EF-S vs. EF

If I had a Canon 30d or something else that wasn't a full frame camera, I have been advised not to buy EF-S lenses because supposedly in a few years everything will be full frame cameras. So I should just buy EF lenses so I am more compatible with future full frame cameras. ...this is what I've been told; I don't necessarily subscribe to it.

So my question is, if you are using a Canon 30d or XTi, are you missing out on anything by not buying an EF-S lens, other than most EF lenses are more expensive. Is any quality gained by using an EF-S on these cameras, or I should say is any quality lost by using an EF lens?

Thanks.

Wise man. Bottom line is get the lens you most desire and that fills your needs right now, whether it's EF or EFS. Canon's current EFS lenses are superb optically (e.g., 60Macro, 1755IS, 1022) and were designed for your 30D in mind. And don't rule out the 3rd party options either.

I subscribed to that philosophy for a while - afterall, I will someday go full frame. Who knows when, but someday. So no EF-S lenses for me.

But there was a problem. I felt constrained by the 16-35mm and the 15mm fisheye I used to get wider still wasn't wide enough.

And then one day I woke up and wanted the EF-S 10-22mm to use right now instead of waiting for the someday of full frame. This was one of the best decisions I've made during my photographic experiences. I'm very happy with this lens and the image quality. It gives me exactly what I was wanting. No matter when or if I go full frame in the future, I'm getting 110% enjoyment and usefulness now.

I agree with the statement above while I understand your concern. I have tried two ef-s lenses (the 17-55 and currently own the 10-22); I find them much sharper than L lenses wide open but L being better in colors...pretty sad.

I've posted this before but I'll do it again here (hey, it took me a good portion of a bored evening and I want to get my use out of it )

Here's what you miss by not going EF-S. This is on a 30D. The blue line shows what you get with the 16mm compared to the full image from 10mm.

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I use to think along the same lines, but Canon has put a lot of time and money into the EF-S lenses lately and has some real winners. If it was really on the road map to drop the crop sensors, I am not sure they would be doing that. I think what we are seeing happening is a stratification of the market into full frame for pros and serious photographers and crop cameras for new users and less serious photographers. This also makes sense when you look at what lenses have been done for EF-S lately, they are basically mid-level versions of the higher L lenses when you take the crop into consideration. So, I don't see the crop cameras going anywhere for at least a few years. And even if they do go away in a few years, you will still have gotten years of use out of EF-S lenses. So, would you rather miss all those pictures that you can not get without EF-S lenses, or miss them and wait for a full frame camera to come your way?

photo_trev wrote in post #2519000
in a few years everything will be full frame cameras.

Not so. Remind me, how many players have FF DSLR's in their portfolio? Just Canon, and likely to stay that way.

FF will remain a niche/pro market - APS sensors are here to stay. However much sensor costs fall in general, a FF chip will always cost disproportionately more to manufacture, and the APS plusses won't diminish: extra 'reach', savings in cost, weight and size.

It's results that count, and APS sensors can now comfortably meet the demands of the vast majority. Why would the budget/mass market need more than a low-noise 8~10mp chip can deliver? Would any occasional (= mass market) photographer really pay a big premium (including ditching/upgrading glass) for the rare occasion they need to enlarge above A3 ? Don't think so.

'Full frame' is only a meaningful AoV comparator for those of us brought up on film. As the ranks of DSLR users grow the percentage with a 35mm background will fall. As time goes by the need for any comparator will dissapear.

Most new lens launches last year were APS, and I'd guess overall APS lens sales overwhelmingly outnumbered FF. So as time passes, lens legacy issues will also mitigate against wholesale defection to FF.

If I didn't have a lot of EF lenses from my film photography days, I probably would have been content with getting EFS lenses to go with a crop camera. As it was, after dipping my toes in digital with an XT (which I still have), getting a FF 5D made more sense (and cents) for me.

I agree with others that say to get the EFS lenses to enjoy your photography now. You've already invested in a good camera, so make full use of it. Otherwise, go FF now and put your EFS worries behind.

I am another shooter who would like to go full-frame - one day. in the meantime I have a crop camera which I enjoy using very much.

So I would be happy to buy EF-s lenses if I had to - after all they are easy enough to sell at small loss if they are looked after well.
But I do like lenses that will also fit on my film camera. So initially I avoided any EF-S lens and to tell the truth there is only on that interests me - the 10-22.

I have bought a sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC lens - which is for digital cameras only - it doesn't have the EF-S mount , in that it will fit a full-frame Eos camera - but it vignettes.

My thinking was, I want this lens now for the camera I have now.

And I am very glad to have it!

I only have the dreaded EF-S 18-55mm lens, the rest are EF and will stay that way. As several people stated, the EF-S 10-22mm is interesting but it wouldn't be a lens I would use much.

I honestly do not see Canon dropping crop sensors anytime in the furture, or at least near future like the next 10 years. Why? Because the crop factor has given telephoto users more reach and that is something more people like I believe then wider.

Yeah FF cameras will become more frequent but if I were to bet, the 40D and 50D and maybe 60D will all be EFS cameras.

I also used to subscribe to this theory of EFS lenses being dropped. Now I dont care too much. I just bought my second 20D and although there will be better cameras I dont think I will upgrade too much now at all in the next 5 years I think. I just got my first EFS lens (10-22) and I love it! I am considering now trying out the 60mm Macro and dumping my 50mm f1.4 (crazy? maybe).

cjm wrote in post #2521005
I honestly do not see Canon dropping crop sensors anytime in the furture, or at least near future like the next 10 years. Why? Because the crop factor has given telephoto users more reach and that is something more people like I believe then wider.

Yeah FF cameras will become more frequent but if I were to bet, the 40D and 50D and maybe 60D will all be EFS cameras.

I also used to subscribe to this theory of EFS lenses being dropped. Now I dont care too much. I just bought my second 20D and although there will be better cameras I dont think I will upgrade too much now at all in the next 5 years I think. I just got my first EFS lens (10-22) and I love it! I am considering now trying out the 60mm Macro and dumping my 50mm f1.4 (crazy? maybe).

5 years is a looong time. what were you using five years ago?

i'll bet if you are as enthusiastic about photography as you are today you'll be using a FF camera in less than five years.

ed rader

Yip I agree. Get the EF-S now. 10-22 is a cracker.

Even if you do go FF someday, there will still be a zillion users of crop cameras rushing to get a bargain when you sell it!

I think EF-S lenses are a good value for those that feel the need to shoot very wide on crop cameras. Having said that, beyond the 18-55 kit lens that came with my 20D, I've never bought one (and I sold the 18-55 pretty quickly). If you don't shoot wide, and there are many that don't, then I think the EF lenses are a better value.

For those that do plan to move to a 5D or a 1D series camera, and EF-S lens will not be usable on those bodies. However, more and more people are keeping their crop cameras as backup.

Rather than recommend that people buy or don't buy EF-S lenses, I think each individual has to examine their need objectively and make that decision based on how they currently shoot and what they intend to do in the future.

Mark

ed rader wrote in post #2521219
5 years is a looong time. what were you using five years ago?

i'll bet if you are as enthusiastic about photography as you are today you'll be using a FF camera in less than five years.

ed rader

Five years ago I was using a Rebel G, kit lens and a couple sigma lenses. Great camera. But the kit lens sucked.

True I might buy a FF camera at some point but I love the 1.6x crop factor for telephoto lenses. So should I get a FF camera I'll still be using a 20D (or something 1.6X) to cheat on my telephoto length.

Then again 5 years from now, I might be done with photography and busy with something else. Just a hobby and hobbies change.