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Jul 12, 2010
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nickjohnson
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Registered: Sep 15, 2009
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1856
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Review Date: Sep 19, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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the best IQ of all my lenses, bomb proof build.
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Cons:
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a bit heavy.
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Common to all reports
This is my attempt to give something back to the forum members who have provided this wonderful resource. I found much here that helped with my lens selection. So over the last 1 to 2 years here is what I used – all on a pair of 5D bodies. (My comments will be subjective and personal. I will try to avoid saying anything that cannot be read in the spec sheets).
17-40 L
24-105 L IS
70-200 f4 L IS
180 L Macro
400 f5.6 L
50 f1.8 mkII
Sigma 50 f2.8 Macro EX
180 L Macro
Comment
It will take me years to explore all that this wonderful lens is capable of. It takes my photography places I never dreamed of.
Used on a tripod for indoor flower shots - stack focus. Used on a monopod for outdoor flower and plant shots – also stack focus. The results exactly mirror the quality of my input – the lens always delivers If I let it!
IQ is the best of all my lenses – fabulous! A tip for anyone who feels that their copy may not be sharp – just take some normal telephoto shots – stuff where the limited DOF of macro will not get in the way.
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Sep 19, 2009
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Cesar
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Registered: Oct 18, 2006
Location: Portugal
Posts: 0
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Review Date: Sep 17, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp Sharp Sharp color contrast, my best prime
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Cons:
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nop
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This is my best prime, is fast Af but to macro is not important.
I really recomend this.
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Sep 17, 2009
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akilah
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Registered: Aug 27, 2008
Location: United States
Posts: 162
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Review Date: Apr 5, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,300.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharpness, detail, color -- why you buy a DSLR in the first place
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Cons:
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Weight, cost, slow AF
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At some point I'll post my photos from this lens as words can't describe the exciting quality it delivers. I have the 100mm f2.8 macro, which is a sharp, fun lens and great value. The 180mm macro blows way past that -- the ability to move back from the subject and still frame it well is great, and the results can be spectacular.
The biggest problems with the lens really are in its use: shooting macro close in with f3.5 produces a razor-thin area of focus, so depth of field is often too small to be usable. You must move out to f11 or so, in which case you have less light, a longer exposure and more chance of movement (you or your subject) blurring the shot.
That is a wonderful problem to have. It means you can find exactly what you want. Your limiting factor is your camera and your patience in using a tripod, flash and/or reflector to set up the shot. You get it right, and the lens delivers.
If you are "point-and-shoot", if the words "creamy bokeh" don't get you excited, if you don't really care about ultimate IQ then this lens is too expensive and too much work for you. The rest of you though know what I'm talking about, this lens will blow your mind. If you liked the 100mm, then you will love the 180mm.
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Apr 5, 2009
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J. Allen
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Registered: Jun 1, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 157
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Review Date: Mar 18, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Amazingly sharp. I thought my 135L was sharp but the 180 is clearly better. Wonderful color rendition, clarity and bokeh.
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Cons:
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Focusing can be a wild ride if you don't increase the minimum focus distance with from .48 to 1.5m or there's a large difference between where the lens is initially focused to where you want it to go. Focus on a flower 2 feet away and they try to go to someone 100 feet away with the lens set to .48m and fasten your seat belt to see what happens. Resetting to 1.5m minimum focus distance is key for longer work and improves focusing significantly. Focus is slow but not nearly as slow as I anticipated.
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This is the perfect macro lens with a tripod or higher shutter speeds available using MT-24EX macro flash. Handheld using higher shutter speeds to minimize camera shake results in virtually no DoF at wider apertures and minimum focus distance but it's another world of photography. Focus ring is very accurate but remember with this focal length and close work your'e getting a razor thin DoF. At the minimum focus distance even at f/14 you've only got .1 inch of DoF on a 1.3 crop. Back up to 3 feet and you get 1/2 an inch, great for macro. Although it's long it's a great portrait lens with flash from 10 feet away. The lens of the eye and lashes are stunningly clear, just soften the skin and you've got fabulous glamor shots with about 3 inches of DoF at f/5.6. I love this lens and I'd like to have paid less but I don't think it's overpriced considering the build quality, image results and versatility beyond a macro lens.
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Mar 18, 2009
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terminator
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Registered: Jan 28, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 293
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Review Date: Mar 7, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $750.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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SHARP SHARP SHARP!!! Build like a tank.
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Cons:
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Expensive
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100 USM macro used to be the sharpest lens I've owned in comparison with 35L/85L/135L, now this 180L is no less sharp than that. Color rendering is stunning. Build quality is the best in class. AF is reasonably fast even though this kind of lens is built to manual focus, and it is extremely accurate. The only complain is the price tag. Fortunately I got a very good deal of it.
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Mar 7, 2009
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Chrono1081
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Registered: Aug 20, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 1932
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Review Date: Jan 25, 2009
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,300.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Extremely sharp, amazing color and contrast.
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Cons:
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None.
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I received this lens and I can tell you its extremely sharp, easy to handhold, AMAZING color and contrast. I usually shoot it around f16. Amazing lens.
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Jan 25, 2009
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Greg Futral
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Registered: Apr 1, 2006
Location: United States
Posts: 233
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Review Date: Jun 24, 2008
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Recommend? no |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 4
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Pros:
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Seemed sturdy
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Cons:
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My copy was soft at F16
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The camera shop I bought was kind enough to let me trade down to a 100 2.8, which I have been quite happy with. It is sharp at f11, and is easier to manage.
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Jun 24, 2008
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lextalionis
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Registered: Jul 28, 2007
Location: United States
Posts: 1076
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Review Date: Mar 15, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,250.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, good color, great for longer reach macro, and built like a tank!
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Cons:
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Cost and weight.
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Built better than the Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro USM, every bit as good as the 100mm macro. Very sharp and good colors. This lens is a tank, but you will get more reach from it. Great lens, no issues here!
Sample Photos Shot with a Canon 30D
-Roy
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Mar 15, 2008
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Dr Jimson
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Registered: Mar 3, 2008
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 80
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Review Date: Mar 10, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp,very good contrast.
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Cons:
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Heavy
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Extremely good build quality although a bit heavy. Challenging to use hand held. The focal length is great for not scaring the bugs away but does result in a very shallow depth of field. The contrast and colour is superb. This lens does require perfect technique and is much more demanding than the Canon 100mm macro. When I first got this lens I thought it was a bit soft but I found this was just down to the way I was using it coupled with the incredibly shallow depth of field.
Focus stacking software reveals just how sharp this lens really is. I would recommend using at least a monopod and preferably a tripod.
Focus is very slow but I almost always use manual focus so this is not really an issue for me.
I am not sure the difference in image quality between this and the 100mm justifies the difference in cost.
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Mar 10, 2008
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Desert_Watcher
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Registered: Jun 15, 2006
Location: Kuwait
Posts: 416
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Review Date: Jan 3, 2008
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: $1,250.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Sharp, amazing contrast, build quality, and perfect focal length for easy macros
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Cons:
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non!
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worth every penny, It proved to be a perfect companion with MP-E 65mm, both will form a perfect set for macros.
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Jan 3, 2008
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FatBoyAl
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Registered: Sep 4, 2005
Location: United States
Posts: 689
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Review Date: Dec 12, 2007
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Recommend? yes |
Price paid: Not Indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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Incredible colors, FANTASTIC sharpness, focus speed - especially for a macro!
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Cons:
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None yet~
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I recently sold my Sigma 150/2.8 Macro in order to move up to this lens. As I did my research, I began to wonder if it was a good move. After all, it's more than double the cost, one third the warranty and a stop slower.
I've read all the reviews from here, to Amazon to Photozone and elsewhere. Some folks make it seem like it's on a par with other macro lenses out there, while others seem to think it's the holy grail of macros.
If I may, a short recap of the Sigma: AWESOME bokeh, terrific image quality, high build quality. On the downside, it often hunted for AF. True, most macro shooters won't use AF in critical situations, but it is a negative.
Since many reviews seemed to indicate the Canon 180 was on a par with the Sigma, I was concerned I'd gain nothing and lose a stop of light.
OK, now I've had a chance to use the Canon. Folks, it's not a fair fight. The Canon is head and shoulders above the Sigma. It is everything an L series lens should be.
Excellent build quality. Incredible, simply incredible image quality. FAST AF! I don't know what the other folk are expecting, but my goodness! I was amazed at the AF speed! Now, does it compare to my 24-105? Not really. Does it beat the Sigma? Hands down! I'm quite certain it's quite adequate for all but the fastest of moving subjects. Locks on like a smart bomb and gives great shots.
This is my sharpest lens, by a measure. It is the holy grail of macros, period. If you're thinking of getting it - and you can - don't think about it anymore. You'll be amazed.
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Dec 12, 2007
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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53
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205732
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Jun 25, 2019
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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96% of reviewers
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$1,212.18
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Build Quality Rating
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Price Rating
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Overall Rating
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9.86
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8.53
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9.7
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