Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L IS Macro Review

Over a year after it was announced, Chris and Jordan had the chance to play with the Canon RF 100mm F2.8 L IS Macro! Alongside the expected improvements in autofocus speed and optical performance, this lens feature Spherical Aberration Correction, which allows you to change the look of out-of-focus areas. Is this new lens worth the premium price?

Rental equipment provided by The Camera Store

0:00 - Intro
0:50 - Sample images
1:12 - Build quality and design
1:52 - Spherical aberration correction
2:53 - Maximum magnification
3:20 - Focusing
4:17 - Flare and chromatic aberration
4:50 - Bokeh
5:32 - Video performance
6:41 - Sharpness
7:16 - Focus shift
8:13 - Should you buy it?
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[deeotee]

That was a very nice „Schmetterling-Tasche“ - and I mean Chris‘ pronounciation.

[sturmgold]

You said "Schmetterling" very well Chris :D honestly I can say that as a native speaker.

[PhilThach]

I almost didn't buy mine after Christopher Frost talked about experiencing focus shift. I haven't had any issues whatsoever with mine. I will say I would prefer that the lens did not have the SA control and was $200 cheaper to get one without that useless (to me) feature. Thanks, guys. Nice work as always.

[Leonsimages]

Upvoted for Chris' German skills. The council of the german DPReview TV viewers approves.

[villageblunder]

FWIW - I have the EF 100 L and love thats it's light, bright, sharp, stabilised, quick to focus and works for portraits, landscape and macro.

[jzphoto]

I own this lens and I am using it with R5. Initially I bought it to test it but I loved it so much that I kept it. It is perfectly sharp and I tried it with extension tubes, and I was surprised it is keeping its sharpness. This is the lens that I always take with me when I go to nature. I already have some amazing photos with this lens. Highly recommended!

[lightningblender]

R5 + RF100L is such a nice Combo. I have them both and they’re awesome. Macro video is so beautiful, and the AF is so fast that handheld shots are easily possible. The Hybrid IS really does a great deal of stabilisation compared to a 5DIII + EF100. The closer you get the more the effect weakens but it’s still at least a stop or two more than the DSLR combo.
At first I worried about focus shift but I did not find any whatsoever. No matter what aperture or distance combination I tested. I will never ever sell or loan this lens to anyone. It’s hands down my favourite lens.

[leanderhoefler]

The RF 100mm Macro is a great lens. I'm not a dedicated macro photographer but since I bought it I rarely bring my RF 70-200 f2.8 anymore. The 100mm is definitely sharper and the ability to shoot up close makes it a very versatile lens. After all the 100mm with the RF 15-35mm are my go to lenses for almost anything now.
But I still haven't found a useful application for that SA control, haha.

[kennethlui]

Versatility is the key word here. I bought it for both portrait and close-up. Very sharp lens.

[tokyorose]

My EF 100mm L was my all time favorite lens, and the last of my EF Glass since switching to Mirrorless. I finally let it go in favor of the 100mm RF. It’s funny because the EF lens on its own is actually quite a bit shorter than the RF. Until you put the adaptor on, and then they’re almost on par.

The clincher for me was the quieter (substantially) and quicker autofocusing, and the 1.4x reach. Using it primarily for macro, that extra magnification without the need for extension tubes or diopters is extremely welcome.

The SA control is something I don’t ever see myself using but it’s an absolutely incredible lens. As hard as it was to say goodbye to the EF, there has been no looking back and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

[williamgoss]

Always worth a watch; lots of detailed info with good photo examples, plus lots of suggestions about what the lens does best and how you can move best use of it. Plus, of course, some comedy along the way..

[franz]

Hey Chris, as a German i can tell you did a very good job on pronouncing Schmetterling :D

[NightAndDay]

I’m new to the Canon system and started off with their mirrorless cameras. This is a lens I’ve been looking into. For me and people in my situation I don’t think it makes sense to buy the EF version. Like you said Chris, this is ideal for those who want both macro and portrait capabilities. Thanks for the great review.

[swisslakestudio]

Great job and footages from GH6 is amazing, I don't belive I said anything good about micro 4/3, but it looks so good.

[Marie-eows]

Excellent review. Very clear and informative, even useful for someone new to photography. Thank you.

[jlwilliams]

For a portrait/headshot shooter, being able to dial in a small, controllable amount of spherical aberration could save a lot of retouching time. I used to shoot corporate headshots with the DSLR version of the Canon 100 macro and had to put a lot of post-production effort into suppressing pores, shaving nicks, makeup flakes, lint, etc. because that lens was so brutally sharp — it would have been great to be able to take some of the edge off when needed.

[davinphelps]

8:44 - Is it just me or do the shots taken with the SA+ & SA- look totally out of focus? I like the effect but it doesn't look very useable if it's going to make the subject look that blurry. Just purchased this lens so I guess we'll see. Won't be testing out the SA option on any paid shoots yet

[Ildskalli]

Well, the RF version costs only $100 more than the EF one now, and the native advantage shouldn’t be underestimated. Also, it’s clearly a cracking portrait lens. I’d have appreciated very much a showcase of SA control at lower settings - cranked to the max it’s obviously a bit cartoonish, but I can see a +- 1 setting being a big asset to save time in post, for subjects with rough skin, or to avoid moiré, for example. That kind of thing can be a big advantage in professional settings.

[Ryan.Matlock]

As a Sony shooter who loves the manual focus Voigtlander 65mm APO, I wish I had Canon's manual focus aids. A 1.4x macro lens would be pretty cool too.

[robschulerofficial]

Great energy - very well covered, love the channel