"Classic" EF Lenses

[Kayaker72]

Hi Everyone...

Just gathering thoughts. But I have finally dipped my toe into the RF lens lineup. As my EF lens kit was a bit oddly constructed in some ways as I built it over time, I had wanted to wait until around now, 2024-2025, until the RF lens lineup was more developed, to start settling in on a RF kit.

That said, I plan to continue with mostly an EF kit for the foreseeable future. But I am likely starting a transitional period where more and more RF lenses enter my kit.

This has me wondering, which EF lenses are distinctive enough that I should hold onto no matter what, in other words are true classics? Or does such a thing really exist and kits should populated with functional/needed lenses?

[neuroanatomist]

There are certainly some EF lenses for which there is no RF analog. I will be keeping my TS-E 17/24 and my MP-E 65, and we'll see when/if Canon offers something in RF to replace them.

Of lenses where there's overlap, I personally don't see many (if any) cases where the EF version is a 'classic' worth keeping because of that. But there may be some, for some people. For example, the RF 100-300/2.8 is a great lens and seems to be Canon's 'replacement' for the EF 300/2.8 II, but it's much bigger than the EF prime and for some that size increase may be problematic. The rumored RF 200-500/4 is likely to be the size (based on the published patent applications) of the EF 600/4 III, and for some people that will be too much.

OTOH, I can also see many cases where the RF version doesn't offer sufficiently compelling advantages to justify the cost of upgrading. I thought that about the RF 100/2.8 Macro (I don't need 1.4x since I have the MP-E, and there is the focus shift issue). But I succumbed to temptation on a good deal, and I found the focus shift to be a non-issue. Likewise, I had little interest in the RF 10-20/4 since I have the 11-24/4 and sometimes use filters in the adapter (front filtering the 11-24 is possible but a PITA). However, the much smaller size and lower weight of the RF 10-20/4 is a big advantage, as I directly noticed when packing the 11-24 for a recent trip. I now plan to get the 10-20/4 before I go to the Swiss Alps in early summer.

[Kayaker72]

Thanks John.

In terms of image making, which is the fundamental point, I think your breakdown is spot on. I've been particularly impressed with the 100-300 f/2.8, especially how well it seems to take extenders. While expensive, it is essentially a 140-420 f/4 and it seems to even be a very good 200-600 f/5.6 lens.

After 2024, I think the RF lineup will be mostly, if not completely "mature", and perhaps it is now. I have been waiting to see what special lenses they come up with, how they put their supercomputer to use in lens design. And, they have not disappointed. We are at 18 prime lenses, 20 if you count TCs, and 21 zoom lenses. So, 39-41 lenses. Pretty amazing really. The RF 24-105 f/2.8 and RF 200-800 filled niches for me enough I pulled the trigger on them even though I am just hitting my planned window of considering my RF lens kit construction.

First announced in September 2018, ~40 lenses in just over 5 years, they are basically announcing 8 new lenses a year. In 2024, I am hopeful to see the 500 f/4 replacement, likely the 200-500 f/4 you mentioned. Also, hopefully a f/2 "portrait zoom" (50-150, 70-150, etc) and something for astro, UWA f/1.4 or f/2 lens. In terms of what I want for Canon to round out the RF lens lineup, a RF 70-300L (although that may effectively be the RF 100-400 non-L), and a lightweight FF general purpose zoom would be nice.

In terms of EF, I am planning to start drawing down. It will be easiest to look at lenses I do not use much or at all. The Sigma 150-600S, EF 40 f/2.8, Rokinon 14 f/2.8 and sadly, the TSE 24 f/3.5 II are not used at all.

I think I will be using two definitions of "classic": 1) lenses that I want to have when I re-experience OVFs and DSLRs and 2) Lenses that in 15-20 years, I will wish I held onto them. Ultimately, I want a pretty "tight" lens kit, tighter that what I have now, but I will keep a few lenses around for the sake of it. Maybe 3-4.

I am definitely keeping my EF 24-70 II. As I have the 5DIV, I'll always have it. As an example of a lens I may keep as I view it as a classic, the EF 70-200 f/2.8 II. I have been debating about as I have in a way already replaced it with the EF 85 f/1.4 as my go-to portrait lens and now the RF 24-105 f/2.8. But, if I pull out the 5DIV, I can see wanting to have the EF 70-200 II.

I am starting to envision a pretty simple RF lens kit. Perhaps the RF 16 f/2.8, RF 24-105 f/2.8, and then the RF 200-800 for wildlife and RF 100-400 for travel. Or, just the RF 100-500 instead of the other teles. Everything else, use a trimmed down EF lens kit, but occasionally adding a special RF lens, like say a 200-500 f/4, 50-150 f/2, or an amazing nightscape lens, if they ever come out.

Anyways...off to play with the 1.4TC and 200-800. See if 1120 mm of reach is really something.

[Sinh Nhut Nguyen]

I'm keeping all my EF lenses and will use the EF-EOS R adapter when it's time for me to upgrade to a Canon mirrorless. I have the 16-35 f/4L IS, 24-70 f/2.8L II, 70-200 f/2.8L IS III, 85 f/1.2L II and 500 f/4L IS (November 2024). These lenses are stellar but there's nothing distinctive about them, everyone has/had them and from where I live they're all over the used market. It's just that photography has been a very low priority on my list for the last 10 yrs and I just can't justify the high prices of the RF lenses. I'm keeping all my EF lenses not because they're special, it because they just work .

[Kayaker72]

Hey Nate! Good to hear from you.

That is a nice lineup. It is amazing how well the EF gear still works.

Reading back over my posts and some of that has held up well, and some...not so much. I now have a straightforward and very capable RF kit: 16 f/2.8, 24-105 f/2.8, 50 f/1.2, and 200-800. I should probably make a winter project out of clearing out some of my EF lenses. However, I am planning on keeping a good number. If nothing else, a new use has developed in 2024, my nieces/nephews are now young adults are are visiting me out here on the east coast. Twice in the last year, they have borrowed my 5DIV and a few EF lenses and we've gone on photography trips together. Also, several of the EF lenses are among my most used, even when the family isn't around.

[Jayson]

Nate glad to see you around! I, like Nate, didn't find a reason to upgrade as what I had worked well. If I needed something else, I just rented it for that particular event. I had one RF lens until about 10 minutes ago and that was the RF 35mm 1.8. So inexpensive, I had to give it a try. Given I'm starting to shoot more senior portraits and gearing my business toward that, my kid uses my workhorse lens (EF70-200) for his sports photography...so figured I should get this just in case as a back up. The RF 70-200 2.8 should be here next week. :-) I went back and forth on waiting for the z version, but I think this one should do just fine. Now once wedding season comes around, I'll need to decide on the 28-70 or the 24-70. I might need another back up by then.

[Kayaker72]

Congrats on the new glass. Everything I have seen the RF 70-200 f/2.8 is exceptional.

[Sean Setters]

I'll reiterate Nate's thoughts. I spent years amassing a collection of EF lenses and I'm enjoying a lot of the EF gear that's been hitting the used market recently. I picked up an EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II, EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II, EF 16-35 f/4L IS, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II (I replaced the v1 model), EF 50mm f/1.2L, TS-E 90mm f/2.8, and EF 135mm f/2L all after getting the EOS R5. The performance of the lenses is good enough for my needs (the 50L is stretching it) and I genuinely enjoy the benefits of having a [CPL/vari-ND] filter between my camera and the lens.

I can't tell you how much I've saved by buying well-cared-for used equipment, but the amount is not insubstantial, and I don't feel like I'm missing all that much because of my decision to stick with EF lenses for a while longer.