Film Lens on a Digital Body?

[cjm]

I was told that you can use your EOS lenses made for a film camera on your digital body but you lose two stops.

But I was wondering what people who have done this think? From personal experience does using your old Film lens work well enough for you that some lenses you simply wont replace? Anyways your help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[cjm]

Oh and if you have an example of a basic film lens used with a digital body picture you could share that would also help. Thanks.

[daveh]

You don't loose any stops. Almost all of the EOS lenses that everyone uses are "film lenses" in the sense that they were originally designed when only film cameras existed.

Are you thinking FD lenses by any chance? That would make more sense.

[robertwgross]

I was told that you can use your EOS lenses made for a film camera on your digital body but you lose two stops.


In the Canon EOS family, you have EF lenses, and you have EF-S lenses. The EF lenses will work on anything, film cameras, full-frame digitals, and 1.3 and 1.6 factor digitals.

EF-S lenses will only fit onto a few of the newer digital bodies.

There is no loss of two stops of light or anything.

Who told you this stuff? Some guy working part-time at Ritz Cameras?

---Bob Gross---

[Curtis N]

My wife and I have a 300D and a 35mm SLR. When we go places, sometimes we'll take both cameras and swap lenses back and forth all day long.

I won't buy a lens that I can't use on both cameras.

[cjm]

Well I am glad I asked guys. I was pricing out replacing my lenses (On B&H) I use with my elan and it was depressing how much it would cost to do the same thing.

I was told by two different people that they lose 2 stops. But you know what Bob I will take your word for it over theirs since you obviously know what you're talking about and I have seen your work. Its probably a scam to get me to buy new lens saying that my old glass is not very good anymore.

OK so a follow up question would be, how can you tell if it is a Digital only lens? Will it only have a Square on it? I know the red dot is for film and the white square is for digital so does that simplify things? Or do all digital lens have a red dot and white square on them?

[cjm]

Oh yeah anyone know of any good "Lenses for Dummies" websites? A site that will tell me about how to pick a winner lens and avoid junk you don't need. Thanks.

[Curtis N]

If the model is "EF" it will work with 35mm or any of Canon's digital SLRs.
If the model is "EF-S" it will only work on the 1.6 crop factor cameras, such as the Digital Rebel (300D) Digital Rebel XT (350D) or the 20D.

Canon's website (http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=148)has a lens chart and lots of other information.

As for a "Lenses for Dummies" website, try this one (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/).:D

[Coco-Puffs]

unless you go redneck like me and bust out your power tools and start drilling the EF-S to fit a EF mount. LOL

[daveh]

Just to be clear - the EF-S lenses only work with some digital bodies so calling even those "digital-only" is a little unclear.

Winners depend on what you want from them. I like fast high quality (expensive) primes myself. Canon makes very few lenses in that category that I would call "losers". For Zooms, the quality range is much greater.

[cjm]

OK so EF is all I will buy then. I'll avoid that EF-S because I will buy a 20D soon but I might upgrade a year or two to a 1 MKII D or 5D so I want my lens to last much longer.

I followed your link Curtis and then I ended up back here. Man sure a lot of dummies on that link ;) LOL

[Wilt]

<I'll avoid that EF-S because I will buy a 20D soon but I might upgrade a year or two to a 1 MKII D or 5D so I want my lens to last much longer.>

I hope you can afford another $2k for a 5D or another $6.5k for a 1Ds MkII, cuz that's what it will cost (assuming you can sell the 20D for what you paid!), to get a full frame sensor on a body. Yes, it might occur that 20D is replaced at the current price level by a FF new model, but given the fact that almost no one but Canon even offers FF alternatives, it is unlikely the 1.6 crop format will disappear too quick...and you can sell the EFS lenses to the tens of thousands of Rebel 350 and 20D owners who hang on to their stuff for a while.

[robertwgross]

I was told by two different people that they lose 2 stops. ... Its probably a scam to get me to buy new lens saying that my old glass is not very good anymore.


It might be a simple scam, or it might be a simple misunderstanding, or those camera guys might be uninformed or misinformed.


OK so a follow up question would be, how can you tell if it is a Digital only lens?

I think "Digital only" is a bad phrase to use, because an EF-S lens will not work on full-frame digital cameras. The EF-S only works on a few digital camera bodies. EF will work on anything in the EOS family, digital, film, or ?otherwise?

---Bob Gross---

[cjm]

USM is also what I want? I've seen others like DC but it seems all the white L series lenses are USM so I will go with that.

Instead of a kit lens with the 20D I think I will go with this one (http://www.cameracanada.com/eNet-cart/product.asp?pid=2540A002&type=1,3). (not really but I'd love something like that :)) Well that and this one (http://www.cameracanada.com/eNet-cart/product.asp?pid=2534A002&type=1,3) :)

[robertwgross]

USM is also what I want?

UltraSonic Motor is kind of nice to have in a lens. It simply drives the autofocus better and faster and quieter.

---Bob Gross---

[ron chappel]

And just to confuse things (sorry) there are two types of USM as well-the cheap micro usm on the consumer zooms,then the good 'ring' usm on the better lenses.

[Simon Spiers]

This picture is taken with an ageing Canon zoom of the 90's
The lens is very cheaply made but gives great results on the 20d:p
A review can be found here http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/reviews/canon2870.htm



http://hometown.aol.co.uk/SSpiers/images/wakhurst+place.jpg

[CyberDyneSystems]

As mentioned.. all Canon lenses that say "EF" are compatible with film and digtal EOS cameras..

As for lenses for dummies.. you may also want to check out the -=TOP 10=- recomended lens thread at the top of this forum :)

[cosworth]

Stops may have been misinterpreted from "crops".

Most likely the employees were trying to get across the change in actually length of lens in mm. The "crop factor". It is a possibility you know. I've heard worse.

Most Canon digital cameras crop the image 1.6 times over a 35mm film. Because of the emphasis on megapixels, the "crop" creates a zoom of 1.6 times making a 100mm lens appear like a 160mm lens.

[Mycroft]

I was reading this thread, and then noticed where CJM is from. WOOT GO EDMONTON!!! :D :D :D

[cjm]

This picture is taken with an ageing Canon zoom of the 90's
The lens is very cheaply made but gives great results on the 20d:p
A review can be found here http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/reviews/canon2870.htm



http://hometown.aol.co.uk/SSpiers/images/wakhurst+place.jpgThats so funny! I actually have that lens. I bought it off eBay a year ago for $60 US. Hey wait, did you sneak into my house while I was gone to see what I have? LOL Thanks for the site Simon.

[Tom Camilleri]

Stops may have been misinterpreted from "crops".

Most likely the employees were trying to get across the change in actually length of lens in mm. The "crop factor". It is a possibility you know. I've heard worse.

Most Canon digital cameras crop the image 1.6 times over a 35mm film. Because of the emphasis on megapixels, the "crop" creates a zoom of 1.6 times making a 100mm lens appear like a 160mm lens.


I have a 300D, which I know is a 1.6 factor camera but I'm not quite clear on the import of this fact. When you say that this camera crops the image 1.6 times over a film SLR, what exactly do you mean? Does this imply that that the dimensions of a film frame are equal to the dimensions of the 300D sensor multiplied by a factor of 1.6? This would seem to give a 300D image in which the same object would appear 1.6 times higher and wider than it would appear in the film SLR, and thus multiply the effective fl of the lens by 1.6. Correct? Then my 50mm compact macro has an effective fl of 80mm on my rebel. Is the angle of view of an EF lense affected when you put it on a 300D?

[Curtis N]

Does this imply that that the dimensions of a film frame are equal to the dimensions of the 300D sensor multiplied by a factor of 1.6?Yes.This would seem to give a 300D image in which the same object would appear 1.6 times higher and wider than it would appear in the film SLR, and thus multiply the effective fl of the lens by 1.6. Correct?In terms of the field of view of a given focal length at a given distance, yes. There are technical differences, though, between an 80mm lens on a 35mm film camera vs. a 50mm lens on a 1.6 crop factor camera, in terms of depth-of-field.

This thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=45388)will give you more information than you ever wanted.;)

[Tom Camilleri]

Yes.In terms of the field of view of a given focal length at a given distance, yes. There are technical differences, though, between an 80mm lens on a 35mm film camera vs. a 50mm lens on a 1.6 crop factor camera, in terms of depth-of-field.

This thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=45388)will give you more information than you ever wanted.;)


Thanks, Curtis. I'll check it out.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

<I'll avoid that EF-S because I will buy a 20D soon but I might upgrade a year or two to a 1 MKII D or 5D so I want my lens to last much longer.>

I hope you can afford another $2k for a 5D or another $6.5k for a 1Ds MkII, cuz that's what it will cost (assuming you can sell the 20D for what you paid!), to get a full frame sensor on a body. Yes, it might occur that 20D is replaced at the current price level by a FF new model, but given the fact that almost no one but Canon even offers FF alternatives, it is unlikely the 1.6 crop format will disappear too quick...and you can sell the EFS lenses to the tens of thousands of Rebel 350 and 20D owners who hang on to their stuff for a while.

hmm..my info tells me that the 5D will be priced at approx. $3299, and I know that you can get 1Ds MkII bodies for 3500-4000 or so if you look the right place. I don't think his Elan 7e will sell for 1000 bucks.

[cjm]

How about just a Elan 7? Because its the first Elan 7 and has grip then it probably is a collectors item right? Even the original boxes! LOL only in my dreams.

Brand new it cost $800 CND plus $220CND for the Grip. Now? Its worth maybe $200 Max I think. Besides why would I sell a 20D in order to buy a 5D or MK III (as in 3 or whatever comes after the current one)? Am I the only one that believes in back up cameras and collecting their used equipment? Actuality of me, if I don't like something and can't return it for a refund I get rid of it very quickly.