Canon EF glass probably isn't done just yet, but...

What would you like to see Canon release before they end EF production?

Please, dont say they should update every lens in the line to f/1.2 and weigh 1 ounce and cost $1.

With the 2nd and 3rd release of many of the lenses they are somewhat near reasonable perfection for that lens. The 70-200 2.8 and 4 are superb, as is the 100-400, as is the 24-70, and the BIG whites....you see my point.

What lens would you like to see tweaked/improved before the end arrives?

I think EF is done. I think it more today than I did yesterday. my EF lenses are "perfect" and I want for nothing. i'm ready for the future.

chuckmiller wrote in post #19012423
What would you like to see Canon release before they end EF production?

Please, dont say they should update every lens in the line to f/1.2 and weigh 1 ounce and cost $1.

With the 2nd and 3rd release of many of the lenses they are somewhat near reasonable perfection for that lens. The 70-200 2.8 and 4 are superb, as is the 100-400, as is the 24-70, and the BIG whites....you see my point.

What lens would you like to see tweaked/improved before the end arrives?

We are currently at a transition. Things are happening. We don't know exactly what Canon or the others will come up with. But everything depends on that. Would you spend big money on a new EF lens now, like a 500/5.6? Not me - I would wait a bit. In a year we will have a much better idea of what our options are.

Just a couple things, that I may or may not actually buy, but thoughts nonetheless:

24mm f/1.4L III with 9 aperture blades (This just seems the perfect lens for nightscape starbursts) and the magic "blue goo" that's in the 35.

I would love it if they'd make the EF-M 22mm f/2 pancake in EF-S mount.

And I probably wouldn't buy, because I'm happy with the Tamron, but I can't believe they haven't made a 50mm f/1.4 or 1.8 IS and 85 f/1.8 IS that are in line with the 24, 28, and 35 primes.

Pipe dream: keep the EF-S 17-55 exactly as it is optically, but with better build and/or a zoom lock. Low investment on their part, but if that lens were up to par with the weather sealing on the 7d2 it'd be my take-everywhere lens.

OK, let's assume Canon EF lenses are going the way of the Dodo. What does that mean for my EFs gear? Will that go, too? I've sold off all of my EF gear and moved exclusively to APSc/EFs. One caveat; I still shoot Pentax medium format 645N. If Canon moves on from EF, won't they be deserting a hoard of Rebel using soccer mom's and the like? This is a real pipe dream: efs 15mm & 24mm f/2 & efs 100-400 or so. For the 100-400, I could buy a Sigma, but it is made for full frame, which means heavy and expensive compared to the likes of the 55-250 STM.

eventually new EF lenses will be harder to get... but they will still be great lens that can be adapted to the newer RF bodies

There will still be a demand for the EF stuff....
One by one, Canon will end the support period for each lens, and that will impact demands a little...

and only when the RF lineup is as full and 'affordable' as the EF lineup will there be no demand for EF

135L with IS. That's all I need

Lens mounts have been discontinued by companies over the decades. In some cases they were replaced by newer lens lines by the same manufacturer. In other cases the manufacturer went out of business entirely.
But we have seen, over and over, that the USED MARKET is sustained in the marketplace even decades after the original 'obsolescence'. Their usefulness continues onward, even when the market value has declined.
There are millions of EF bodies, and they will not disappear instantaneously. And as long as EF bodies exist, users will exist who want more lenses in the kit, even used ones.

Wilt wrote in post #19012530
Lens mounts have been discontinued by companies over the decades. In some cases they were replaced by newer lens lines by the same manufacturer. In other cases the manufacturer went out of business entirely.
But we have seen, over and over, that the USED MARKET is sustained in the marketplace even decades after the original 'obsolescence'. Their usefulness continues onward, even when the market value has declined.
There are millions of EF bodies, and they will not disappear instantaneously. And as long as EF bodies exist, users will exist who want more lenses in the kit, even used ones.

I think Wilt hit the nail on the head. There is still a healthy market for Pentax 645A lenses that were originally made for the 645 in the mid-80s. Pentax 645FA lens (auto-focus) began coming out in the late 90s. They still work on modern Pentax digital MF bodies 645D/Z. All of which means I'll be able to buy whatever EF glass I need... for the rest of my life.

Wilt wrote in post #19012530
Lens mounts have been discontinued by companies over the decades. In some cases they were replaced by newer lens lines by the same manufacturer. In other cases the manufacturer went out of business entirely.
But we have seen, over and over, that the USED MARKET is sustained in the marketplace even decades after the original 'obsolescence'. Their usefulness continues onward, even when the market value has declined.
There are millions of EF bodies, and they will not disappear instantaneously. And as long as EF bodies exist, users will exist who want more lenses in the kit, even used ones.

Yes, very true.

Whenever new bodies or lenses come out, those at the top of the food chain acquire the new models and the older but still good quality gear is pushed down to the next layer whose interest is less keen but would buy at the used prices. The stuff they might already have gets pushed down another layer. The whole photographic community benefits by this cascade of gear.

But nowadays the lower hierarchy buyers don't exist any more because they have all gone to cell phones. While top gear that is decades old might make excellent photos, the cell phone crowd doesn't want it because of the weight, bulk and learning curve. It will be interesting to see what effect the continuous stream of new gear will have on the used market.

Until something groundbreaking (akin to going from film to digital) comes along, I think there will always be a solid market for used EF gear. The higher end EF gear was made to last, and I think that was part of their "downfall" - why upgrade when my stuff works perfectly. You can only reinvent the wheel so many times before everyone has a wheel (going from a 300 2.8 I to a II I hear is a nice upgrade), going from a 70-200 2.8 II to a III?? So, no point for Canon to invest more $$ coming out with new "more perfecter" lenses. Now they have a new wheel (RF) to focus on and eventually saturate until the next wheel needs to be invented...

If you look at second hand prices on the current EF lens you'll see these things hold their value better than most other consumer products. Compare to a three year old lap top or a two year old BMW. The EF's will be around for a long time. Even if Canon will not 'service' them, how often is that needed anyway? Unless you drop stuff. And there will always be some shop who will service them.


The FDs kind of died off WITH FILM. The EF lenses started in the film era but EOS went digital and kept the mount. Even though my 40 plus year old AE1 is still fully functional along with my T90 and FD lens, I doubt I'll shoot film any time soon. I tried the FD to EOS adapter.....meh.....ho​wever my now 17 year old EOS 10D still works perfectly and I use that still. So why would the EF lens disappear from the scene?

I'm not a fan of buying second hand camera equipment but if there is some odd price drop off I'll be buying if the price is right. 500 mm is interesting.....

I'm 55 and probably can live with EF lenses.

IF more EF lenses are released...

I want a 200-600 mm zoon like Sony has, with the same optical quality as Canon's 100-400 II.

A guy can dream, can't he

gonzogolf wrote in post #19012529
135L with IS. That's all I need

You can put it on a mirrorless....they all will have IBIS

Aronis wrote in post #19012584
I'm 55 and probably can live with EF lenses.

I am 69, and can probably die with EF lenses!

Dropping $3000-4000 on an equivalent level (to what I have) R series body, and THEN spend thousands more in buying new R mount lenses to replace the full range EF mount lens FL that I have, just to have 'the ultimate' in IQ...I don't need those bragging rights to sustain my self respect as a 'Man'.