The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon MP-E 65mm f2.5 1-5x Macro and the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 123mm. The Canon MP-E 65mm f2.5 1-5x Macro with a length of 98mm, is 25mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon MP-E 65mm f2.5 1-5x Macro has a larger diameter of 81mm compared to the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM's 78mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM weighs 625g, 11% (85g) lighter than the Canon MP-E 65mm f2.5 1-5x Macro's weight of 710g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Macro Prime Lenses in Canon EF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Macro Lenses in Canon EF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Canon MP-E 65mm f2.5 1-5x Macro has a filter size of 58mm whereas the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM has a 67mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon MP-E 65mm f2.5 1-5x Macro:
And these are the 67mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon MP-E 65mm f2.5 1-5x Macro and the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Focal Range
Canon MP-E 65mm f2.5 1-5x Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 65mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
104mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 100mm f2.8L Macro IS USM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 100mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 160mm.