Canon's fast 100mm portrait prime — the EF 100mm f/2 USM with outstanding rendering.
The Canon EF 100mm f/2 USM is a fast telephoto portrait prime for Canon EF mount. At f/2 and 100mm, it provides beautiful subject isolation with the convenience of ring-type USM autofocus. The lens is well-regarded for its rendering quality — sharp where focused with smooth, pleasant bokeh. A hidden gem in the Canon EF lineup.
Optical performance is very good. Sharpness is excellent from f/2 — unusually good for a non-L lens. Bokeh is smooth and beautiful. The 100mm f/2 combination provides attractive portrait compression with fast speed. Ring-type USM is fast, quiet, and provides full-time manual override. Colour rendition is neutral and accurate.
Canon EF mount, full-frame. Filter thread is 58mm — compact. Weight is approximately 460 grams — moderate. Build quality is good — better than typical consumer Canon lenses. The USM motor is the ring-type premium version. No IS — the main limitation. 8 aperture blades provide pleasant bokeh shapes.
Available at moderate used prices — underappreciated gem. Check USM motor and clean optics. One of Canon's best-kept secrets — outstanding rendering at a reasonable price. The 100mm f/2 provides more compression than 85mm while maintaining fast speed. The lack of IS is the main drawback. Adapts to RF mount with full functionality.