The best Canon macro lens is Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L macro hybrid IS USM. This is Canon’s first macro lens with a hybrid image stabilization-Hybrid IS can compensate both angular camera shake and shift camera shake . Hybrid IS in the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM was designed to achieve the acceptable macro shooting without the use of tripod. According to recent review at slrgear, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8IS USM is exceptionally sharp, even wide open at f/2.8, with strong results for resistance to chromatic aberration and distortion.

A more affordable alternative to this macro lens is Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Lens ($490). On small sensor cameras such as Canon XSi rebel, Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 offers an equivalence of 160mm on a full frame camera. The lens features a fast IF (internal focus) allowing to keep a constant lens length throughout the focus range. The minimal focus distance is 1 foot (149mm working distance) resulting in a max. magnification ratio of 1:1. Canon 100mm macro has a filter size of 58mm and weighs 600g. Canon 100mm macro has very good building quality and high optical quality: with little chromatic aberrations, distortions and only moderate vignetting at f/2.8. Highly recommended! Many people are interested in Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 USM ($400). But I prefer Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 which is only ca $90 more than Canon EF-S 60mm and also works on full frame cameras such as Canon 1D and Canon5D Mark II.

For people who want more affordable lenses, the third party macro lenses such as Sigma AF 105mm f/2.8 EX DG macro (APS-C DSLR), Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8 SP Di macro (APS-C DSLR) ($356) are good choices.

If you want to take macro photography to the next level or need more working distance, Canon EF 180mm f/3.5 L USM Lens may be the ultimate canon macro lens. This lens could be a better choice for people who use a full frame camera such as Canon 5D Mark II. It is well built, very sharp and has excellent image quality. The min. focus distance is 0.48m resulting in a max. object magnification ratio of 1:1. Canon EF 180mm f/3.5 macro has a filter size of 72mm. This lens is quite long (83 x187mm) and heavy (1090g). The lens accepts all Canon EF tele-converters leading to a 252mm f/4.5 (180mm + 1.4x) or 360mm f/7 (180mm + EF 2x) combination. When used with these converters the max. object magnification increases accordingly – 1.4:1 with the EF 1.4x and 2:1 with the EF 2x converter. The building quality of the lens is excellent. The AF is fast when the subject is close. However, AF is slow when there is no guidance where is the object.

Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Macro Lens ($605) offers an affordable alternative for people who seek a longer working distance than Canon 100mm macro.