Introduced in 1987, the EF lens mount is the standard lens mount on the Canon EOS family of SLR film and digital cameras. EF stands for "Electro-Focus": automatic focusing on EF lenses is handled by a dedicated electric motor built into the lens. Mechanically, it is a bayonet-style mount, and all communication between camera and lens takes place through electrical contacts; there are no mechanical levers or plungers.
In 2003, Canon introduced the EF-S lens mount, a derivative of the EF mount that is strictly for digital EOS cameras with APS-C sensors released after 2003. EF lenses can be mounted on EF-S bodies but EF-S lenses cannot be mounted on EF bodies.
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The EF mount replaces its predecessor, the FD mount. The standard autofocus lens mounting technology of the time used a motor in the camera body to drive the mechanics of the focus helicoid in the lens by using a transfer lever. The key innovation of the EF series was to use a motor inside the lens itself for focusing. This allowed for autofocusing lenses which did not require mechanical levers in the mount mechanism, only electrical contacts to supply power and instructions to the lens motor. The motors were designed for the particular lens they were installed in.
When the EF mount was introduced in 1987, it had the largest mount diameter (54 mm internal) among all 35 mm SLR cameras.[1]
The EF series includes over sixty lenses. The EF series has encompassed focal lengths from 8 to 1200 mm (and as wide as 10 mm for EF-S lenses). Many EF lenses include such features as Canon's ultrasonic motor (USM) drive, an image stabilization system (IS), diffractive optics (DO) and, particularly for L-series lenses, fluorite and aspherical lens elements.
Its large diameter and relatively short flange focal distance of 44.0 mm allow the EF lens mount to work with adapters.[2] It is possible to mount lenses using the Nikon F mount, Olympus OM, Leica R and universal M42 lens mounts (among others) by the use of a mechanical adapter. The earlier FD mount is not usable for general photography unless adapters with optical elements are used because its flange focal distance was only 42.0 mm; infinity focus would be lost with an adapter which lacks optical elements. The Canon FD-EOS adapter is rare and is only usable with certain FD telephoto lenses. With a manual connection, the aperture and focus controls of the lens cannot be controlled or read from the camera; the lens must be focused manually. Since the only possible metering is through-the-lens, the lens must be manually stopped down to accurately meter at anything less than full aperture. (This is called stop-down metering.)
For other lens types, an adapter would act as an extension tube, causing the lens to lose the ability to focus to infinity. Alternatively, the lens adapters would include optical elements and act as weak teleconverters, as well as possibly losing optical quality.
Third-party lenses compatible with EOS electronics are manufactured by Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, and Carl Zeiss. The manufacturers of these lenses have reverse engineered the electronics of the EF lens mount. The use of these lenses is not supported by Canon. Sometimes compatibility problems arise, as no third party has access to Canon's specifications for camera-body communication.[3] These compatibility issues mostly occur when using a newer body with an older third-party lens. Over time, most of these issues have been resolved by the major third-party brands. Nevertheless, it is not accurate to call these lenses EF mount, as that term is reserved by Canon for its own lenses exclusively.
Canon EF lenses typically have a number of controls, switches and physical features, used by the photographer to control the lens. The types and number of the controls can vary from lens to lens. With the most basic lenses having only a few, to the most complex having over a dozen different controls and switches.
This is a list of the different controls and switches found on most Canon EF lenses, along with a detailed description on what they are used for.
Lens mount index: This marking is found on all EF lenses. It is used for matching the EF lens mount to the mount on an EOS body, so one can connect the lens to the body quickly. On EF lenses, this is a raised, round red mark, while on EF-S lenses it is a square white mark.
Focusing ring: This control, found on most EF lenses, is used for focusing the lens. It is usually a ring on the lens body, that can be turned. On some lenses, such as the Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens, this is simply the inner lens barrel.
Zoom ring: This control is found on many EF zoom lenses. It is used for changing the focal length of the lens. The zoom ring usually has certain, common, focal lengths marked on it. To set the zoom ring to any given focal length, one must turn the ring so that the marked focal length matches the zoom index. The zoom index is typically a white, or black, line found next to the zoom ring.
Distance scale window: This feature is found on most EF lenses. This feature, while not a control or switch, is useful to the photographer for determining, or setting, the lens's focus distance. It is used in conjunction with the Focusing ring, when rotated, the distance scale will also rotate to show the changing focus distance. On some lenses the distance scale also has an infrared index. These are shown as red markings below the distance scale. This is used for making focus adjustments when the photographer is doing infrared photography, as lenses typically focus infrared light at a different point than visible light, and therefore achieving correct focus using visible light will result in an out-of-focus infrared image. To make an adjustment, first focus the subject, then turn the Focusing ring so it matches the corresponding infrared index mark.
Focus mode switch: This switch is found on most EF lenses that have an autofocus feature. It is used for setting the lens to either autofocus mode, or manual focus. When set to autofocus mode (AF), the lens will autofocus when directed to by the camera. When set to manual focus (MF), the lens is focused using the Focusing ring. Some lenses support full-time manual focusing (FT-M), which allows the photographer to focus the lens manually even with the mode switch set to AF, without damaging the lens (as could happen if a lens without FT-M is manually focused while in AF mode).
Focusing distance range limiter switch: This switch is found on most longer focal length lenses, and macro lenses. It is used for limiting the focusing distance range of the lens when using it in autofocus mode. Most lenses have two settings; these are usually full focus range (from minimum focus distance to infinity), and distant focus range (from half way point of focus range to infinity). Other lenses have three settings, with the additional setting usually being near focus range (from minimum focus distance to half way point of focus range). Longer focal length lenses and macro lenses have a relatively long travel distance for the focusing mechanism inside the lens; this feature shortens the autofocus time. When the photographer knows they will not need a certain part of the focus distance range, limiting it will help shorten the autofocus time, and possibly prevent "focus hunting".
Soft Focus Ring: This ring is found only on the 135 mm 'Soft Focus' prime lens, and enables a variable soft focus effect from completely sharp (0) to very soft (2), although it has little effect when used with apertures over f/5.6. Although the ring can be set to any position, two 'stops' are implemented at positions 1 and 2.
Image stabilizer switch: This switch is found on all EF lenses that feature an image stabilizer. It is used for turning the image stabilizer "on"( | ), or "off"( o ).
Image stabilizer mode switch: This switch is found on many EF lenses that feature an image stabilizer, particularly those of longer focal lengths. The switch has two settings: Mode 1 and Mode 2. Mode 1 is normal mode, used for typical photography, where the subject does not move. Mode 2 is used for panning; this is useful for sports or wildlife photography, where the subject moves constantly and one will need to pan. One should not use Mode 1 for panning as this will typically cause blurred photographs; the image stabilizer will attempt to correct for all motion, including the panning motion, but cannot do so due to the limited range of motion of the IS mechanism. Most lenses that have an image stabilizer, but do not feature this switch, are permanently in Mode 1. Some newer lenses, such as the Canon EF-S 18-200mm lens, are able to detect if they are being panned in either axis and will auto disable the stabilization for the axis parallel to movement. Therefore, they do not need this switch.
Autofocus stop buttons: These buttons are found on some super telephoto EF lenses, evenly spaced around the front collar of the lens. They are used for temporarily stopping the autofocus feature of the lens. Only one button needs to be pressed to activate the feature. To use this button, one must first have the autofocus active, then when one wishes to halt autofocus, one presses and holds the button. To resume autofocus, one releases the button. Some newer bodies allow these buttons to be assigned to perform other functions; for instance, the Canon EOS 7D allows the photographer to set these buttons to perform any of six functions.
Focus preset: The focus preset feature is found on most super telephoto EF lenses. The focus preset feature uses one switch, one button, and one ring. It is used for presetting a given focus distance into memory, so that the photographer can quickly recall the focus distance, without the need for autofocus. The switch has three settings "off"( o ), "on"( | ), or "on with sound"( ((- ), and is used for turning on the feature, and deciding if sound is desired. The "set" button is used for saving the focus distance into memory. The focus preset ring is used for recalling the memory save point. It is a thin knurled ring, usually located in front of the Focusing ring. To use this feature, one must set the switch to either "on" or "on with sound", focus the lens to the desired distance, then press the "set" button. After this, when the feature is turned on, the photographer can turn the focus preset ring, and the lens will recall and focus quickly to the distance that was saved. This feature is useful for sports and birding photography (for instance, to allow rapid focusing on the goal or on a spot where the birds may perch).
Filter mounting: This mount is used for attaching filters to EF lenses. There are three types: front threaded mount, inner drop-in mount, and rear gelatin holders. Front threaded filters are used on most lenses, and are attached by threading and tightening the filter. Inner, drop-in filter mounts are used on super telephoto EF lenses. They are attached by first pressing the two buttons on the filter mount, and pulling it out. Then either a round threaded filter is attached, or one can use a gelatin filter. Rear gelatin filter holders are used by cutting out a sheet of gelatin, to the size shown on the back of the lens and then sliding it into the holder. Filter mounts are useful for all types of photography, and every EF lens has either one or two of the three types used.
Lens hood mount: This feature is found on most EF lenses. This mount is used for attaching the lens hood. The hood mount is of a bayonet style on most EF lenses, though a clip-on style hood mount is used for a small selection of current lenses.
Tripod collar: This feature is found on most longer focal length lenses, and macro lenses. The tripod collar is used for attaching the tripod ring. There are two main styles of tripod rings. One type is opened up, placed on the lens' tripod collar, then closed and tightened. The other type does not open, but instead is slid up the lens from the mount end (which can only be done when the lens is not mounted on a camera body) and tightened. To set the tripod ring so that it is level with the lens, rotate the ring until the index mark on the tripod ring matches the index mark on the distance scale. The tripod ring is used for attaching a tripod/monopod near to the point of balance of the lens-body combination, more conveniently than the camera body. In the case of larger and heavier lenses, there is also less strain on the lens mount if the body is supported by the tripod-mounted lens than if the lens were to be supported by a tripod-mounted body.
With the release of the EOS 300D Canon introduced a variation on the standard EF lens mount called EF-S. The "S" stands for "Short Back Focus". EF-S uses the standard EF bayonet mount, but with minor physical alterations which prevent EF-S lenses from being mounted on bodies which do not support them.
There are a couple of benefits to EF-S lenses, both related to the smaller (1.6x or APS-C) sensor size. One is that since a lens designed for a smaller sensor need only project an image circle large enough to cover the small sensor, the lens itself can be smaller; it can therefore also be lighter and have lower materials costs, since the lens elements, made of relatively heavy and expensive optical glass, will be smaller than in a comparable full-frame lens. Such a lens, if used on a body with a larger sensor, would leave the outer portions of the sensor outside its image circle, and therefore they would be black, but since EF-S lenses will not physically mount on incompatible bodies, this problem is avoided.
The second benefit is that, since a body with a smaller sensor can use a smaller mirror, the rear element of the lens can extend somewhat into the body without danger of being struck by the mirror. Particularly for a wide-angle lens, this gives the lens designers more freedom in designing the lens' optical formula.
Ultrasonic motor (USM) lenses appeared with the introduction of the EF 300 mm f/2.8L USM lens in 1987. Canon was the first camera maker to successfully commercialise the USM technology. EF lenses equipped with USM drives have fast, silent and precise autofocus operations, and consume less power compared to other AF drive motors.
There are two types of USMs, the ring-type USM and the micromotor USM. Ring-type USM allows for full-time manual focus (FT-M) operations without switching out of AF mode. Micromotor USM is used to bring down the cost of the lens. It is possible to implement FT-M even with micromotor USM; however, it requires additional mechanical components, and the vast majority of micro-USM lenses do not offer FT-M.
Some USM lenses are identified with a gold ring and the label "Ultrasonic" printed in gold on the lens barrel. All L lenses which have USM do not have the gold ring, but the red ring which denotes them as an L lens. However, they have the label "Ultrasonic" printed in red on the lens barrel.
The image stabilization (IS) technology detects handheld motion and optically corrects it. It only corrects handheld motion; if the subject of the photograph is moving, IS will not stop it. It also can only stabilize so much motion, ranging from two to five stops, depending on the specific IS in the lens. Canon has released several versions of the IS system, including the following:
All EF lenses that support IS have the words "Image Stabilizer" written on the lens. On some of Canon's larger telephoto lenses, the words "Image Stabilizer" are etched onto a metal plate affixed to the lens.
Diffractive optics (DO) are special kinds of glass that are used in some lenses. DO lenses, compared to non-DO lenses of similar focal length and aperture values, are usually smaller and lighter and are better at handling chromatic aberration. They are more expensive to make than non-DO lenses. Only the EF 400 mm f/4 DO IS USM and the EF 70–300 mm f/4.5–5.6 DO IS USM contain DO elements. DO lenses have a green ring on the barrel.
Top range Canon EF lenses are designated "L-series", or "Luxury" lenses.[8] L series lenses are compatible with the full range of EF or EF-S mounts and as they are aimed at the high end user, most also include environmental or weather sealing and constant maximum aperture. Many users mistakenly think that that 'L' implies the best optical performance. Whilst the L Series range contains the largest number of professional quality products, Canon also manufactures many excellent EF-S lenses, designed for 1.6x crop sensor bodies. By definition, these are not allowed "L" status as they cannot be used on the full range of Canon digital and 35mm film SLRs. There are also "L" lenses, such as the white 28-300mm that display performance compromises resulting, in that case, from the extreme zoom range. All L lenses are supplied complete with a hood and pouch, which are not included with non-L lenses. Distinctive visual characteristics include a red ring around the lens and an off-white color on the longer focal length models. The latter, as well as looking distinctive, also helps to reflect heat.
All L lenses include at least one fluorite or ultra-low dispersion glass element, and/or certain types of aspherical elements. Other mechanical characteristics of L lenses (but not exclusive to them) are the USM (particularly in recent years) and Image Stabilization technologies.
Owning a number of L-series lenses along with at least two professional EOS camera bodies is a requirement for admittance into the Canon Professional Services in most markets (for example, three for Europe[9] and Australia,[10] two for Malaysia[11] and Singapore[12] and one for Hong Kong).[13]
However, in the United States, CPS eligibility requirements were changed in 2011 to a points-based system, in which each piece of professional-level equipment is assigned a point value, with a photographer's total determining eligibility for a given membership level. All current camera bodies apart from the Rebel series can be used to meet membership requirements. Eligible lenses include all L lenses, both DO lenses, many mid-range EF non-L lenses, and several EF-S lenses. In fact, an American photographer can qualify for CPS membership by owning bodies only, or lenses only.[14]
The communication protocol between the camera is 8-data-bit, 1-stop-bit SPI (mode 3). The pins, from right to left on the lens, are:
Name | Function | Notes |
---|---|---|
VBat | +6 volts to power internal lens focus motors |
Present on all EOS bodies and lenses |
P-Gnd | Power ground | |
P-Gnd | ||
VDD | +5.5 volts Digital logic power | |
DCL | Data from camera to the lens (MOSI) | |
DLC | Data from the lens to the camera (MISO) | |
LCLK | Camera body generated clock signal (SCLK, CPOL=1) | |
D-GND | Digital logic ground | |
COM1 | Teleconverter common[16][17][18] |
Only on most L-series and some macro lenses |
EXT0 | Short to COM1 for 'Life Size Converter' and x1.4 teleconverter | |
EXT1 | Short to COM1 for x2 and x1.4 teleconverter |
The information from the lens is used by the camera body for focusing and metering, and with digital camera bodies it is used to record the lens parameters in the Exif data in the images.
All L series primes 135mm or longer, the 400mm DO, the 70–200mm zooms, the 100–400mm zoom, and the 50mm Compact Macro have three additional communication pins. These additional pins are used by the Canon Extender EF adapters and the Life-Size Converter EF to indicate to the lens the change in focal length so that it is able to report the correct focal length and aperture to the camera body when mounted on a teleconverter. The lens also reduces autofocus speed when a teleconverter is attached to improve autofocus accuracy.
The following is a list of EF lenses made by Canon. Please note that the "I", "II", "III", etc. after the focal length(s) indicates the generation number. While I is used in the table below, it is never used in official Canon model numbers; the original model lacks a Roman numeral and only the second and subsequent generations have them.
The EF lenses are grouped below by their focal lengths:
Focal length | Aperture | USM | IS | L-series | DO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8-15 mm (fisheye) |
f/4 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
16–35 mm I | f/2.8 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
16–35 mm II | f/2.8 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
17–35 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
17–40 mm | f/4 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
20–35 mm | f/2.8 | No | No | Yes | No |
20–35 mm | f/3.5–4.5 | Yes | No | No | No |
22–55 mm | f/4-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
24-70 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
24-85 mm | f/3.5-4.5 | Yes | No | No | No |
24-105 mm | f/4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
28-70 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
28–70 mm II | f/3.5-4.5 | No | No | No | No |
28-80 mm | f/2.8-4 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
28–80 mm II | f/3.5-5.6 | No | No | No | No |
28–80 mm II | f/3.5-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
28–80 mm V | f/3.5-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
28-90 mm II | f/4-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
28–90 mm III | f/4-5.6 | No | No | No | No |
28-105 mm | f/3.5-4.5 | Yes | No | No | No |
28-105 mm II | f/3.5-4.5 | Yes | No | No | No |
28–105 mm | f/4-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
28-135 mm | f/3.5-5.6 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
28-200 mm | f/3.5-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
28–200 mm | f/3.5-5.6 | No | No | No | No |
28-300 mm | f/3.5-5.6 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
35-70 mm | f/3.5-4.5 | No | No | No | No |
35–70 mm | f/3.5-4.5A | No | No | No | No |
35-80 mm III | f/4-5.6 | No | No | No | No |
35–80 mm | f/4-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
35–80 mm PZ | f/4-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
35-105 mm | f/3.5-4.5 | No | No | No | No |
35–105 mm | f/4.5-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
35–135 mm | f/3.5-4.5 | No | No | No | No |
35–135 mm | f/4-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
35-350 mm | f/3.5-5.6 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
38-76 mm | f/4.5-5.6 | No | No | No | No |
50-200 mm | f/3.5-4.5 | No | No | No | No |
50–200 mm | f/3.5-4.5 | No | No | Yes | No |
55-200 mm II | f/4.5-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
70-200 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
70–200 mm II | f/2.8 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
70–200 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
70–200 mm | f/4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
70–200 mm | f/4 | Yes | No | Yes | No |
70-210 mm | f/3.5-4.5 | Yes | No | No | No |
70–210 mm | f/4 | No | No | No | No |
70-300 mm | f/4.5-5.6 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
70–300 mm | f/4-5.6 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
70–300 mm | f/4-5.6 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
75-300 mm | f/4-5.6 | Yes | Yes | No | No |
75–300 mm III | f/4-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
75–300 mm III | f/4-5.6 | No | No | No | No |
80-200 mm | f/2.8 | No | No | Yes | No |
80–200 mm | f/4.5-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
80–200 mm II | f/4.5-5.6 | No | No | No | No |
90-300 mm | f/4.5-5.6 | No | No | No | No |
90–300 mm | f/4.5-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
100-200 mm | f/4.5A | No | No | No | No |
100-300 mm | f/4.5-5.6 | Yes | No | No | No |
100–300 mm | f/5.6 | No | No | No | No |
100–300 mm | f/5.6 | No | No | Yes | No |
100-400 mm | f/4.5-5.6 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
200-400 mm | f/4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Focal length | Aperture | Macro | USM | IS | L-series | DO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14 mm | f/2.8 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
14 mm II | f/2.8 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
15 mm (fisheye) |
f/2.8 | No | No | No | No | No |
20 mm | f/2.8 | No | Yes | No | No | No |
24 mm | f/1.4 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
24 mm II | f/1.4 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
24 mm | f/2.8 | No | No | No | No | No |
28 mm | f/1.8 | No | Yes | No | No | No |
28 mm | f/2.8 | No | No | No | No | No |
35 mm | f/1.4 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
35 mm | f/2 | No | No | No | No | No |
50 mm | f/1.0 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
50 mm | f/1.2 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
50 mm | f/1.4 | No | Yes | No | No | No |
50 mm | f/1.8 | No | No | No | No | No |
50 mm II | f/1.8 | No | No | No | No | No |
50 mm | f/2.5 | Yes † | No | No | No | No |
65 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | No | No | No | No |
85 mm | f/1.2 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
85 mm II | f/1.2 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
85 mm | f/1.8 | No | Yes | No | No | No |
100 mm | f/2 | No | Yes | No | No | No |
100 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | No | No | No | No |
100 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
100 mm | f/2.8 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
135 mm | f/2 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
135 mm (SoftFocus) |
f/2.8 | No | No | No | No | No |
180 mm | f/3.5 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
200 mm | f/1.8 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
200 mm | f/2.0 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
200 mm | f/2.8 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
200 mm II | f/2.8 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
300 mm | f/2.8 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
300 mm | f/2.8 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
300 mm | f/4 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
300 mm | f/4 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
400 mm II | f/2.8 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
400 mm | f/2.8 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
400 mm | f/4 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
400 mm | f/5.6 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
500 mm II | f/4 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
500 mm | f/4 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
500 mm | f/4.5 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
600 mm II | f/4 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
600 mm | f/4 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
600 mm | f/4 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
800 mm | f/5.6 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
1200 mm | f/5.6 | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
† – Compact 1:2
Canon has two further types of lenses compatible with the EF mount: Tilt-shift and the 1-5x Macro lens, which are not designated EF, but TS-E and MP-E respectively. TS stands for Tilt-shift while MP stands for Macro-photo. These types of lenses are not designated EF as they are manual-focus only lenses, and therefore are not electro-focus. They do, however, retain electronic aperture control as well as focus confirmation.
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