EF vs EF-S

[gt6jim]

Hello All,
New member alert!

I'm looking to buy an EOS 400D, and have been looking round pricing up lenses etc. I'm just a hobbyist and I've used 35mm SLR quite a bit and a lot of a KonMinolta Z2. but never a DSLR

Anyhow I'm trying to get my head round this.
I know about the sensor size multiplier for most consumer SLR. eg. 1.6 for 400D
But does this apply to ALL EF and EF-S lenses?

or Is it just the EF type? as they can be used on 35mm equip?

Cheers Jim

 

[Sw1tchFX]

it applies to both.

 

[gt6jim]

Faster than a ray of light! Cheers Man!

 

[250Gimp]

The big difference is that EF lenses fit most canon film cameras, and all digital cameras, where the EFS only fits some of the digital cameras. It fits the 300D-400D, 20D, 30D etc... but it will not fit on the full frame sensor digital cameras such as, I believe, the 5D and I think the 1dmkIIn.

Hope that helps.

 

[darich]

The big difference is that EF lenses fit most canon film cameras, and all digital cameras, where the EFS only fits some of the digital cameras. It fits the 300D-400D, 20D, 30D etc... but it will not fit on the full frame sensor digital cameras such as, I believe, the 5D and I think the 1dmkIIn.

Hope that helps.

You're right Gimp.
EF-S lenses don't fit the 5D. The EF lenses do though

 

[gt6jim]

Cheers Guys.
So what you saying is, when buying lenses, may as well stick with EF type?

 

[DSLR noob]

If you plan to ever replace your camera with a superior full frame camera and reuse your lenses, then yes. Also I recommend skipping the kit lens, and just going for the cheap but beautifully sharp Canon 50mm 1.8 MK II (google it and read reviews) as a starter. I almost never use my kit lens unless I need the wide angle to take a pic in a small room, or if I want a closeup of something, as the 50mm has a longer minimum focusing distance. Try and keep your lineup as EF as possible.

 

[Big Mike]

So what you saying is, when buying lenses, may as well stick with EF type?

That is certainly one way to go. However, because of the crop factor...getting a wide field of view on one of these digital...is rather hard. What was wide (24-28mm) on your film camera, is no longer wide. Ultra wide angle lenses on 35mm cameras are limited and expensive.

This is where EF-S lenses come in. They give us back the wide angle end of the range.

Sure, there is the possibility that some people may run into the situation where they have a lot of EF-S lenses...then want to upgrade to a full frame camera that is not compatible. However, Canon seems committed to EF-S lenses and the APS-C sized sensor...so even if you have to sell them...there should still be a good market for them.