topic Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility in EF & RF Lenses

EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

DeerHaunter — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 23:27:56 GMT

Hey guys,

I'm just getting into photography and bought a used older Rebel XT EOS. I was wondering what lenses are compatible with this model.

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

deebatman316 — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 23:47:36 GMT

Any Canon brand EF or EF-S lens is compatible with your camera. EF-M, RF, RF-S & FD Mount lenses are INCOMPATIBLE with your camera. What is your budget for a lens. What do you take pictures of.

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

DeerHaunter — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:52:22 GMT

After some digging the lens I bought with it is compatible for exactly what I wanted. I want to do landscape and wildlife photography. I was able to snag a canon zoom lens ef 75-300mm 1:4-5.6 iii with it as well.

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

deebatman316 — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 01:09:20 GMT

The EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 lens lineup is very poor optically and uses a very slow AF. Sure it will work but the lens suffers from lots of Chromatic Aberration (purple and green fringing). For landscapes a wide angle lens is better for that type of work. For general purpose photography the EF-S 18-55mm lens will cover most of the work. The very best lens for general purpose work is the EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 IS USM lens.

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

DeerHaunter — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 01:12:47 GMT

Thank you so much. I'll check those out!

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

deebatman316 — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 01:43:27 GMT

If you go with the EF-S 18-55mm lenses look for the models with "STM" in the name. The other versions use a very slow AF motor like the EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 lens lineup. Canon has made 9 different EF-S 18-55mm lenses over the years. These lenses are ok optically but the AF motor is very slow. A good upgrade from the EF-S 18-55mm lens lineup is the EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 IS USM lens. It uses a very fast AF motor and allows you to override AF by turning the focus ring. Which CANNOT be done with older versions of the EF-S 18-55mm lens lineup it will cause damage to the lens. Only the versions with STM in the name AF can be overridden when the lens is set to AF. The focus ring on the lens is electronic and is not connected to the lens' internals. A good replacement to the EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 III is the EF 70-300mm F/4-5.6 IS II Nano USM lens. This lens uses a fast AF motor and adds Image Stabilization reducing camera shake in pictures. AF can be overridden when the lens is set to AF. The focus ring on the lens is electronic and is not connected to the lens' internals.

MM= Micro Motor very slow AF motor retired and replaced by STM. Doesn't allow Full Time Manual Focus. DO NOT attempt to turn the focus ring with the lens set to AF mode. Only turn the focus ring with the lens set to MF.

STM= Stepper Motor replaced Micro Motor and very quiet and allows Full Time Manual Focus via Electronic Focus ring.

USM= Ultrasonic Motor very fast AF motor allows Full Time Manual Focus via a mechanical clutch system or Electronic Focus Ring. Doesn't use gears to adjust focus.

Ring Type USM AF motor found in the EF-S 17-55mm F/2.8 IS USM lens

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

ebiggs1 — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 14:12:40 GMT

"The EF 75-300mm F/4-5.6 lens lineup is very poor optically and uses a very slow AF. Sure it will work..."

There are thousands upon thousands of people that are totally happy with that lens. And most stay that way until or unless somebody comes along as tells them it isn't a good lens. In my classes it was probably the second most popular lens that the people had. Yes, pure amateurs but like you said, "Sure it will work..."

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

normadel — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 17:30:57 GMT

ALERT! ALERT! You are being given some bad information!

The Rebel XT, like the Rebel XS, and the EOS 10D are NOT compatible with EF-S lenses. The earliest APS-C (crop-sensor) bodies preceded the existence of EF-S. They WILL NOT accept EF-S lenses. EF-S compatibility started with the EOS 20D.

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

deebatman316 — Sat, 12 Apr 2025 17:59:47 GMT

That’s not true the first Digital Rebel camera introduced EF-S lenses in 2003. The information you have is INCORRECT. Unless you’re talking about the Rebel XS film camera. The only APS-C DSLRs that don’t support EF-S lenses are the 10D, D30 & D60. The Rebel XT was released in 2005 2 years after the EF-S Mount was created. Canon’s online camera museum highlights this important information. Also why would the 20D released in 2004 have the EF-S Mount. But yet the Rebel XT released in 2005 doesn’t have it. Nor does the Rebel XS. That would make zero sense. All Digital Rebel series cameras have it. The original digital Rebel debuted this new mount NOT the EOS 20D.

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

normadel — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 00:48:24 GMT

Well then there is confusion out there about which cameras can use EF-S. I checked before i wrote my reply.

Here is a Canon Knowledge Base list I (not easily) found of what cameras can use EF-S. Too bad I didn't see this in my search:

https://support.usa.canon.com/kb/s/article/ART116154

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

deebatman316 — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 02:08:32 GMT

The knowledge base shows that the Rebel XT & XS are compatible with EF-S lenses. You must’ve misread the compatibility chart. It shows yes for compatibility with those cameras. Also the list is clearly of out of date. It only shows cameras released up to 2013. But nothing else after that.

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

normadel — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 15:11:26 GMT

No, I didn't misread anything. I said it was too bad I hadn't found the chart earlier.

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

deebatman316 — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 15:26:20 GMT

Generally if it’s a Digital Rebel then it’s always compatible with EF-S lenses. It’s only if it’s a Rebel film camera then it must be used with EF lenses. Some Rebel film cameras and digital cameras have names that repeat. I always clarify with them if it’s a digital or film camera. For instance in some places there was an EOS 650 & an EOS 650D. The EOS 650D is a digital camera part of the Rebel lineup here. The “D” in the name signifies Digital. Now the EOS 650 was the first EOS film body to be released in 1987.

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

Stephen — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 15:22:38 GMT

This information is usually true; however, the earlier Rebels cannot take advantage of STM technology. The lens is compatible with the camera, it just can't see the STM motor.

Also, regarding the 75-300mm - again, on a modern camera body, it's frustrating to use because you notice the slower autofocusing and lack of light. On the vintage Digital Rebels, they perform just as they should (it's still slower, but the whole camera is slower, so it's not as noticeable). The lens is great as long as you stay in GOOD outdoor lighting. Take it inside, and your goose is cooked!

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

Stephen — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 15:24:27 GMT

Yup! That's cause film is full frame (duh), and in Canon-land, Full Frame = EF with a mirror and RF without a mirror.

Re: EOS REBEL XT Lens Compatibility

deebatman316 — Sun, 13 Apr 2025 15:38:29 GMT

@Stephen I’ve used STM lenses on older cameras and they work fine. Including Full Time Manual focus. I’ve used STM lenses on my EOS 40D, EOS Rebel XSi, EOS Digital Rebel (original silver model), EOS 10D, EOS Elan II, EOS 3, EOS 620 & EOS 650. Even IS works with the original EOS film bodies. Though some odd stuff happens with them. But it’s normal that those things happen and it’s in the lens manual. Canon was the first company to use lenses with electronic focus rings. The EF 300mm F/2.8L USM lens was the first Ring Type USM lens. Also the first to feature an electronic focus ring.