Canon EF 100mm F/2.8 Macro USM vs Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L Macro IS USM — Which Is Better?

The Canon EF 100mm F/2.8L Macro IS USM and the Canon EF 100mm F/2.8 Macro USM are full frame macro primes for Canon EOS cameras. Both share the EF mount, a 100mm focal length, an f/2.8 aperture and life-size 1x magnification, so a subject is rendered at actual size on the sensor. The L arrived in 2009, updating the 2000 original, and its additions matter most for handheld and outdoor close-up work.

The L is slightly longer and heavier, and the non-L is slightly wider. The L measures 123mm long and 78mm across, against 119mm and 79mm for the non-L, and weighs 625g against 600g.

The non-L takes 58mm front filters directly while the L takes 67mm, so existing 58mm filters fit only the older lens without an adapter. Both accept front filters, so polarisers and close-up dioptres remain options.

You give up no macro power with either lens: both are 100mm f/2.8 primes with life-size 1x magnification. The L focuses 1cm closer, 30cm against 31cm, a difference with little practical effect on framing.

Exposure control behaves the same way, as both use automatic diaphragms. The L has nine aperture blades against the non-L's eight.

The L is the handheld close-up choice: its image stabilisation is rated at 4 stops, helping with flowers and detail shots when a tripod is impractical. The non-L has no stabilisation, so handheld shooting rests on your technique and the light.

Sealing also favours the L, which suits damp mornings and dusty field conditions, while the non-L is not sealed. Neither offers a fluorine coating or teleconverter compatibility, so cleaning and reach extension work the same way.

The L carries the more elaborate optical design: 15 elements in 12 groups, including one low-dispersion element that helps restrain chromatic aberration. The non-L uses 12 elements in 8 groups with no low-dispersion glass.

Focusing mechanics differ, and the older lens has the edge for wary subjects. Its internal focusing keeps the barrel from extending as you focus close, so the lens stays a constant length. The L's barrel extends during close focusing, shortening the space between lens and subject.