Before I upgraded to the this lens I was using the Canon 60mm which was also great, but this lens takes you photographs to another level and the IS is great when shooting handheld macros especially when you don't have time to break out the tripod

The sharpness is superb and the macro is amazing

its a Macro and a L, the sharpness is awesome

If you love macros, this is a perfect lens for your Canon cropped sensor, or full-frame and even with a Sony mirrorless with an adapter.

So why did I get this lens instead of the non-image stabilized 100mm macro for $600 instead and use other dedicated lenses like the 85 f/1.8 or 70-200 f/2.8L?

I have a lot of Leica gear including the legendary 2.8/100 macro

All in all its a great macro and portrait lens

One of the least expensive L lenses, it doubles as an amazing macro as well as a really great portrait lens.

if you are looking for a extremely sharp macro and don't want to break the bank

perfect macro

The macro has much more range, so when this lens misses focus, it misses it really bad and doesn't seem to find it.

I've other L series lenses as well as other macros and none come close to how I feel about the 100 mm macro IS.

And the macros, of course, are legendary though the shallow depth of field takes some getting used to if you're new to the macro world.

Great macro and portrait lens.

Great macro

Pros are versatility (macro!), sharpness, and image stabilization.

I also considered the 60mm EF-S (crop only) macro since I like to keep my equipment light, but this lens has image stabilization and a longer minimum working distance of 5.9 inches (146mm) compared to the 60mm's 3.5 inches (90mm).

If you want and can afford this macro buy it.

Great lens for macro as well as portraiture photography

Crisp and clean close ups (macro) of details

I love macro and shoot macro at every wedding I do.

Best macro I have used

The 100mm macro is my all time favorite

it a good Macro

I have taken awesome macro shots down to 1/20 sec., and was blown away with the results.

Great Macro Lensimage stabilization works well but not a huge factorwhen compared to the non IS version of this lens whenshooting super macro

If you loves macro and plan to work with tripod most of the time, 100mm f/2.8 is a better buy

This is a sharp macro.

f/4-5.6L IS USM, but I started to realize (as I found where my interests were in this hobby) that macro was actually really important to me; and so armed with that revelation I boldly moved forward and acquired another L-class lens and have absolutely, and unequivocally no regrets

And, of course, it's probably the best 1:1 macro you can get

It would be nice to have a 50mm macro as well, but I like standing a little further back from insect subjects so that I don't bother them, and if I spot an interesting bird nearby while I'm shooting bugs it's nice to have the 100mm telephoto capability rather than 50mm, so if I had to choose one, I'd choose this one

Last night, same spider same location & same time of day, I was able to shoot some stunning macro photos which I would never have believed to be taken by a sucker beginner like me =)

The macro is exquisite, and my favorite lens in my bag

I love the 100 mm macro and have the older version as well

For me its a great macro and portrait lens, and IS makes quite a difference

This is a great MACRO and portrait lens as many have said.

Of all these, the lens I reach for most is the 100mm 2.8L. Its light, so I can carry it for long periods of time, its nicely sharp, arguably as

Now, they will likely not be as sharp as if they were on a tripod, but they will still be usable and this is a huge difference; you will be able to spontaneously capture things you would have missed before while setting up your tripod

A relatively slow shutter speed to capture the scene in front of me usually meant I'd have to compensate by ratcheting up the ISO or go wider with the aperture, which are not always or often good compromises, for image quality reasons as well as for reasons of creative choice.

It is a high-grade plastic and I think Canon decided to switch materials to reduce the weight of the lens, which I prefer as it gives good balance on my 5D mark I with battery grip.

You can use it as a medium telephoto, as well as, of course, for macro work.

It brings everything into focus, making my photography look as sharp as it can be.