The EF 180mm Macro lens can also be used with the EF Extender 1.4x and 2x. The maximum aperture will be reduced by one stop to f/4.5 when the EF 1.4x is used. With the EF 2x, the loss is two stops and the effective maximum aperture will then become f/7.1 (with EOS-3 and EOS-1 series models). Autofocus is possible when the EF 1.4x is used with the EF 180mm Macro lens. With the EF 2x attached, autofocus is not possible even when the 180mm Macro lens is being used on the EOS-3 and EOS-1v models. The tripod collar, which is a standard accessory, is basically the same type as used for the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM zoom lens despite being black in color. So if any EOS user has these two lenses, the collars can be interchanged whenever one feels like doing so. Okay, enough summarizations of the lens' specifications. How does the lens perform in actual photography session and other close-up applications? In a word Ö EXCELLENT. Of course, don't take my word for it. Just see the pictures of the artificial flower(s) below. Or better still, invest in one - if you don't own any of the three (or four) EF Macro lenses available. Shot at 1:5 magnification Shot at 1:4 magnification     Shot at 1:3 magnification Shot at 1:2 magnification     Shot at 1:1.5 magnification Shot at 1:1.2 magnification     Shot at 1x magnification Shot at 2x (with EF 2x) The color of the last photo above, did look more saturated because at the 2x (twice life-size) magnification, only the warmer part of the artificial flower was recorded on the 24 x 36mm frame of the film. The first seven photos before it were photographed without the Extender EF 2x. Of course, as in with any Macro lens and extreme close-up photography, the depth-of-field can be shallow and hand-held shooting can be almost impossible at times when the light level is diminishing. The photos above were all shot handheld, without fill-in flash from any Canon Speedlite, including the new Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX. If you are using this lens for critical macro work, always set the camera/lens combination on a sturdy tripod, if no fill-in flash is used. Of course, with flash providing the fill-in light, the aperture can be stopped-down and the depth-of-field can be increased further when shooting in high magnifications. At the 1x magnification, the focusing distance of the EF 180mm lens is at the 1.56 ft/0.48 meter. Both the Canon Extension Tube EF 12 and EF 25 can also be used for even closer magnifications (above 1x but less than 2x). << Back to Main . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .