Got my new RF 100mm macro yesterday

Chris Summers · Monday at 1:45 PM

Maybe it's just the kid in me but when I get a new lens, the first thing I want to do is go dry it out. So after unboxing my new RF 100mm f/2.8 macro lens I put it on the R6 MKII and went outside. Only thing was it was raining and very overcast so I figured a quick trip to the garden nursery shop nearby since they have a greenhouse to keep me out of the rain. Unfortunately, the January inventory of pretty plants was slim but I did find a few and the best thing was I found 2 Monarch butterflies wintering over with the indoor plants. They were both completely motionless and at first I wondered if they were real or not. But when one moved a wing I knew they were alive.

Overall the lens seems really nice. A bit heavy and larger than my past 100mm macros but I think being a 1.4 magnification and having the SA control adds to it. I ordered an IShoot tripod collar which should come later this week. I think it would help when on a tripod with the balance but also for rotating from horizontal to vertical.

MikeZ · Monday at 2:03 PM

Great shots, and now I'm getting the jones for a macro!

miuzi · Monday at 3:36 PM

My most recent lens acquisition was also one of these, albeit about 6 months ago, and since I got it it's spent more time on my camera than any other lens. I absolutely love mine, and hope you continue to enjoy yours.

Chris Summers · Monday at 4:29 PM

miuzi said:
My most recent lens acquisition was also one of these, albeit about 6 months ago, and since I got it it's spent more time on my camera than any other lens. I absolutely love mine, and hope you continue to enjoy yours.

When we get some nicer weather I want to test it on one of my granddaughters with some outdoor portraiture. Curios to play with the SA control ring. I just sold my EF 85mm f/1.2 and my Sigma ART 135mm f/1.8 lenses and while the 100mm won't have the same soft bokeh at 2.8, it could still be a good lens for portraits.

miuzi · Monday at 4:37 PM

I use mine as a portrait lens as well, that was part of how I justified the expense. I am a huge fan of its look for portraits. The bokeh is the best of any lens I've had the pleasure of using, but my scale is different, as I've never had any lens faster at that kind of focal length, let alone something like a f/1.2!

TwoWheeler · Monday at 9:51 PM

Chris Summers said:
Maybe it's just the kid in me but when I get a new lens, the first thing I want to do is go dry it out.

I’d be on the phone to UPS, if they keep leaving your packages in the rain…

….just sayin”….

TwoWheeler · Monday at 9:57 PM

I’ve rented that one twice, thinking it might be something I’d like. Each time, I think “meh”. …and some time later, I look at the images again and think “these are really nice, I ought to consider buying one…” And the cycle starts again.

At some point I’m probably going to end up with one.

BUT, I bought my wife one for Christmas, so I know where I can borrow one. (IF I can pry it off her camera…)

TwoWheeler · Monday at 9:58 PM

The real question is “Has anyone actually found a use for the “spherical aberration” control?”

Chris Summers · Tuesday at 3:49 PM

TwoWheeler said:
The real question is “Has anyone actually found a use for the “spherical aberration” control?”

While waiting over the weekend for the lens to make it's way here via the shipping route I watched a fair number of video reviews of the lens. I'd say roughly 80% said they had no use for it and it reminded them of those soft focus filters we used to use back in the 70's on film cameras. I did see one video that explained the functionality and gave some interesting examples of portraits, some had those little twinkle lights behind the subject and the SA had a pleasing effect on softening them. Of course, you can do a lot of this in post processing and then you have the advantage of having the effect or not.

David Stallard · Tuesday at 7:29 PM

TwoWheeler said:
The real question is “Has anyone actually found a use for the “spherical aberration” control?”

Hand on heart - Nope! tried it didn't see the point so set to zero and never looked again ;-)

Chris Summers · Tuesday at 8:05 PM

David Stallard said:
Hand on heart - Nope! tried it didn't see the point so set to zero and never looked again ;-)

I guess I have to give Canon credit for trying some new features. At least it's easier to figure out than that bar button on the original R body. It does seem sort of contradictory since a macro lens is supposed to produce tack sharp images but the SA makes them soft focus.

miuzi · Tuesday at 8:07 PM

I've used the SA control a few times and gotten nice results with it, but its applications are limited for sure. Like I took some Christmas photos of my kids in front of our tree, and it was nice for that, made it softer and dreamier. That's one example I can think of. Mostly it just lends something a dreamy or surreal vibe, which I really like from time to time. It's nice to have just to play around with, and it's super easy to keep it locked in the off position if you don't want it.

TwoWheeler · Tuesday at 10:17 PM

Chris Summers said:
I watched a fair number of video reviews of the lens. I'd say roughly 80% said they had no use for it and

I watched a few, too and that was my conclusion as well. That was why I asked the question- “If I don’t see the point of an adjustable mush control, and they don’t see a use…then who does?”

Chris Summers said:
it reminded them of those soft focus filters we used to use back in the 70's on film cameras.

Vaseline on the lens?

ctitanic · 2025-01-29T14:17:30+0000

Chris Summers said:
Maybe it's just the kid in me but when I get a new lens, the first thing I want to do is go dry it out. So after unboxing my new RF 100mm f/2.8 macro lens I put it on the R6 MKII and went outside. Only thing was it was raining and very overcast so I figured a quick trip to the garden nursery shop nearby since they have a greenhouse to keep me out of the rain. Unfortunately, the January inventory of pretty plants was slim but I did find a few and the best thing was I found 2 Monarch butterflies wintering over with the indoor plants. They were both completely motionless and at first I wondered if they were real or not. But when one moved a wing I knew they were alive.

Overall the lens seems really nice. A bit heavy and larger than my past 100mm macros but I think being a 1.4 magnification and having the SA control adds to it. I ordered an IShoot tripod collar which should come later this week. I think it would help when on a tripod with the balance but also for rotating from horizontal to vertical.

You did it... you made me follow you!

Got my new RF 100mm macro yesterday

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