Canon EF vs EFS lenses ?? Whats the difference?

[jdb0822]

We have a Rebel XS. It can take both EF or EF-S lenses. What is the difference between the 2 types?

 

[michellem1118]

The EF-S lenses are the "new" mount developed for the digital rebel series, which includes your XS, and it has allowed for the development of some less-expensive lenses for the amateur photographer. The EF mount is the only mount option on the professional end cameras, so the professional lenses only come in EF mounts. If you think you'll ever upgrade your camera body, you should probably only buy additional lenses with an EF mount, to make sure they'll be compatible later on.

 

[jfinke]

Without getting too technical, the EF-S lenses are made for the 1.6 crop cameras. This includes the XXD line, the XXXD line, and the new XXXXD line. They are essentially smaller lens elements from what I understand.

Third party manufacturers also make them in that mount with it usually have some sort of "digital camera" designation. This is because the "old" film cameras can also only use the EF mount as well as the XD line.

 

[jdb0822]

so would EF lenses that were originally on a canon 35mm film camera also work as well?

 

[jfinke]

Yeppers! I think that EF was introduced in the mid 80s with autofocus, but don't quote me on it.

Basically, anything that worked with an EOS camera will work on any Canon DSLR.

 

[jann1033]

Yeppers! I think that EF was introduced in the mid 80s with autofocus, but don't quote me on it.

Basically, anything that worked with an EOS camera will work on any Canon DSLR.

not quite true. some third party lenses that have an ef mount needed to be rechipped to work with digital and from what i understand the chips are gone so you can't use them ( sigma for one). so be careful buying older/ used third party lenes

 

[jfinke]

True, I was just thinking of Canon lenses at that point.

I am not sure I would purchase any lens over (what would it be?) 8 years old at this point, unless it was dirt cheap and it was known to be a nice lens.

I had heard something on TWIP that today's lenses are much better than older lenses just from a technology standpoint. Which certainly makes sense to me, however I cannot personally state that.

 

[boBQuincy]

Many of the EF-S lenses are inexpensive (a relative term) but some are rather costly and highly regarded. Canon's 10-22 and 17-55 are right up there with L series lenses in price and performance.

The "S" only indicates that they only fit 1.6x cameras, nothing else.