How much longer will EF be around?

[chahath]

I know photography is more than just gear, and a lens that was great 5 years ago didn't get worse just because newer better ones are out, but I fear that if I don't sell my EF lenses soon they'll become worthless when everyone and their dog have moved on to the RF mount. I don't shoot professionally and I'm not made of money, so I'd rather not have to write off all the money I spent on EF lenses if I can avoid some of the loss by selling them while they're still worth something.

[scottwuerch]

We're a year into your prediction...still feel two years??

Until they come up with a mirrorless camera that has a truly lagless EVF I can't see using them for what I do. Sports photography (as well as almost all action photography) will require a mirror and a pentaprism so that we can see exactly when to release the shutter. Even a short lag in what the camera sees and what I see will ensure that I miss the picture that I really want. I don't even use "Live View" on most of the camera's I own (except the 60D with the reticulating screen) due to the more difficult focusing process and the lag time between what the sensor sees and what I see. With the number of EOS cameras out there, I can't see Canon discontinuing EF lenses any time soon. 

Canon EOS 1D mark iii (2), 6D, 5D, 60D, 10D and a boatload of "L" series lenses (since that seems to impress you). 

[RobertTheFat]

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@scottwuerch wrote:

We're a year into your prediction...still feel two years??

Until they come up with a mirrorless camera that has a truly lagless EVF I can't see using them for what I do. Sports photography (as well as almost all action photography) will require a mirror and a pentaprism so that we can see exactly when to release the shutter. Even a short lag in what the camera sees and what I see will ensure that I miss the picture that I really want. I don't even use "Live View" on most of the camera's I own (except the 60D with the reticulating screen) due to the more difficult focusing process and the lag time between what the sensor sees and what I see. With the number of EOS cameras out there, I can't see Canon discontinuing EF lenses any time soon. 

Canon EOS 1D mark iii (2), 6D, 5D, 60D, 10D and a boatload of "L" series lenses (since that seems to impress you). 

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Just to be clear: A DSLR is not lagless. It has to wait for the mirror to get out of the way before it can start to open the shutter. And from that point, it's subject to some of the same lags as a mirrorless. It takes time to finish opening and closing the shutter, just as it takes time for a mirrorless to scan the sensor. In both cases, ingenious methods are used to speed the process up. But the long run favors the mirrorless, because it's usually easier to get a computer to do things faster than to wring the same effect out of a mechanical assembly.

[scottwuerch]

I'm NOT talking shutter lag...I'm talking EVF lag. With a mirror and a pentaprism I can see live what the lens is seeing. Viewfinder lag = 0. The only thing affecting me is shutter lag and I can compensate for that by releasing the shutter slightly before I expect the peak of action to occur. With a mirrorless, I have EVF lag PLUS shutter lag. I am seeing what the lens saw .02 seconds ago, so I'm already behind the 8-ball in the process. Now I press the shutter release and add shutter lag into the process which equals a missed picture. Have not yet seen an EVF screen/viewfinder that I liked as much as my SLR for the photography I do. How many mirrorless cameras (or SLR's where the photographer is using "live view") are you seeing in the hands of pros on the sidelines of pro sports, motor sports, or action sports...exactly NONE. There is a reason...in this usage SLR has the advantage over EVF. Like it or not, in a fast shooting environment, right now, SLR wins...I haven't had an ability to play with the two newest mirrorless in Canon's line...but to date, I'm not trading in my SLR's or my EF lenses. Perhaps a few more iterations of mirrorless technology may reach the levels needed in high action photography, but as of currently they don't. 

[wq9nsc]

As Scott clearly notes, for those of us who shoot sports a mirrorless with EVF lag is a step backwards over current high end DSLR bodies.  Mirrorless offers such great features as EVF lag, a sensor that is more prone to noise from heat buildup since it is constantly being used to drive the display and AF system, and a constantly exposed sensor that makes it more subject to laser damage.  Add to that reduced battery life from supporting the EVF/sensor system and reduced focus acquisition speed compared to Canon's separate AF sensor when rapidly switching from a close to distant point on the field.  It is just what every sports shooter wants...

Mirrorless is well suited for studio, landscape photography, and many uses.  It is particularly suitable for those who value video as much as or more than stills but it isn't ready for primetime on the sidelines if one is used to shooting a Canon 1 series DSLR.

A mirrorless can probably be developed that will yield sufficient performance but a good question would be why start with a platform that has significant drawbacks for the sports market and then try to overcome these drawbacks when a better platform is already available. 

Rodger

[ebiggs1]

"If EF has only two years left, how do you explain the 1DX Mk III?"

What does that have to do with a new mirrorless Rebel or xxD series? Exactly nothing! And, there will be a mirrorless pro body coming.

[ebiggs1]

"A mirrorless can probably be developed that will yield sufficient performance ..."

Even if a mirrorless can't be developed without undesirable lag, what makes you sure the 1DX Mk IV won't have an "R" mount? I have been through this change with Canon before. EF is dead. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now.  This time is different. Now is I don't need it. Then I did. 

[wq9nsc]

Ernie,

I wouldn't hate a switch to RF lenses, I just don't want the drawbacks of mirrorless for the way I use the cameras.  The EF lens family has had a very long run.

Rodger

[scottwuerch]

The last change, from FD to EF involved a change from a manual focus system to a auto focus system. The way canon wanted to do their auto focus required passing electronics through their mount system. What advantage do the RF lenses bring to the game? Bemoan the change all you want, there is still no shortage of FD lenses to be had. Same will be true of the EF lenses. And as far as the new EOS 1 iteration, I guess the question would be is Canon ready to ditch the pro market for prosumers. As a pro I have $25,000 in EF glass. I would be staying with my existing bodies rather than purchasing a new one every couple years as I and most working pros do.

[RobertTheFat]

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@ebiggs1 wrote:

"A mirrorless can probably be developed that will yield sufficient performance ..."

Even if a mirrorless can't be developed without undesirable lag, what makes you sure the 1DX Mk IV won't have an "R" mount? I have been through this change with Canon before. EF is dead. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now.  This time is different. Now is I don't need it. Then I did. 

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How would an "R" lens stay out of the way of the mirror on a 1DX4?

[ebiggs1]

"How would an "R" lens stay out of the way of the mirror on a 1DX4?"

I don't know.  Why don't you ask a Canon design engineer.  Your assumption Canon will use the exact same 1 series body is short sighted. The clear meaning is the next or very soon next 1 series or pro series will not be EF.