EF vs RF Lenses - Which Should You Buy? // Lens Adapter Guide

Cost, availability, pros, cons, lens adapters and more. For your Canon, Sony, Fuji and Lumix cameras.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:
0:00 - What's In This Video
0:40 - Cost & Availability
2:33 - Lens Adapters For Canon Cameras
7:34 - Lens Adapter For Other Cameras
10:11 - Which EF Lenses Work Well
12:05 - Issues With EF Lenses
12:29 - Size / Weight
12:40 - Some RF Lenses Don't Exist
13:03 - In Camera Lens Corrections
16:47 - Why Buy RF Lenses?
18:19 - Wrapping It Up

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[amermeleitor]

- EF lenses can be adapted to Nikon Z mount too and adapters works very well.
- There are speed boosters (focal reducers) for other mounts too, like Sony, Nikon, M4/3 and Fuji. The Fuji ones are interesting, because FX mount is crop sensor only, so you can use a near full frame focal range with EF lenses.

I'm sticking with Canon EF mount because i can't decide wich mirrorless system to get (I have money for only one system), so my lenses can be ported to any mirrorless system. I'll decide which mirrorless system maybe in 2025 when the market settles.

[Mariner]

Right on. My favorite lenses fall into 5 buckets: 1) L series primes that I couldn’t bare to get rid of, 2) those funky Art primes (28, 40, 105) sharing a drop in filter adapter, 3) non-L RF primes cuz Sigma Arts are too damn heavy for travel, 4) L series zooms that Sigma don’t do (28-70, 100-500), and 5) Sigma Art zooms.

[captainkanji]

C/Y and EF lenses work for me. I'm glad RF lenses are making EF lenses less expensive. I might actually get a 70-200 IS 2.8 for under $1k.

[EhtashamAnwar]

Once again very informative video, thank you and much appreciated.

[FireLiteCreations]

Best video on this topic yet! What do you think about Tamron EF lens? and the quality/performance of 3rd party RF lens?

[chriscampbell]

Thanks for this great guide! Your channel has helped me a lot with lens choices for my C70 and R7. In the process of moving from EF lenses to RF. So far I only have the 15-35 2.8 but it sure has been an eye opener in terms of autofocus performance and the way it balances and feels on both cameras.

[David_Quinn_Photography]

the EF mount has so many great options and as an EF user, my glass will follow me if I leave it.

[AndreiRestrepo]

Great video! I have the sigma prime art set, collected them over the years used as well. Just a good set to have for anything! And then my 15-35 RF for real estate and other work.

[selkiemaine]

Thanks for a great analysis. I learned quite a bit.

My experience is the same, only even more positive - I've used over a dozen EF and EF-S mount lenses, including a few very elderly ones, on my EOS-R. All have focused perfectly. Only 1 - an ancient Sigma 180mm macro - had a problem with the onboard lens correction - JPGs out of the camera with corrections on were funky. When I turned that off, it functioned perfectly. I recently added an R7 to my kit, and while I have less experience with EF on that, but so far, performance has been identical.

For the record, my daily walkaround is the EF 24-105 f/4L mark 1 (almost 20 years old - bought it new) - I have at least 10k images with that lens on the EOS-R - it works perfectly (and honestly, the later versions aren't much better anyway). I kept it because of the adapters - especially the one with the filters. :D

[paulomateus]

Thanks for another great one! Looking forward for a video about those 3 sigmas (28, 40 and 105)

[markwiemels]

Views are ticking along nicely on this one, really good topic, should get good views over the long term.

[VIRTUAL_PRODUCTIONS]

This video helped answer all of my question. 👌🏼Thanks so much!

[tylerstewartmedia]

Thank you for this video. Still deciding on which lenses to invest in for my komodo and leaning RF since the auto focus is pretty great, but also have to factor that it's super 35 sensor and RF lenses are full frame. would be interesting to see an RF to RF speed booster but until then, we gotta accept the cropping. I own the sigma 18-35 f/1.8 and that autofocus is really good on komodo (not noisy either). All depends on workflow and sometimes having the drop in filter is nice for run and gun situations. Next lens is either the 24-105 RF or EF. But also trying to get an R5C soon. Lots to consider, but your video definitely helped!

[BoReynolds]

This is just GREAT info, Thanks Josh!

[abdullahalahmed]

the best Channel for filmmakers, thanks

[YourFriendWithACamera]

Awesome info. Thanks for taking the time to explain everything. Super helpful.

[sakhiwomthunzi]

I currently own an R6 MKII and a Canon C70. I use Sigma lenses, a set of primes (24, 35, 50) and a set of zooms (18-35 and 24-70) and a few other Canon EF lenses such as the Canon 100m L, 70-200 L and the Tokina 11-16mm.

I work full time as a content creator for brands and businesses. The reality is, upgrading and investing in Canon RF lenses just won’t make more money for my business and I believe that this is a very important question to ask as this is purely a business investment for most.

It might improve user experience, however is that improved user experience worth the investment as well?

[christopherleecowan]

I have 3 ef lens the Canon 16-35 F4 the Tamron 24-70 f2.8 G2 and the Irix 15 f2.5 they are great lenses. What I like about the R cameras is all the Nikon f mount and Konica vintage lenses I now own. Manual focus doesn't bother me a bit.

[loudandclearmedia]

Great points. One other thing to consider regarding size and weight is where the weight is distributed. Especially with adapting EF lenses, that weight is typically not only heavier but thrown farther forward vs using a similar focal length RF lens. I've found this can really matter, especially with gimbals.

[paulhenry]

I have old & new EF & RF lenses, but I also have Zeiss lenses (Classic, Milvus, Otus) and adapted FD lenses, e.g.FD 135mm F2.