When I bought my 40D last Feb., I bought the Canon 100mm USM f2.8 macro lens, but even at that time, I wished for a L-series IS macro. I love macro photography, but usually find myself in situations where I don't want to mess with a tripod. I couldn't understand the arguments against having an IS macro lens. When I am hiking or in a botanical garden with many people and space restrictions, I want to take the pictures free-hand. The 100mm USM f2.8 macro produced some nice pictures, and is perfect for those who use a tripod (so if you don't want to spend the extra money, certainly consider that lens).

I was in heaven when Canon announced the new L-series macro, and after about 1 1/2 months waiting, it finally arrived on Friday, and I took it out for a drive immediately. The pictures are awesome! Great focus and beautiful bokeh. The weight and length of the lens makes it very portable. The only "down side" is the speed of the focusing system. I guess in macro photography this isn't something you really have to worry about, but I did miss 2 opportunities to capture crisp pictures of some birds because by the time the lens focused, they had moved.

Overall though, this is a great lens!Get more detail about Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM 1-to-1 Macro Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras.