Keep EF-S Lens on Old Camera or Replace with RF Lens on New Camera?

I have a Canon EOS 550D (T2i) camera with which I mainly use a Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/23.5-5.6 IS USM lens as an everyday lens.

Because I'm planning to buy the Canon R6 Mark II mirrorless camera, along with the appropriate telephoto lens for shooting things like sports, I'm wondering whether I ought to hang on to the EF-S 15-85 lens and keep it on the T2i for everyday use (since it can't be used with the R6) or if I should sell the EF-S 15-85 and replace it with the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens that I'd use with the Canon R6 Mark II.

I'm trying to figure out if what sorts of advantages there would be to going the more costly route of getting the RF 24-105mm f/4 L and whether the advantages would merit that extra cost.

Thank you!

If you are going to keep the rebel you might as well keep the lens. Otherwise it will be harder to sell it later. If you sell the rebel, there would be no reason to keep the lens. If you mirrorless wouldn't want to adapt an ef-s lens even if it's possible.

Does the R6 not have a crop mode? If it does, just get the EF-R adapter and continue using the existing lens; there’s no real reason not to with this system. I just spent the better part of 2 weeks shooting around New Orleans with the Tamron 18-400 adapted on my R5 and it worked as well there as on the bodies I originally purchased it for.

Yup, as SnydreMark said, you can use your 15-85mm lens on your new R6!

You just need this $99 adaptor.......

https://www.bhphotovid​eo.com …_mount_adapter_​ef_rf.html

The EFS 15-85 is a very nice lens, arguably the best EFS lens. Still, I wouldn't build a new FF mirrorless system around it.

If we were talking about fast EF, L glass, I'd say, yeah, get an adapter and work with that until it gets in the way. But the 15-85 is already in the way. You can make it work by masking off a large section of pixels the lens can't see (crop mode), but why go FF then.

The options you're considering are pretty far apart. Spend $100 for an adapter, or spend $1300 on an RF 24-105 f/4L. There are options in between. Canon makes a non-L RF 24-105 f/4-7.1 for $400. Or you could get a used EF 24-105 f/4L for about $400. Add that $100 adapter and you're FF, L-class ready.

Right; to be clear, I was only suggesting adapting the 15-85 “for the time being”, in order to ease the outlay. With the RF lens, you’d get a fixed aperture lens, which is one of the biggest benefits in a zoom, to me; plus, better optics, native lens support including the RF control ring. Additionally, as noted above, you’re not hamstringing the camera by using only a small portion of the sensor.

It sounds like the current buy is going to be fairly significant, though, and I’d hate to see OP stop using a perfectly serviceable lens just because of the other costs. I don’t suggest keeping it on the old body, though, because it’s difficult enough to swap between similar bodies..the R’s are such completely different beasts in approach and function that I would imagine it just amping up frustration. Like trying to learn to drive in a passenger sedan and an F1 car at the same time.

RF lenses are very expensive, and while they are optically fine, they are not optically finer enough to warrant a huge loss of money by selling current lenses and buying more expensive versions. Plus RF lenses come with downsides, in my book. First, the control ring I find useless at best, annoying at worst. Second, most of the upper range lenses are really, really heavy.

Keep current lenses. Get the adapter. That adapter is expensive enough! Try to find it used, but I advise against third-party versions, as I have not had good luck with them.

Snydremark wrote in post #19443500
Does the R6 not have a crop mode? If it does, just get the EF-R adapter and continue using the existing lens; there’s no real reason not to with this system. I just spent the better part of 2 weeks shooting around New Orleans with the Tamron 18-400 adapted on my R5 and it worked as well there as on the bodies I originally purchased it for.

There is one big reason not to use the R6 Mk II in crop mode…… Image Quality.

The R6 Mk II has a 24mp sensor, and when used in “crop mode” only has about 9mp.
The first R6 has a 20mp sensor, and when used in “crop mode” only has about 8mp.

The R5 has a much larger 45mp sensor and the resulting 18mp crop mode is a lot better.

msowsun wrote in post #19444038
There is one big reason not to use the R6 Mk II in crop mode…… Image Quality.

The R6 Mk II has a 24mp sensor, and when used in “crop mode” only has about 9mp.
The first R6 has a 20mp sensor, and when used in “crop mode” only has about 8mp.

The R5 has a much larger 45mp sensor and the resulting 18mp crop mode is a lot better.

The OP is talking about a significant cash outlay *already*; I was just offering the suggestion that they *can* still utilize their current gear as a stopgap if necessary. That's also why, in subsequent reply, I also noted that one benefit OF moving to the RF lens is being able to utilize the full sensor.

Thank you to everyone for your input in response to my question.

I think that for now it might be sensible (and a lot cheaper) to hang on to the old camera with the 15-85 lens and use it as a supplement to the Canon R6-super telephoto combination when I need the wider angle. I took a look at B&H and KEH online to get an idea of what they'd pay for the Canon 15-85 in very good condition, and I was surprised by how little they'd pay for that lens, given that it's about an $800 lens.

It was an $800 lens... EF-S lens prices really plummeted in the last few years. I picked up my 15-85 for $200, and I've seen 17-55s for $350 (I paid $800 for that one 10 years ago).

Fortunately, I don't think there's any rush to get a full frame RF standard zoom to replace it. I doubt the price you'll get for selling your old body or lens is going to change much more in the next few months, so there's no harm in holding onto it. I have a hunch that once you get used to the R6's AF you'll want to use it for everything- but you can play with using the EF-S lens on an adapter or getting an EF 24-105 if the outlay for an RF 24-105 is too much.

Do not sell EOS, EF-S. I went to R/RF and sold it after two years. Happy with 500D 24 E-S and 5D MKII with couple of Ls.

Coincedentally, I bought a used EFS 15-85mm for my 90D just a week or so ago. Paid $150 to my door. Not hard to find a good copy at that price. I felt I overpaid for it a little bit. Took it out for the first time today.

drsilver wrote in post #19444966
Coincedentally, I bought a used EFS 15-85mm for my 90D just a week or so ago. Paid $150 to my door. Not hard to find a good copy at that price. I felt I overpaid for it a little bit. Took it out for the first time today.

You will enjoy the 15 85
A great walk around lens
I have kept it with my 80D (it is always in my car) although it is hard to go back from the r6 to dslr
With the r7 the adapted 15 85 will work very well so if the budget is tight the r7 with adapted efs glass is a good option

omer wrote in post #19447854
You will enjoy the 15 85
A great walk around lens
I have kept it with my 80D (it is always in my car) although it is hard to go back from the r6 to dslr
With the r7 the adapted 15 85 will work very well so if the budget is tight the r7 with adapted efs glass is a good option

Took mine out for the first time last week. Very nice lens. At least as nice as my EFS 18-135mm, maybe better. And it goes to 15mm. I put a writeup on it in the 90D thread.

Here's one example. Don't know if you've seen my 'Moonset' pictures. I put a few of those up in other places. Mostly made with the 15-85.