ncphototrekker's Full Review: Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Lens
There are a lot of types of photography out there, and some of them require specialized equipment to really do well. Macro photography is just one of those types. For the photographer that wants to get up close and personal with their subjects, nothing is more satisfying than macro photography. What macro photography is referring to is the ability to capture an image on the sensor or film frame at lifesize or larger. The term has loosely been translated to mean that a printed picture (4x6 inch) is at life size or larger.
When dealing with macro photography, there are several different ways to achieve the reproduction size. The easiest is with close-up filters. These work very much like the contraption at the eye doctor and is measured in diopters. These will effectively magnify the image, but at the expense of image quality. The next option is an extension tube placed between the camera body and the lens. This will allow much closer focusing distance than the lens is designed for. Image quality does not suffer, but you will loose a stop of light which might affect your auto focus. The best (readily accessible) option is the use of a dedicated macro lens. These are the lenses that are optically designed to focus in close, and are able to reproduce subjects at 1:1 lifesize.
In the years that I have been a photographer, I have toyed with the first two options and have seen moderate success from them. However, I was not quite able to reach the 1:1 reproduction that I was after. Not overly interested in macro photography, I didn't see spending the money on a dedicated lens...until now. Wanting to expand my portfolio, and take advantage of some of the colors and textures I had see in flowers, the time had finally come for me to take a venture into macro photography.
I am a Canon shooter, and I really trust their optics. For that reason, I started my search for a macro lens with Canon USA. My initial thought was to go for the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro which was a very well reviewed lens, and quite cheap. However, in one review, I saw a direct comparison of that lens and the 180mm f/3.5L Macro. What I realized was that the focal length was going to be much more to my liking. It also didn't hurt that this lens was in the "L" series of Canon's optics. I have been very pleased with my other "L" optics, and have come to trust the quality and durability of these lenses. Even though this lens was over twice the cost of the 100mm, I decided this would be the one that would find a home in my bag.
First Impressions....
Having read the reviews, I knew that this lens was going to be a long one. Actually, it is the longest non-white lens in Canon's inventory at over seven inches. I knew it also to be a heavy lens as well at 2.4LBS necessitating the included tripod collar. When I opened the box, I quickly understood the meaning of these numbers...this is a HUGE lens, on par with my 70-200mm f/4L IS.
Canon ships this lens inside of a very nice zippered lens bag. It has a belt loop on it so you could potentially use this as an accessory lens holder mounted to a belt in the field. It is padded, and well made. There is also a lens hood which is attached via a bayonet mounting point on the front of the lens. As with other Canon lens hoods, it can be reverse mounted for storage.
Build Quality....
How can you talk about a Canon "L" optic without mentioning the build quality. It goes without saying that this lens is built like a tank. It is heavy, but well balanced. There is a metal lens mount which indicates that this lens is built for the long haul. As we move up the lens, you will find the tripod collar which is premounted to the lens. This is threaded to accept most quick release tripod mounts. If you are using a tripod, I would strongly suggest that you use this mounting point. Otherwise, you will find your rig a bit nose heavy, and unstable...death for a macro shot.
As we continue along the barrel, you will find two switches. One is the ever present MF/AF switch. This toggles between manual and auto-focus. If you select AF, the USM (Ultra Sonic Motor) will find the proper focus quickly and quietly. If, by chance it misses the mark, you can manually fine tune the focus without switching modes. The other switch tells the USM drivers how near or far the subject is. While it is not imperative that you select the correct distance range, it will speed up the auto focusing.
Next on the tour you will find a very substantial rubber focus ring. This takes up a ton of real estate on the barrel of the lens, but makes finding that perfect focus spot very easy without having to hunt for the focus ring. Operation is silky smooth, and consistent throughout the full range of focus. This is one place that will surprise the non-macro shooter. This thing has a lot of travel, and is marked from 1:1 all the way to infinity. Focusing is handled inside of the lens and does not affect the front element which is an important consideration for those using filters.
The front element is surrounded by the aforementioned bayonet mount for the lens hood. There are also threads for a 72mm filter. this is a bit smaller than the normal 77mm filter mount for the Canon "L's", but is no problem at all to deal with. If you have a need for filters, you can just mount a step-up ring to bring the filter diameter to 77mm to match the rest of your lenses.
In the Field....
I have had this lens for a few months now, and have just started using it enough to feel like I am qualified to write about it. Obviously, this is a prime lens with no zoom capability at all. What that means is that your zoom is your feet. It has been said that prime lenses are the sharpest out there because the optics are designed with one focal length in mind, instead of a wide range. When it comes to macro photography, sharpness is of paramount importance, and this lens impresses. I won't get into detail about the subjective tests because there are many to be found online, and I am not set up to do testing like this at home. However, from my experience, this is a heck of a lens optically. There is no vignetting (on a cropped frame body), no light fall-off, and color and clarity is next to none.
Those who like to play with depth of field might be concerned with the relative slowness of this lens compared to others. That was one of the positives that I saw in the 100mm f/2.8, but when I saw a comparative test done, that concern dissipated. With the long focal length, depth of field appears to be narrower at any given aperture when compared to a wider angle. So, not only does the f/3.5 give a pleasing blur when a limited depth of field is wanted, it actually will appear narrower than the comparatively faster f/2.8.
This lens is compatible with both tele-extenders and extension tubes which will increase this lens' versatility. Be aware that your AF will more than likely not work with the 2x extender because of the light loss.
When it comes to macro work, it all comes down to how close you can get to the subject. This lens does a great job, and will allow you to get within 1.6 feet from the subject. That is incredibly close for a 180mm lens that equates to 288mm on a cropped frame body. However, it is still far enough away that you don't scare an insect. You also can stay far enough back so that your shadow doesn't play a part in your photography.
When using this lens, it is almost better to select your reproduction size before framing the subject. You should do this because that focus point (reproduction size) will determine the distance you will need to be from the subject. Remember, this is a prime lens and your feet are your zoom. If you are not shooting at macro distances, you can frame prior to focusing as you would normally.
How it Compares....
As I mentioned earlier in this review, there are two other primary options when it comes to macro photography. The first being to use close-up filters. I have used these before, and they can be very tricky. Optically, the more you magnify, the worse they look. They are prone to edge softness and distortion, as well as introducing chromatic aberrations. They are expensive, and bulky to store. I have never been happy with these filters, and didn't consider them as a viable option for this choice.
The extension tubes are a pretty neat trick actually. I tried this approach first with the Canon EF25II which worked very well with my 70-200mm f/4L as well as the 24-70mm f/2.8L. It allowed me to get in very close with no degradation in image quality. While not cheap, this is a cost effective choice for the macro photographer. Even still, I was not able to get that magnification that I was after. There was also a huge downfall to this extension tube. When used with a zoom lens, your zoom ring becomes more of a focus ring. it takes a while to get used to framing a picture using an extension tube on a zoom lens, but you can do it with a little practice. One other aspect that you might want to know about the extension tubes is that you will not be able to focus at a distance. This is a macro only product, and that limits its usefulness.
The 180mm macro beats these other two options hands down. The image quality is as good or better than any lens I have used. It is simple to operate, and more importantly...it is a true macro lens with 1:1 reproduction capability. For those that are hard core macro shooters, you can also mount an extension tube (or tele extender) between it and the camera body for even closer shooting distances. The extender will extend the focal length of the lens. Being a true macro lens, you will be able to focus out to infinity, so theoretically this lens does double duty as a regular 180mm prime lens.
The Good....
There is not enough room here to list all that is right with this lens. it feels good, operates smoothly, and produces some great images from 1:1 magnification shots all the way out to subjects at a great distance. Everything that you will need (tripod ring, lens hood, and carrying bag) is included in the box. This is an EF lens, so it will mount up to both film and digital (full and cropped frame) bodies. This is an awesome macro lens, and one that I would recommend if the finances allow it...which brings me to....
The Bad....
The cost of this lens is the biggest drawback...around $1,300.00, which is quite a bit more than the 100mm macro which is around $600.00. Is it worth the extra money? I'm not sure since I don't have a 100mm macro to compare. However, knowing that the "L" optics are second to none in the Canon lineup...as well as other makers, I have to assume that this lens is more substance than hype.
I would also like to see a rubber gasket at the mounting flange as with the other newer "L" lenses. This is a great addition that adds to the weather proofing of the entire camera. Is it likely that you will be shooting macro in the rain?....probably not. Is it likely that you will be shooting macro in dusty conditions?....quite possibly if you are in death valley, or anywhere in Arizona. Depending on your location, this could be a deal breaker, but seeing as how the gasket doesn't appear on that many lenses, I can't really hold Canon to that standard, although I would like to see the gasket on an updated version of this lens.
Finally, on a lens with a focal length of 180mm I would love to see image stabilization. Much macro work is done quickly when dealing with insects. This makes using a tripod cumbersome, and not all that practical. When you are talking about making minute adjustments to the subject/camera distance, a tripod is also a source of aggravation. They do make macro rails which allow you the ability to make those fine adjustments while on a tripod, and that is something I would suggest that you look into. The easiest way to shoot macros is hand held, but depth of field suffers due to the often wide open apertures. With a built in stabilization, you could potentially handhold the camera with a much narrower aperture, while still using a low ISO for quality.
Final Impressions....
As you see above, I have written more negatives to this lens than positives. True...but most of the positives have been discussed throughout the review. Two of the three negatives have been explained away as not needing to be deal breakers. It is that third negative that precludes me from giving this lens a 5 star review. With IS built in, this lens would be unstoppable. It would be flexible, and easy to use in a variety of situations. This omission cost the Canon a star in my opinion. However, this is still an outstanding lens...even for the price.
For those that have never really ventured into macro photography, this lens will open a new world of details. You will be able to see things that your naked eye would never be able to focus on. In my first few images captured with this lens, I spent an inordinate amount of time reviewing them...not for technical review, but in amazement at what I had captured with this lens.
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