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Can I buy one of the EF 100mm Macro lens instead of EF 85mm f/1.8 USM?

Started Aug 13, 2015 | Polls thread
mikero
mikero Veteran Member • Posts: 3,054
Re: Can I buy one of the EF 100mm Macro lens instead of EF 85mm f/1.8 USM?

I've owned all the lenses you mention.  The first I bought was the 85mm F1.8 which is a very nice lens and I used it a lot.  I then got into macro and bought the 100mm Macro non-L.

I bought the 100mm Macro L came out, and sold my non-L macro.  I did the swap to gain IS, because it was an 'L' lens, and because I could afford it.  The IS is a useful feature.

Eventually I sold my 85mm F1.8.  Nothing wrong with it, but it was too similar to the 100mm Macro L, and whenever I looked to use that sort of focal length, I always found myself reaching for the 100mm, largely because of the IS.  The 85mm F1.8 just sat in the bag.

I've not had a problem with AF speed of the 100mm Macro L, and if the purpose is portraiture, then I don't see a problem.  Not as fast as the 85mm F1.8, but fast enough.  And the macro and IS features make it more versatile.

Mike

 mikero's gear list:mikero's gear list
Olympus E-M1 II OM-1 Olympus Zuiko Digital 2.0x Teleconverter EC-20 Olympus Zuiko Digital 1.4x Teleconverter EC-14 Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 60mm F2.8 Macro +10 more
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