As a tele, I only have the Canon 100 L USM IS.

For Macro purpose IS is not changing your life, but for normal photography it really helps to obtain sharp results and sharpness is a pro of this lens.

You can also consider the non IS version.

As for normal pics, I sold my 70-200 f4 vs a 100 f2, light, small and good performer.

If you are not using lens for professional purposes I suggest fixed focal lenses for size, quality and creativity, yes, with a fixed focal lens you are not losing time with the zoom ring, you start moving and inventing different perspectives. That is what happens to me at least..

Hope it helps.

well you can always go somewhere like here
http://cgi.eebay.com/Canon-EF-24-70mm-f-2-8L-24-70-mm-2-8-L-USM-Lens-Mint-/330439591470?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item4cefbc062e#ht_500wt_949

I'd prefer to buy from the same country, just saves a lot of hassle.

Sure it's worth getting the f/4 non IS. But if you have the money, you will want to upgrade in the future. The IS version doesn't just add IS, it's also a different lens internally and will produce sharper images. If you turn the IS off on the f/4 IS, it's not the same as a f/4 non IS. It is almost double the price however, but you're paying for more than the IS.

If you've never had an IS lens before, it does help especially for long shots. Without IS, you generally want to stay with the shutter speed = 1 / focal length rule. IE if you're shooting at 200mm, you'll want your shutter speed to be at least 1/200 sec for hand held shots. With IS, you can get away with significantly lower shutter speeds.

1/320th bro. It's 1.6 crop factor

I forget who the guy I spoke with was when I purchased from there in-store, but they can often bump down prices 10-15% for you if you simply ask for some sort of "deal" or say that the price seems just a little bit too high.
I know when I got my ND Filter it was like $200 originally, and I couldn't quite justify that much for it being my first filter, but he dropped me down 15% simply when I told him it seemed like such a high price.
He never threw in the 30 minute tutorial on using ND filter and such for free.

I assumed she was going full frame

You're right of course...although even with IS off I can get away with slower than the golden rule, so I usually go off of it without factoring in my 1.6x crop. Hold your breath and you'll be ok

I have never had an IS before, this will be my first!

Thank you for the info. I read more about this and am definitely going for the IS version.



I will keep this in mind, thanks Spencer!

I re-read every single post in this topic that I had bookmarked cause of all the good info in it....
But I still have a question about something I don't quite understand...

Regarding the 100/2.8 macro....
Someone mentioned it is good for portraits and such...
Can I consider it as a 100 mm lens with a macro function on it?
Like... can it be used to take pictures of far away objects, or only close objects?

I am not familiar with digital lenses..
up to 3 years ago for me, all I was using was film and even my zoom lenses had a macro thing on them, just by turning the lens a special way....
I was extremely surprised when my kit lens wasn't able to get closer than 25 cm to the subject with no way to get macro on it!!!

yes, you can use the 100mm 2.8 IS USM L Macro for close up macro photography and for everything else. There is a little switch above the IS on / off switch which allows you to change the closest focusing distance. I think it was from "full" to "0,3-0,5m" to "0,5m - open end".

so basically if you want to shoot stuff that is farer away you simply switch to the setting that fits.