Rokinon 100M-E 100mm

The 100M-E is a rebadged Rokinon 100mm f/2.8 Macro that offers 1:1 reproduction at a rock-bottom price when you find it for $395. Optically, it's in the 21st percentile for its class, so sharpness and contrast are behind the curve. Manual focus and no stabilization make it a tripod-only affair, and the build quality feels cheap. It's an okay learning tool for macro beginners on a strict budget, but almost everyone else should look at used autofocus macro lenses instead.

The optical performance is where reality sets in. A 21st percentile ranking in our database means this lens is bringing up the rear against nearly any modern macro prime. We'd expect softness wide open at f/2.8, particularly in the corners, and you'll probably see some purple fringing in high-contrast scenes. The UMC coating helps with flare resistance, but it's not a magic bullet. Stopping down to f/5.6 or f/8 will clean things up, and for macro work you'll be doing that anyway to get a usable depth of field. The minimum focusing distance of 1 foot gets you that 1:1 magnification, and with 15 elements in 12 groups, the design is surprisingly complex for a budget lens. The ED glass elements should help tame some of the chromatic weirdness.

Bokeh lands in the 64th percentile, which matches the on-paper specs. The 9-blade aperture does its job, keeping specular highlights circular when stopped down a bit. Wide open, you might see some cat's eye shapes near the edges, which is totally normal for a lens at this price. The 100mm focal length gives you enough compression to blow out backgrounds pretty effectively, even at f/2.8, as long as your subject isn't pressed right up against a busy backdrop. Just don't expect the creamy, buttery bokeh you'd get from a dedicated portrait lens with a faster aperture. The transition from in-focus to out-of-focus can feel a bit abrupt.

Stacked against something like a used Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro, the 100M-E loses on almost every front except price when new. The Tamron offers autofocus, better sharpness, and in many versions, image stabilization. Even a manual focus Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Macro, while more expensive, obliterates this lens optically and goes to 2:1 magnification. The Rokinon-sourced design here is coasting on being cheap and available, not on being great.

Then you've got modern zooms like the Nikon Z 17-28mm f/2.8 or the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS, which aren't macro lenses at all but still deliver more versatility in a single package. Those zooms have autofocus, stabilization, and weather sealing, and they cover a range of focal lengths the 100M-E can't touch. You'd need extension tubes or close-up filters to approach macro territory with those, but for general photography, they're in a different league. The 100M-E is a specialty tool. It does one thing, and it does it manually.

Pricing for this lens is a rollercoaster. We're seeing it listed anywhere from $395 to over $10,000, which is frankly ridiculous. The high end of that range is clearly a mistake or a scalper hoping someone clicks "buy" without thinking. If you're paying more than about $450 for this lens, you're getting taken for a ride. At $395, it's one of the cheapest ways to get a dedicated 1:1 macro lens with a useful 100mm working distance. There aren't many AF macro lenses at this price point, so you're trading autofocus for cash savings.

The real value question is whether a vintage manual focus macro lens from a used gear site would serve you better. For the same $400, you could snag a used Tamron 90mm f/2.8 with autofocus, or an older Nikon 105mm f/2.8 D. Those would give you better optical performance and the option of AF when you need it. The 100M-E makes sense only if you need a brand new lens with a warranty and you're dead set on the 100mm focal length. Otherwise, the value proposition gets wobbly pretty fast.

The Elite Brands Inc 100M-E is basically the Rokinon 100mm f/2.8 Macro wearing a different badge, and if you know Rokinon's manual focus primes, you already have a good sense of what's going on here. This is a lens built for one thing: getting really, really close to your subject without spending a fortune. At 726g, it's got some heft to it, but that's not unusual for a chunk of glass designed to resolve fine detail at a 1:1 reproduction ratio. The 100mm focal length gives you a comfortable working distance from skittish bugs or delicate flowers, which is a huge practical plus for macro shooters. But here's the kicker: there's no autofocus, no stabilization, and no weather sealing. You're getting a purely mechanical, old-school experience.

So who's this for? Someone who wants to dip a toe into macro photography without selling a kidney, and who doesn't mind the slow, deliberate process of nailing focus by hand. Portrait shooters might also raise an eyebrow, since a 100mm f/2.8 on full frame can deliver flattering compression and decent subject separation. Our database puts its bokeh quality right around average, in the 64th percentile, which means out-of-focus areas are pleasant but not going to make anyone's jaw drop. The circular 9-blade diaphragm helps keep those highlights round, at least.

But you should know what you're getting into. This is not an all-rounder. The versatility score sits in the 34th percentile, which is a polite way of saying this lens does one thing and mostly fumbles everything else. Street photography? The manual focus and lack of stabilization make it a chore. Run-and-gun video? Forget it. Even for macro, the optical score lands in the 21st percentile, which is a red flag. Sharpness might be fine for the price, but there are likely compromises in contrast, chromatic aberration, or corner performance that keep it from competing with modern macro lenses. Still, for a sub-$500 lens (at its best price), it's hard to be too harsh.

Anyone who plans to shoot macro handheld should look elsewhere immediately. Without stabilization and autofocus, your keeper rate will be abysmal. Even slight body sway at 1:1 magnification throws your focus plane off by millimeters, and you'll be chasing focus constantly. Look at a used Tamron 90mm f/2.8 VC or a Canon 100mm f/2.8L IS if you need to work without a tripod.

Also skip this if you're a hybrid shooter who wants to do video. The manual focus ring might be smooth, but the lack of stabilization means handheld footage will be jittery, and focusing during a shot without gears and a follow focus is a pain. If you need a macro lens for video work, the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2X Macro is a better manual focus option with superior optics, or a native AF macro lens will let you pull focus electronically.

If you're a student or a hobbyist who wants to learn macro photography on a tight budget, and you're pairing this lens with a sturdy tripod and a focusing rail, the 100M-E can teach you a lot. The manual focus forces you to slow down and think about composition and depth of field. At $395, you're not risking much. Just know that the optical quality won't blow you away, and you'll be doing a lot of pixel-peeping to make sure your manual focus was spot on.

For anyone else, especially if you plan to shoot handheld or in less than ideal light, skip it. The lack of stabilization combined with the manual focus makes every shot a test of patience. You're better off saving up for a used macro lens with autofocus, or even adapting an older manual focus macro lens with a reputation for better glass. The 100M-E fills a gap in the market, but that gap exists for a reason: most people are happier spending a bit more for a lot more capability.