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yaa124
Apprentice

What is the difference between EF and EF-S lenses if both have the same specs. 

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Waddizzle
Legend
Legend

@yaa124 wrote:

What is the difference between EF and EF-S lenses if both have the same specs. 


There is no simple answer if you are not familiar with lenses.  Without getting too deep into the weeds, the basic difference is that each is made for a DSLR camera with a specific size image sensor.  The primary difference between the lens families is the size of the image circle projected onto the image sensor. 

 

There are camera bodies with digital image sensor that is close to the same size of the 35mm film frames.  These DSLRs are referred to as “full frame” sensor bodies.  But, digital image sensors are costly to manufacture.  So, manufacturers came up with smaller standard sensor size, an APS-C sensor that is approximately half the size of a full frame sensor.

 

The EF lenses are made the larger full frame sensor camera bodies.  The EF-S lenses are made for the smaller APS-C sensor bodies.  Another difference between the lens families is the bayonet mount itself.  Only EF lenses can mount on a full frame sensor body.  Meanwhile, either EF or EF-S lenses can mount on an APS-C sensor body.

 

Focal length describes a physical ratio of the focusing elements within a lens, so EF and EF-S with identical focal lengths would produce identical images on a camera body with an APS-C sensor.  

 

Remember, the EF-S lens does not fit on a camera body with a full frame sensor.  Because an EF-S sensor does not project as wide of an image circle as an EF lens, an EF-S lens does not project an image wide enough to fully cover the much larger full frame image sensor.

Because EF-S lenses produce a smaller image circle, they can use smaller internal focusing elements, which makes them less  expensive to manufacture. 

 

 

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4 REPLIES 4

Waddizzle
Legend
Legend

@yaa124 wrote:

What is the difference between EF and EF-S lenses if both have the same specs. 


There is no simple answer if you are not familiar with lenses.  Without getting too deep into the weeds, the basic difference is that each is made for a DSLR camera with a specific size image sensor.  The primary difference between the lens families is the size of the image circle projected onto the image sensor. 

 

There are camera bodies with digital image sensor that is close to the same size of the 35mm film frames.  These DSLRs are referred to as “full frame” sensor bodies.  But, digital image sensors are costly to manufacture.  So, manufacturers came up with smaller standard sensor size, an APS-C sensor that is approximately half the size of a full frame sensor.

 

The EF lenses are made the larger full frame sensor camera bodies.  The EF-S lenses are made for the smaller APS-C sensor bodies.  Another difference between the lens families is the bayonet mount itself.  Only EF lenses can mount on a full frame sensor body.  Meanwhile, either EF or EF-S lenses can mount on an APS-C sensor body.

 

Focal length describes a physical ratio of the focusing elements within a lens, so EF and EF-S with identical focal lengths would produce identical images on a camera body with an APS-C sensor.  

 

Remember, the EF-S lens does not fit on a camera body with a full frame sensor.  Because an EF-S sensor does not project as wide of an image circle as an EF lens, an EF-S lens does not project an image wide enough to fully cover the much larger full frame image sensor.

Because EF-S lenses produce a smaller image circle, they can use smaller internal focusing elements, which makes them less  expensive to manufacture. 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------
"The right mouse button is your friend."

Thank you very much, your explanation was ample enough.

Thank you very much, your explanation is ample enough.

ebiggs1
Legend
Legend

The main difference for you is cameras made for ef-s lenses can use ef lenses.  Cameras made for ef lenses can not use ef-s lenses.

EF stands for electro-focus.  EF-S stands for electro-focus short back focus.

EB
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