hi,

how good is a macro lens with a large focal length, say 100mm macro, for portrait. has anyone tried to do so.

thnx

-- sajeev (chack74@yahoo.co.in), February 20, 2002

Answers

One hundred millimeters is a good focal length for portraits. The macro capability would not make any difference at normal portrait distances.

-- Lee (Leemarthakiri@sport.rr.com), February 20, 2002.

Sajeev,

I use the 100 mm 2.8 USM macro for portraits--it is excellent. The macro component is great if you are, say, shooting an actress' headshot and need some sort of artsy closeup of her eye. But for normal head and head/shoulders portraiture, the macro doesn't make much difference. I am glad to have it, and have made use of it, however.

The 2.8 provides good background blur, and if you are shooting a fairly tight headshot wide-open, the very narrow focus plane can make for some interesting effects: eyes in focus, earlobes not, etc.

Highly recommended. Only drawback is that it is big and a little heavy. I still lug it around, though.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), February 21, 2002.

well, then thats a good equipment to have. being a fixed focal length lens, a 100mm macro lens, is far more versatile than the telephoto lens with same focal length for just a few extra bucks and some extra weight.

-- sajeev (chack74@yahoo.co.in), February 21, 2002.

You'll like it, Sajeev. I think it's a bargain for its performance. Be sure you get the NEW 100 mm 2.8 USM macro. There is an earlier version (non-USM, non-macro maybe?) that doesn't contain all those specs. The new lens is an improvement, with new elements, better reduction of flare, etc.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), February 21, 2002.

i heard that using a macro lens for general purpose (which seems possible, atleast from above comments) will effect the functioning of the lens elements quite early. the lens gets damaged in a couple of years or true. how much is this true.

-- sajeev (chack74@yahoo.co.in), February 22, 2002.

I haven't heard of the problem you are describing. The macro part just means that you can be very close to the subject and still focus. The lens were talking about can be just a few inches from its subject and still focus.

The only problem I can envision down the road is not the elements but the USM motor. If you constantly and intentionally focused from its closest point to infinity, you might put some wear and tear on the motor. You would really have to work hard, though.

The lens has a solid, silky feel. The motor doesn't catch or sputter, though it's fast. The front lens element does not move. Overall, it seems like a piece of quality workmanship.

-- Preston Merchant (merchant@speakeasy.org), February 22, 2002.

This is a common thought that macro lenses shouldn't be used as a general purpose lens and its very untrue. For this lens, Canon even includes the focus limiter which completely blocks the extreme macro range out of its focusing capabilities. It is an excellent lens and focuses quickly over the entire range. It is every bit as optically competent as its older non USM brother, however maybe even better. Its front element does not extend or rotate, and you can focus from infinity to 1:1 without the lens changing shape. Very handy.

-- Carl (cgs2794@rit.edu), March 07, 2002.