TFrog.com Lens Test

Another Real-World Lens Test

Courtesy of www.RentGlass.com (and about US$65.00), I borrowed the Canon macro 100mm lens for two weeks (March 27 - April 10, 2007), just in time to catch the early Spring flowers and bugs. After those two weeks, I knew that I had to have one of my own. (Now I do.)

First impression...

This lens seems to be everything I've heard and read, a wonderful (and somewhat affordable, at around US$520) close-up lens with a fast shutter and great usability. You've got to picture me kneeling in the mud to get as close as possible (about 6") to a handful of crocuses (crocæ?). Not the best position for a steady hand, but the results are fantastic. Shooting a bug in the sunlight at f/2.8, I had the shutter speed set at 1/4,000th, and STILL too much light was coming in. I had to back out the aperture to get the shot.

This lens fits in well between my 50mm and 70-300mm telephoto. It's almost the perfect size, and weighs in at a little more than 1 1/4 pounds. The 100mm's absolute strength is in close-up work, although it's no slouch at portraits and scenic shooting, either. Just as the 50mm f/1.8 is considered a "best bang for the buck," the 100mm macro is, I think, a must-have for the dedicated amateur's camera bag.

This iris popped up a couple of days ago, for the first time in four years. On this overcast day, I had to drop the aperture to f/22, used a 1/6 shutter and ISO400. Results were not stellar, but click here for a 1440x900 widescreen. Photo is enhanced with sharpening, level adjustment, and saturation.

June 4, 2009
f/25, ISO200, 0.8 second shutter. Click image for a 50% version
(2376 x 1584 - the original is twice that).

Some sample shots with the 100mm on an overcast day! May 2, 2009

SPRING 2008

Above: 1/80 • f/4.5 • ISO200

If you know crocuses, then you know that they are the first flowers up in the Spring, but also among the smallest. A macro lens is perfect for these, making them appear HUGE and lush. Click any thumbnail for 1000 X 650 crop, less than full size. All have been artificially enhanced. If you'd like to see the original out-of-the-camera image, just ask.

The six images here were taken at an aperture of 13.0 to 22.0, sun permitting.
The 100mm at f/2.8 has a hair's depth of field, as discussed below

April 12 - the daffodils are up, tulips are waking, hyacinth's in bloom:

These five thumbnails are linked to images sized at 1280x1024

Bumble below is linked to 1200x800 version.

Flowers are great, but some people prefer Bug Hunts. Here's a creepy crawly that I found on an ill-lit stairway.
At f/5.6, this still required a tripod and a long shutter of 1.3 seconds.
Click image for a 2000-pixel crop.

Above: This hairy little beastie has been hanging around just outside the patio door. With one 60 watt lightbulb for light, this shot required a 10-second shutter. Click the image for the full original. EXIF

Click image for full EXIF and 1440 x 900 widescreen

More to come as time passes.
Meanwhile, please enjoy the review I wrote after my 2007 rental, following below

Boy, let's talk depth of field. Above, you see a Johnny Jump-up (at least, that's what I'm told), which is all of about 3/4" long. I mean tiny. At the f/7.1 setting, the center is pretty sharp, with the edges of the petals already out of focus.

15.jpg EXIF

Here's a crop at full-size from an image of a crocus, taken at f/3.5. Again, the whole flower isn't much more than an inch and a half across, so the depth of field must be measured in millimeters.

9.jpg EXIF

Another full-size crop, showing the stamen of a white crocus. In this case, I backed the aperture off to 7.1 and still managed a sharp focus on just the tip of the stamen and the outer reaches of the surrounding petals. This brings up another feature of the 100mm lens that I keep forgetting.

13.jpg EXIF

The lens can be switched to stop it from hunting for focus up close, which can save time when you're lining up a shot at normal distances. I think.

The MONEY Shot - using a silver dollar, a Sasquatch, and a 20...
Tripod shots under a single 75W lightbulb. Crops shown below are
roughly 1/3 actual size. Click to view full image.

A beat-up example of a 1923 silver dollar, with lots of wear and tear.
22.jpg EXIF

The recently-minted Sasquatch dollar coin.
26.jpg EXIF

A new U.S. $20.00 bill
28.jpg EXIF

One more little yellow crocus...

13a.jpg EXIF

Finally, a portrait...

16.jpg EXIF

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I'd like to hear from my visitors as to whether this sort of amateur lens test is worthwhile. We've all seen what the professional photographers can do, but rarely do the rest of us measure up to that standard. In considering whether or not to throw good money at a lens, I thought it would be interesting to see what the average Joe gets from it. Heck, anybody's results should be as good or better than what I've shown here. Drop me a line and let me know what you think. I plan on several more of these Lens Tests as time goes by... If there's a Canon lens you'd especially like to see, let me know.