EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens

I had mentioned that I hoped that my 24-105mm lens with a 500D closeup lens might take care of close up needs and I could sell my 100mm macro lens. Well, that didn't work out. The 500D at 105mm is not nearly close enough.

However, I've been enjoying the image stabilization on the 24-105mm lens so much I decided to swap my 100mm f/2.8 non IS lens for a 100mm f/2.8L IS lens. Adorama had an open box deal I jumped on. Now it didn't look like the lens had been opened to me, but I'm not going to argue.

When I sell my non IS macro lens the cost of the great L lens is very reasonable. I've been out with the lens briefly on two occasions and here are the results.

EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens

These are the first shots I'm posting with my 5D Mark III and the 24-105mm lens I just picked up. I see this lens replacing my faster but shorter 24-70mm f/2.8 lens which I'm getting ready to sell.

Long term, I'd like to pair the 24-105mm lens with a 100-400mm zoom for a two lens "do it all" pairing with a full frame body. For now, I can pair either my 70-200mm zoom or the EF-S 55-250mm lens with my 7D crop sensor body for a similar focal length range.

The first three shots are from yesterday morning on Peebles Island and the sunset is from last evening. All images are five file HDR composites.

Last of the Crop Sensor Experimentation

After a week or so of discernment I've decided not to swap my 5DIII out for a 1DIV or a 7DII, etc. One change I do have in the works is to pick up a Canon refurbished EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens while it's discounted by hundreds of dollars with the potential of it replacing my 24-70 f/2.8L and, with my 500D closeup lens attachment, my 100mm macro lens. This change, if it works out, should net me about $500 and make long walks with my gear more productive.

Here are the last of my shots from last week using the 7D and 24-70mm f/2.8L lens:

Invading the Trail

The same day as my latest post, some ground vines caught my attention as I was walking on the Champlain Canal Trail North of Waterford. These are all with the 7D and 24-70mm f/2.8L lens and are three image HDR composites.

Exposure information is for the normally exposed file.

35mm (56mm eq.), f/2.8, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

34mm (54.4mm eq.), f/2.8, 1/60 sec., ISO 100

25mm (40mm eq.), f/2.8, 1/90 sec., ISO 400

24mm (38.4mm eq.), f/2.8, 1/90 sec., ISO 100

Lots of New Material

Since my daughter came back from Costa Rica with my 7D I've been using it with various lenses to evaluate whether I might be able to sell my 5D Mark III and get a 7D Mark II or maybe even a 1D Mark IV in its place.

I've been out with the 7D a few times now and have some images piled up. I'll start with focal length samples.

Of course, if you're considering going from one sensor format to another you've got to include lenses in the discussion. I've already done this once - and then back again.

First, if I go all crop I'm giving up on the wide end with the lenses I have. So I took the 7D out with my EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens. Here are shots showing the wide and tele extremes of this combination.

24mm (38.4mm eq.)

70mm (112mm eq.)

I could almost live with that being the extent on the side end. The main situation I'd want more coverage is with a sky full of colorful clouds.

One difference between the 7D and 5DIII is the former will only bracket three images whereas the latter will bracket 2, 3, 5, or 7 images.

I was framing the above shots in a way to compare the views of the two extremes. Here is a shot I made a bit later at 24mm with a more interesting composition.