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Canon 100mm f2 USM
Prime Lens! |
I guess every
photographer has a 'favourite' prime lens?
I have two, one is the Lumix 20mm f1.7 Lens with it's 40mm 'field of
view' on my Panasonic GF1 micro 4/3rds
 digital
camera and the other is my all time favourite, the Canon 100mm f2 USM
Lens which I use on my Canon 5D MK1 DSLR camera.
These days, I have started to carry both combinations in my
shoulder bag. Some might say, what a strange mix but together they deliver some great images. I would love a 35mm f1.4 Lens
for my 5D which is compact, lightweight and is an improvement on the
existing Canon 35mm f1.4 L Lens, but at this time, the GF1 and the 20mm
'combination' is the best solution..............the irony is that the
GF1 + 20mm combination is a lot less expensive than a Canon 35mm f1.4 L
Lens and I get video thrown in as well. The 20mm does not have the 'full
frame' lens perspective but I can live with that. In fact the new
Panasonic G3 is
probably going to be my GF1 upgrade!
The Canon 100mm is currently selling in the UK for £385 including
 the
optional hood. It is very compact, lightweight and the USM is quiet in
operation. The lens and hood are both well built. This lens is simply awesome at f2 wide open, 'sharp as a
tack' and even with cropping the 'full frame' sensor of the 5D delivers
on image quality.
The hood can be reverse fitted on the lens to keep it compact in the
bag.
This image of 'Boddam' lighthouse was taken 'hand held' and has
the minimum post processing applied, it has been cropped. You can even
see a ship on the water immediately behind the lighthouse.
The 100mm is extremely 'flexible' and is great for portraits. The lens
is so
 sharp
that every skin flaw can be easily seen, even on a baby's face.
I use Adobe Lightroom to deliberately soften down the sharpness and in
this image, I have softened the face and brought back the sharpness in
his eyes, nose and mouth. The image was also converted
 to
monochrome and the highlights lifted. The original colour version was
most excellent but I like this one. It was taken 'hand held' and Joshua
was moving about on the carpet.
Canon brought this lens out years ago and most photographers don't even
give it a second glance! At aperture f2 'wide open' it is up there with
the best and for closing down the 'depth of field' at distance it is
excellent. I always set the 5D for centre (spot) autofocus and the lens
is fast and accurate. This image of the bird bath table was taken 'hand
held' at aperture f2 and the bokeh is very reasonable considering the
distance to the main subject.
For more information on the Canon 100mm f2 USM lens, please visit
Canon
For a review
on this lens visit this link at
The-Digital-Picture.com
If you have enjoyed this article - please donate to my
Charity of Choice -
The Sick Kids
Richard Lawrence
Scotland
United Kingdom
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