- 190mm macro lens with f/3.5 maximum aperture for Canon SLR cameras
- 3 UD glass elements and internal floating system combine to minimize aberrations
- Advanced ultra-sonic monitor (USM) for high-speed, quiet autofocusing
- Focusing distance range of 1.57 feet to infinity; supports EF Extender 1.4x and 2x
- Measures 3.2 inches in diameter and 7.3 inches long; weighs 2.4 pounds; 1-year warranty
Product Description
Canon presents a telephoto macro lens with a maximum magnification of 1x. Life-size close-ups can be taken from a farther distance without disturbing the subject (insects, etc.). The internal floating system minimizes fluctuations in aberrations caused by changes in the focusing distance. Optical performance is outstanding from 1x to infinity.Amazon.com Product Description
Bring small things into full-sized view with the Canon EF 180mm macro USM lens. Macr… More >>
Canon EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM AutoFocus Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras
5 Comments
I have seen glowing reports on this lens in several magazines, most notably in Shutterbug. It is truly a splendid performer and one well worth paying for if a photographer needs the extra working distance afforded by a macro lens in the 180mm to 200mm range. Its performance is certainly as good, if not better, than Nikon’s venerable 200mm f4 Micro Nikkor, which was one of the first – if not the first – telephoto macro lenses in this focal length. This Canon lens excels not only in macro photography but also in nature photography, getting close-up images of animals in the wild without working too close to disturb them. If I owned Canon equipment, then this lens would be an essential part of my kit.
Rating: 5 / 5
Especially in the Canon line up. Buy the 70-200 F/2.8L at similar price or F/2.8L IS at a bit more, and get a few extension tube (you can get a set of 3 Kenko extension tube for around $170 at 12mm, 20mm and 36mm), you will get a fantastic zoom telephoto lens and a far more versatile package. With the 70-200mm zoom lens, you get all the focal length not just the 180mm. If macro is desired choose an extension tube or any combination of extension tubes, you get so much more choices in focus distance and magnification factor combinations, it’s mind boggling. If you go with the IS 70-200mm lens, you get the benefit of the image stablizing when taking Macro as well to reduce the camera shake effect. The combination of the 70-200mm family with a set of extension tubes are a far better choice if local focal length macro photography is wanted.
Rating: 3 / 5
Canon EF 180mm f3.5L Macro USM AutoFocus Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR CamerasThis is a very good lens, but has to cons that caused me to return it: (1)slow auto focus, and(2)No IS. I’ll wait for Canon to come our with the next version.
Rating: 4 / 5
No one can complain about the quality of the construction or of the images that this lens produces. It’s often considered a hidden gem in the Canon lineup as it gets thought of strictly as a macro lens and its use as a telephoto gets ignored. I’m going to give the lens its well-deserved five stars, but now tell you that you should be careful in picking this lens for your use lest it live, unused, in the bottom of your camera bag.
This is a lens that I think you should rent to try out if it’s interesting to you. I find that it’s too long of a lens for most of the macro photography work I think of doing. Especially on a 1.6x crop body the magnification leaves you with very little depth of field and horrible subject vibration problems in the field. (You need a tripod for this, so photographer movement shouldn’t be as much of an issue.) I find the 100mm macro lens to be much handier on both full frame and crop cameras. Others disagree, that’s fine, but you should check it out yourself. On the telephoto front, a 70-200mm zoom with IS is a much more versatile setup. If macro work is only occasional, you could into extension tubes that let you go in close.
Rating: 5 / 5
Regarding the suggestion that one instead get a 70-200 and extension tubes… yes, that would be more versatile than the macro alone, but I have a 70-200 and extension tubes, and they can’t compare to the 180 macro.
Rating: 5 / 5