RF 100mm Macro - one week review

I've had the RF 100mm Macro lens now for just over one week and working from home has allowed me to get a lot more use in then I normally would have been able to.

My initial reaction to this lens when I first tried it out was very good. I really liked the feel of it, and it actually felt lighter in the hand compared to the EF 100mm L Macro lens, although based on the specs it seems that the RF actually weighs slightly more. Having the same 67mm filter thread as the EF version was nice as I didn't have to change anything when swapping from the EF to the RF lens.

Depending on what I'm shooting I'll use a flash, specifically the Yongnou YN-24EX with a set of diffusers from Macroscopic Solutions. I'll also sometimes be using a Raynox DCR-250 or 150 attached as well just to provide a bit more magnification.

Magnification

This was the biggest selling point for me upgrading to this lens. The RF version, having 1.4x compared to the EF version 1x, was a big step for what I like to do. And considering how good the EF lens is, had the RF retained a 1x magnification I doubt I would have bought it, and I certainly would not have pre-ordered it.

A nice benefit of having an EVF, I was able to setup my R5 to have the focus distance meter always in view whether using AF of MF. When using the RF 100mm Macro lens, the focus distance meter also includes an approx magnification indication as well. It was always a guessing game with the EF version of the lens if you were able to get closer or not.

A quick side-not though, if you use extension tubes or attachments like a Raynox DCR-250, the focus distance meter, and approx magnification is no longer accurate. It's pretty obvious, but I thought I'd point it out.

Auto Focus

The AF in the new RF 100mm Macro lens is certainly improved over the EF version. It's easy to tell that the AF is faster and MUCH quieter. It also hunts a lot less than the EF version does on average. The lens will still occasionally focus behind the subject, but this isn't an issue with the lens as it's just an inherent issue with mirror less cameras. A quick twist of the focus ring will usually bring it back pretty fast. Another reason to have the distance meter in the EVF as it easily helps you quickly determine which way you need to focus.

I know a lot of people that shoot macro pretty much use manual focus most, if not all the time. However, for me I found that the AF in the Canon lenses does work quite well and can help me zero in on a subject that I might lose otherwise, so I'm usually using One Shot AF as it allows me to focus using AF as needed, and then move myself bock/forth to adjust focus as well if needed.

Image Stabilization

The RF lens with the R5 is supposed to give some crazy stabilization, and it may but I haven't noticed anything too extreme compared to the EF version on my R5 as well. I was able to shoot with the EF version down to 1/30th and the RF version has allowed me to do the same, but I haven't tried to push it on purpose at this point.

SA Control

I haven't touched this at all as of yet, and from what I've read I doubt that I will overall. For what I like to shoot with macro lenses (insect and such mainly) I just don't see much of a use for it. Maybe if I have some time to mess around with it I'll change my mind, but at this point it's pretty low on my list.

Images

Here are some shots I've taken over the week+ that I've had this lens. It really is a lot of fun to shoot with this lens so I find myself going out a lot more during the day and trying to find something to shoot with it.

These images are exported from Lightroom in a reduced size as the original files are huge and I've had this page crash when uploading them before. Some of these shots are stacks, all images are hand-held. If I used the built-in focus bracketing I'll mention it in the description

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

YN-24EX Flash and Raynox DCR-250

15 shot stack using built-in focus bracketing

45 shot stack using built-in focus bracketing

I'm obviously really happy with this lens.  The EF version was one of my most used lenses and I was hoping Canon would release something that would really push the RF version well above the extremely good EF lens.  Well, in my opinion they did a great job.  The EF lens is still great, but the RF lens just takes everything great and makes them better.

Beside the distance scale:  How did you like manual focus by wire compared to using the mechanically coupled focus ring?

PhotoKhan wrote:

Superior work.

How about focus shift, as reported by TDP?

PK

Thanks!

I read his review of the lens just a couple days ago and saw that he mentioned the focus shift issue. I had not seen this in my use at all, and I did some very informal test shots just to see if I could replicate it with mine. I could not replicate it on my own with my copy of the lens.

I focused on a small part of a flower, at close to minimum focus distance with the lens only (no Raynox or tubes) and took some shots at f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6 and f/8. I saw no appreciable difference in where the lens was focusing.

However, without knowing exactly how they did their testing, one thing to keep in mind is that at those lower apertures, if you're at, or close to, the minimum focus distance of this lens the total DoF is extremely small, so the smallest movement of the camera or subject will be very noticeable. This is also why I always try to shoot at smaller apertures (usually around f/16 for small subjects) . At f/4 the total DoF is around 0.06 of an inch, at 12 inches from the subject.

When I did my very quick test, I was using AF set to One-Shot, and focused right before I took the picture each time, and I was doing it hand-held but with my elbow resting on a table, so fairly stable.

thunder storm wrote:

Beside the distance scale: How did you like manual focus by wire compared to using the mechanically coupled focus ring?

The focus ring on the RF version seems to be a bit lighter in feel compared to the EF version. Overall I like the MF in the RF lenses that I have.

I usually set the focus ring rotation to be backwards from most, as I can relate the ring movement to the distance scale in the EVF. So if the distance meter is showing that the lens focused towards infinity (right side of the scale) all I need to do is spin the focus to the left to bring it back to where I need to be. For me this works well and makes it so that I don't need to think about it much if I need to make MF adjustments quickly.

I believe he reported that focus shifting only happened over f11.

Either way, thanks for the review.  Nice shots!  I am waiting on one of these myself, but it is replacing a Nikon micro-nikkor 105D which I picked up around 20 years ago and is getting a little long in the tooth.

I like the RF 100, too,....

I have not much time to test it, but at Friday i test iris-shoots,...:-)

aut0maticdan wrote:

I believe he reported that focus shifting only happened over f11.

Either way, thanks for the review. Nice shots! I am waiting on one of these myself, but it is replacing a Nikon micro-nikkor 105D which I picked up around 20 years ago and is getting a little long in the tooth.

Thanks!

In his review it looks like he stated that focus-shift mostly occurred between f/2.8 and f/11. After f/11 is seems as though he states it's not an issue, and I wonder if part of that reason is the deeper DoF is "masking" whatever the problem may actually be

From his review;

Basically, focus shift is not a concern at f/2.8 or f/11, and focus shift is not an issue at long focus distances.

JayLT4 wrote:

aut0maticdan wrote:

I believe he reported that focus shifting only happened over f11.

Either way, thanks for the review. Nice shots! I am waiting on one of these myself, but it is replacing a Nikon micro-nikkor 105D which I picked up around 20 years ago and is getting a little long in the tooth.

Thanks!

In his review it looks like he stated that focus-shift mostly occurred between f/2.8 and f/11. After f/11 is seems as though he states it's not an issue, and I wonder if part of that reason is the deeper DoF is "masking" whatever the problem may actually be

From his review;

Basically, focus shift is not a concern at f/2.8 or f/11, and focus shift is not an issue at long focus distances.

Jay,

Is it your opinion that this is pretty much a non-issue for your use of the RF 100L?  I have mine in the book unopened now and I'm just trying to decide if I should keep it or not, as I have the EF version.  Do you still have your EF 100L macro?

RogerZoul wrote:

JayLT4 wrote:

aut0maticdan wrote:

I believe he reported that focus shifting only happened over f11.

Either way, thanks for the review. Nice shots! I am waiting on one of these myself, but it is replacing a Nikon micro-nikkor 105D which I picked up around 20 years ago and is getting a little long in the tooth.

Thanks!

In his review it looks like he stated that focus-shift mostly occurred between f/2.8 and f/11. After f/11 is seems as though he states it's not an issue, and I wonder if part of that reason is the deeper DoF is "masking" whatever the problem may actually be

From his review;

Basically, focus shift is not a concern at f/2.8 or f/11, and focus shift is not an issue at long focus distances.

Jay,

Is it your opinion that this is pretty much a non-issue for your use of the RF 100L? I have mine in the book unopened now and I'm just trying to decide if I should keep it or not, as I have the EF version. Do you still have your EF 100L macro?

I've been using the lens almost daily since I received it and I can say that from my experience with it, this is not an issue for me.  Maybe it's the way I'm using it.  However, whenever I use macro lenses for larger insects like butterflies I'm usually running an aperture setting between f/5.6-8, which is where it seems this issue should show up.  When I'm shooting really small insects like jumping spiders with a flash, then my aperture is usually around f/16 which seems to be out of the range where this issue should/would appear based on the info in his article.

I do still have my EF version.  I sent it off to Canon to get it cleaned and checked before I put it up for sale and I just got it back a couple days ago.

If you have the lens, use it and run some tests yourself to see if this is an issue or not for how you would intend to use it.  For me this has been one of the best lens upgrades I've done lately.

1Dx4me wrote:

JayLT4 wrote:

PhotoKhan wrote:

Superior work.

How about focus shift, as reported by TDP?

PK

Thanks!

I read his review of the lens just a couple days ago and saw that he mentioned the focus shift issue. I had not seen this in my use at all, and I did some very informal test shots just to see if I could replicate it with mine. I could not replicate it on my own with my copy of the lens.

I focused on a small part of a flower, at close to minimum focus distance with the lens only (no Raynox or tubes) and took some shots at f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6 and f/8. I saw no appreciable difference in where the lens was focusing.

However, without knowing exactly how they did their testing, one thing to keep in mind is that at those lower apertures, if you're at, or close to, the minimum focus distance of this lens the total DoF is extremely small, so the smallest movement of the camera or subject will be very noticeable. This is also why I always try to shoot at smaller apertures (usually around f/16 for small subjects) . At f/4 the total DoF is around 0.06 of an inch, at 12 inches from the subject.

When I did my very quick test, I was using AF set to One-Shot, and focused right before I took the picture each time, and I was doing it hand-held but with my elbow resting on a table, so fairly stable.

you have some superb shots in your flicker's site.

Thanks!

JayLT4 wrote:

I'm obviously really happy with this lens.

Wow, wonderful samples!  You are one lucky dog (I'm still waiting for mine!)

At least I know now what it can do!

R2

JayLT4 wrote:

RogerZoul wrote:

JayLT4 wrote:

aut0maticdan wrote:

I believe he reported that focus shifting only happened over f11.

Either way, thanks for the review. Nice shots! I am waiting on one of these myself, but it is replacing a Nikon micro-nikkor 105D which I picked up around 20 years ago and is getting a little long in the tooth.

Thanks!

In his review it looks like he stated that focus-shift mostly occurred between f/2.8 and f/11. After f/11 is seems as though he states it's not an issue, and I wonder if part of that reason is the deeper DoF is "masking" whatever the problem may actually be

From his review;

Basically, focus shift is not a concern at f/2.8 or f/11, and focus shift is not an issue at long focus distances.

Jay,

Is it your opinion that this is pretty much a non-issue for your use of the RF 100L? I have mine in the book unopened now and I'm just trying to decide if I should keep it or not, as I have the EF version. Do you still have your EF 100L macro?

I've been using the lens almost daily since I received it and I can say that from my experience with it, this is not an issue for me. Maybe it's the way I'm using it. However, whenever I use macro lenses for larger insects like butterflies I'm usually running an aperture setting between f/5.6-8, which is where it seems this issue should show up. When I'm shooting really small insects like jumping spiders with a flash, then my aperture is usually around f/16 which seems to be out of the range where this issue should/would appear based on the info in his article.

I do still have my EF version. I sent it off to Canon to get it cleaned and checked before I put it up for sale and I just got it back a couple days ago.

If you have the lens, use it and run some tests yourself to see if this is an issue or not for how you would intend to use it. For me this has been one of the best lens upgrades I've done lately.

Thanks.  I will likely keep it.

markindenver wrote:

jayLT4 --with your R5, how do you get the distance scale to show up in the viewfinder when using AF? With my RF 100mm, it shows up only when the lens is set to manual focus. I'd like to have it visible for when the lens is set to AF, too, if possible. Thanks for any help you can provide.

It's a little buried in the menus;

Shoot7 --> Shooting info disp. --> Focus distance disp --> Always

That's how I have mine set, there are some other options in there, but the Always options is best for me

A few days I posted here my short assessment of the possible focus shift with for my approach negative result!

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65343191

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/65343191