CAMCAEF100MM | EF 100 mm f 2.8L IS USM MACRO, 67 / ET - 73

The above hoarfrosted leaf was captured handheld (1/25 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100) between very strong wind gusts at the top of Cadillac Mountain (Maine). The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM Macro Lens was mounted to a Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
 
That Canon introduced a new macro lens in the second half of 2009 was no surprise - A prior press release announcing the new HIS (Hybrid Image Stabilization) set our expectations for such an announcement. What surprised me was that it was a 100mm lens. The current-at-review-time Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM non-IS Macro Lens was already a great lens with fast AF and excellent image quality. The Canon EF 180mm f/3.5 L USM Macro Lens, while it has great build and image quality, could really use a new AF system - and IS would be especially helpful at this longer focal length. Alas, Canon has delivered us another 100mm macro lens.
 
My less-enthusiastic-than-they-should-have-been expectations were lifted by the fact that this was an L ens. And, the Canon MTF chart (the higher the lines, the better the expected image quality) was looking great. I don't regularly include Canon's theoretical MTF charts in the reviews, but this one is drool-worthy. This lens promised to be extremely sharp even wide open.

The estimated street price was not bad for a 2009-era L lens either.
 
What I first noticed upon taking the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L IS USM Macro Lens out of the box was that the body was not made of the normal-for-an-L-lens metal. "The official reply from Tokyo is as follows: The focus ring, lens mount and name plate are made from aluminum, and other parts are basically made with engineering plastic." (Chuck Westfall, Canon USA) Engineering plastic is the good stuff. So, the 100 IS macro lens does not have that cold, hard feel, but it feels solid nonetheless. The attractive finish helps with the quality feel.
 
Build quality overall is very good - and includes weather sealing. I like the smooth, straight design of this lens - including the flush-mounted switches. The 100 L Macro is very comfortable to hold and use. Have a look (use the mouseover links below the lens image) and compare this lens to others: