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10/06/2006 05:38:41 PM · #1 |
Can you buy Canon lenses that aren't both?
I don't currently own a DSLR, but just trying to learn for the future. |
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10/06/2006 05:40:34 PM · #2 |
EF lenses are the Canon lenses designed for the EOS cameras...
Before EF lenses (and EOS cameras) the lenses were called FD lenses.
EF-s lenses are lenses designed for Canons 1.6 cropfactore digital SLR's |
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10/06/2006 05:40:55 PM · #3 |
What does “EOS” mean?
Canon’s line of autofocus-capable SLR cameras is sold under the name EOS. This stands for “electro-optical system” but is also meant to be a reference to Eos, a Greek goddess of the dawn. Some people pronounce it like the goddess (ee-oss) and others as separate letters (ee-oh-ess).
Note also that the company itself is Canon with one N. In its very early days it was named Kwanon, after the Buddhist goddess of mercy. However the company soon changed to Canon (a general law or principle).
What does “EF” mean?
Lenses built by Canon for use with their EOS series of cameras are technically known as EF-series lenses. This acronym stands for “electrofocus.” Older Canon lenses which are not marked EF, such as FD and FL series lenses, are not compatible with EOS cameras.
Compatibility is very straightforward - if it’s an EOS camera then an EF lens will fit. However, there is one complication. In 2004 Canon introduced a new EF lens mount variant for certain digital EOS cameras only. This variant is known as EF-S. An EF-S mount camera can accept both EF and EF-S lenses, but all other EOS cameras take only EF lenses. Newer consumer and midrange EOS digital cameras can use both EF and EF-S lenses.
There are four other minor points of note here. Mainly of interest to completists, but there we go.
First, Canon sell expensive specialized TS-E and MP-E lenses which, while technically not EF lenses since they lack autofocus motors, are nonetheless designed for EOS cameras.
Second, while Canon autofocussing lenses are technically known as EF you will sometimes see them referred to as “Canon autofocus” lenses. Third-party lensmakers may or may not use the EF specification - they might simply refer to their lenses as being “For Canon EOS” or “Canon autofocus compatible.”
Third, Canon briefly sold a camera with an EF lens mount which lacked autofocus circuitry. This camera, the EF-M, could accept all EF lenses but you had to focus them manually.
Finally, just to confuse things further, in 1973 Canon released a manual-focus camera which was called the Canon EF. It predates the EOS system by 14 years and it cannot use EF lenses.
What does “SLR” mean?
All Canon EOS cameras are SLRs, which stands for “single lens reflex.” Very simply an SLR is a camera in which there is only one lens, which is used for both picture-taking and viewfinding. When you peer through the viewfinder at the back of the camera you’re looking directly through the main picture-taking lens, so you can see pretty well exactly what’s going to be in the final picture. There isn’t a separate viewfinder lens on the front of the camera like on a point and shoot camera.
The word “reflex” in there refers to a mirror used to reflect light from the lens up into the viewfinder. SLRs also have glass pentaprisms or pentamirrors on the top, which explains the protruding section on top of the camera.
Don't think I'm that smart :-) Got it here
Canon Eos Beginners
Message edited by author 2006-10-06 17:42:12. |
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10/06/2006 05:48:59 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by philup:
Note also that the company itself is Canon with one N. |
Nope :-) "Canon" has two N's; "Cannon" has three...
R.
Message edited by author 2006-10-06 17:49:08. |
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10/06/2006 05:52:57 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
Originally posted by philup:
Note also that the company itself is Canon with one N. |
Nope :-) "Canon" has two N's; "Cannon" has three...
R. |
:-) very good Robert, I love a giggle before I go to bed. |
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10/06/2006 06:02:59 PM · #6 |
| Thanks, Philup! I found Canon's "EF 101" site but instead of defining terms, it's all about selling you lenses. |
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10/06/2006 06:13:30 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by peecee:
:-) very good Robert, I love a giggle before I go to bed. |
Sleep tight!
R. |
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