Canon EF and RF lenses side by side

Canon EF vs. RF Buying Guide

Kamera Express

Canon EF and RF: which lens series is best for me?

You are going to invest in a camera with interchangeable lenses. A good choice, because every lens has specific characteristics to deliver the best results in every situation. If you choose Canon, you have a choice of more than 200 lenses! With so many options, a selection guide is certainly in order. We explain the difference between Canon's EF and RF lenses and how they differ depending on the type of photography. This way, you can determine which camera and lens series best meets your requirements.

Should I go for a DSLR or a mirrorless camera?

This is the first question you need to ask yourself. The designations EF and RF stand for the type of lens mount. EF lenses are for DSLRs, and RF lenses fit mirrorless cameras. Do you see EF-S or RF-S on the lens? These lenses are specifically for cameras with a smaller APS-C sensor.

Within the EF line, you cannot use EF-S lenses on a full-frame DSLR. You can use EF lenses on an APS-C camera, but because APS-C cameras have a smaller sensor, they cannot capture the full field of view of the lens, resulting in a smaller image with a crop factor of 1.6. A 50mm lens produces the same image on an APS-C camera as an 80mm would on a full-frame camera.

Within the R-series, Canon's line of mirrorless cameras and lenses, the mounts of full-frame and APS-C cameras are the same. This means that you can combine both RF and RF-S lenses with full-frame and crop cameras. If you use an RF-S lens with a full-frame mirrorless camera, the camera automatically crops the image area to match the smaller APS-C coverage of the lens. If you use a full-frame RF lens with an APS-C camera, the same crop factor of 1.6 results.

Advantages of SLR cameras and EF lenses

Single-lens reflex cameras, also known as DSLRs, were the standard in the photography world until recently. The first lens was made as early as the 1980s, meaning the EF series represents years of craftsmanship and proven quality. Additionally, this line offers the widest selection. Thanks to the wide range of cameras and lenses, there are options for every budget. Canon EF lenses are generally slightly heavier than their RF counterparts. To a certain extent, this can be useful for wildlife and sports photography. A heavier lens provides slightly more stability when shooting handheld and tracking a fast-moving subject. Many RF lenses, on the other hand, feature built-in image stabilization that works in conjunction with the camera's stabilization, allowing you to shoot stable images even with a lighter RF lens.

Advantages of system cameras and RF lenses

In 2018, Canon released their first EOS R mirrorless camera along with four RF lenses, marking the beginning of the EOS R series. Because this line is still relatively young, the cameras and accompanying RF lenses feature the latest optical technologies. The EOS R series uses a new 12-pin connection, as opposed to the 8-pin connection found in Canon's SLR cameras and EF lenses. The increased number of connection points between an R camera and RF lens results in faster data transfer. Additionally, image quality has been improved, and the EOS R series is more compact and lighter. This allows you to shoot and film for longer periods without your equipment becoming too heavy. The updated image stabilization also makes shooting handheld much easier. There are both mirrorless cameras and lenses with built-in image stabilization that work well together to correct significant camera shake. By combining the image stabilization of the camera and the lens, you benefit from up to 8 stops of image stabilization. This is ideal, for example, when photographing from long distances where small camera shakes are easily noticeable.

A suitable lens for every type of photography

Both Canon's EF and RF lenses are packed with smart technologies that come in handy for specific types of photography. We have created five groups and tell you, for each type of photography, what to look for when purchasing a lens and how a Canon makes the difference.

Lenses for architecture and landscapes

When looking for a suitable lens for architecture and landscape photography, the first thing you consider is the focal length. A wide-angle lens has a maximum focal length of 35mm. Due to the wide field of view, you can capture a large part of the building or the surroundings. Ultra-wide-angle lenses provide the widest field of view. Canon offers zoom lenses with a maximum focal length between 10 and 14mm. If you go even wider, you end up with special fisheye lenses. However, due to the enormous field of view, these lenses produce a distorted, curved image.

Both the Canon EF and RF series include various wide-angle lenses, each with specific characteristics. Within the EF line, for example, you will also find special tilt-shift lenses. Due to the wide angle of view of wide-angle lenses, perspective distortion can occur. Tilt-shift lenses counteract this phenomenon, which is useful in architectural photography, for example, where it is especially important that lines are rendered vertically.

A wide-angle lens is also highly recommended for landscape photography. Canon's widest ultra-wide-angle lenses have a 10mm focal length, allowing you to capture a huge amount of the landscape.

Within the RF series, many wide-angle lenses feature built-in image stabilization (indicated by IS). This allows you to shoot much more stably handheld with long shutter speeds. There are also lenses with a macro option if you want to capture insects or details, for example.

Lenses for portraits and travel photography

Portrait and travel photographers usually opt for a focal length between 35mm and 85mm. The lenses in this category offer a natural perspective that roughly corresponds to that of the human eye.

Especially in portrait photography, a large maximum aperture is a frequently expressed wish. A large aperture not only lets in a lot of light but also determines the depth of field. A larger opening focuses entirely on your subject and creates blurred backgrounds. Canon has various lenses with a large maximum aperture in both the EF and RF lines that are also very affordable, such as the popular 50mm F/1.8 STM.

If you travel and want to capture your adventures in a vlog, the built-in image stabilization of Canon EOS R cameras and RF lenses comes in handy. Your shots are much more stable. There are both RF prime lenses and zoom lenses with image stabilization. Zoom lenses are particularly versatile, as you can quickly change focal length when the situation calls for it.

Lenses for wildlife and sports photography

A telephoto lens has a focal length of more than 85mm. From 300mm upwards, these lenses are also known as super telephoto lenses. Canon offers lenses with a focal length of up to 1200mm. This allows you to bring even distant subjects closer! A telephoto lens is perfect for wildlife and sports photography, when you are standing further away but still want to capture your subject clearly.

Most telephoto lenses within the Canon EF and RF lines feature a USM autofocus motor. This means very fast focusing, perfect for fast-moving subjects. In addition to being fast, Canon's lenses are also very quiet, but if you want a nearly silent autofocus motor, consider a lens with a Nano USM motor or an STM motor. Nano USM offers the combination of fast USM motors and nearly silent STM motors. STM is particularly popular among videographers, among others, because you cannot hear this autofocus motor during shooting.

When shooting with a long focal length, even the slightest vibrations are noticeable in the image. As a result, most Canon telephoto lenses come with a tripod collar to easily mount your lens on a tripod.

Lenses for macro photography

If you want to photograph insects, flowers, food, or small objects up close, choose a macro lens. The short focusing distance and excellent magnification bring the smallest details into sharp focus.

In Canon's range, you will find both EF and RF macro lenses, but within the RF series, you have more options. There are RF macro lenses with various focal lengths, because you can also use a macro lens as a 'normal' lens. For example, with the RF 24mm F/1.8 MACRO IS STM, you can capture sweeping landscapes as well as small insects.

All-round zoom lenses

Do you want a lens that offers a wide range of possibilities? Then opt for an all-round zoom lens. There are Canon lenses with a very large zoom range, allowing you to take both landscape photos and telephoto shots. Other zoom lenses have a shorter range but excel in speed and sharpness. Both the EF and RF series offer various types of zoom lenses. Choose a lens that meets all your needs, keeping in mind what is important to you, such as zoom range, maximum aperture, and image stabilization.

Why should I choose Canon EF?

Canon EF lenses have proven, high quality and are very reliable. You have the widest choice of lenses within the EF line, and some special lenses, such as tilt-shift lenses, are only available in EF. If you own a Canon DSLR, EF lenses are a solid choice.

Why should I choose Canon RF?

Canon RF lenses feature the latest technology and include various improvements over their EF counterparts. Some RF lenses come with handy additions, such as image stabilization and macro. Because all mirrorless cameras use the same mount, you can use both RF and RF-S lenses on full-frame and crop cameras. Looking to switch from a DSLR to a mirrorless camera? With a converter , you can continue using your EF lenses.