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.
Adapters:
Canon EF-RF Adapter - geni.us/tH8GTn
Fringer EF-FX II (EF to Fuji X) - geni.us/R5oM
Sigma MC11 (EF to Sony E) - geni.us/CLvW
Sigma MC-21 (EF to L) - geni.us/YwWyEzq
Canon EF-RF Adapter With ND Filter - geni.us/JgK1O
Meike EF-RF Adapter With ND Filter - geni.us/x30CN
Meike EF-E Adpater With ND Filter - geni.us/0XmC7S1
Breakthrough Drop-In Filters - breakthrough.photography/prod...
Canon Speedbooster - geni.us/bGG7U7X
Viltrox EF-R3 Speedbooster - geni.us/bnEVO4
Lenses:
Canon EF 16-35 2.8 III - geni.us/6w67EI
Canon EF 24-70 2.8 II - geni.us/FQ5YW
Canon 70-200 2.8 III - geni.us/QIBa
Sigma 18-35 1.8 - geni.us/0JZdi
Sigma 24-70 2.8 - geni.us/AsTvW
Sigma 28 1.4 - geni.us/Y92E4Ci
Sigma 40 1.4 - geni.us/AeRLQ
Sigma 105 1.4 - geni.us/LlVp1DA
Sigma 24 1.4 - geni.us/wEIspu
Sigma 35 1.4 - geni.us/lAnT
Sigma 50 1.4 - geni.us/kIBp
Sigma 85 1.4 - geni.us/RSUnc
RELATED VIDEOS:
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Viltrox Speedbooster & Canon R7 - • Turn Your CANON R7 Int...
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CAMERA GEAR:
Red Komodo - geni.us/SGMEHbU
Canon R5C - geni.us/X4zu
Fuji X-H2S - geni.us/uUORGK
Sigma 18-35 1.8 - geni.us/0JZdi
Sigma 24-70 2.8 - geni.us/AsTvW
Canon RF 15-35 2.8 - geni.us/IO46It
Canon RF 24-70 2.8 - geni.us/TtRw
Canon RF 100-500 4.5-7.1 - geni.us/XRyA7Tl
DJI Pocket 3 - geni.us/x7SRbB
DJI Action 4 - geni.us/GoDq
AUDIO GEAR:
Sennheiser MKH50 - geni.us/ukZjif
DBX286S Preamp & Channel Strip - geni.us/0OlsIb
Sound Devices MixPre3 II - geni.us/T7oN
Shure SM7B - geni.us/glU0h
Sennheiser MKE400 - geni.us/K8If
Sennheiser AVX MKE2 Wireless Mic - geni.us/KtpofQK
OTHER GEAR:
NiSi Tru Color Variable ND Filter - geni.us/hvFBj
Angelbird SE 512GB CFExpress B - geni.us/TDSMH
Prograde V90 256GB SD Cards - geni.us/2n7XYa
Mavic 3 Classic Drone - geni.us/mA34w
DJI RS2 Gimbal - geni.us/oPiX
Amaran 200D - geni.us/bmtKv8G
Amaran 200X - geni.us/lTSP
Aputure B7C - geni.us/E1hA
Aputure Light Dome II - geni.us/CjHV
Sachtler Flowtech 75 Tripod - geni.us/Ey3Bh
Gray Card - geni.us/7M2nA
Color Checker - geni.us/NQP8Aj
Atem Mini - geni.us/RTyOR3
SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
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paypal.me/joshsattin
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
This description includes Amazon affiliate links, which earn a commission to help support my channel at no additional cost to you. I only share products and services that I actually use and believe in.
#canon #filmmaking #videography

[@markwiemels]

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

[@Josh_Sattin]

Thanks Mark! Hope so!

[@EhtashamAnwar]

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

[@Josh_Sattin]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@Mr.Zen_73]

I'm RF L lenses all the way but i'm very jealous of the versatility of the EF lenses!

[@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.

[@Josh_Sattin]

Thanks! Sounds like you have a nice set of lenses.

[@BoReynolds]

This is just GREAT info, Thanks Josh!

[@Josh_Sattin]

You're very welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@abdullahalahmed]

the best Channel for filmmakers , thanks

[@Josh_Sattin]

You're welcome. Thank you for the kind words and for watching!

[@user-qs8xd3tb8k]

Very informative! I’m considering going RF mount!

[@chriscampbell2450]

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.

[@Josh_Sattin]

You are very welcome. Thanks for checking out the videos!

[@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.

[@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.

[@paulomateus3083]

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

[@Josh_Sattin]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@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

[@Mariner1460]

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.

[@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!

[@Josh_Sattin]

You're welcome. Just so you know, a RF to RF speedbooster is impossible. The only way you can use a speedbooster or a drop in filter adapter is converting an EF lens to RF because of the extra flange distance. Thanks for watching!

[@kenwos07]

Thanks Josh 🙂

[@Josh_Sattin]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@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.

[@joseacarrasm]

You can get some great used Sigma Art lenses for the price of one RF

[@Digi20]

I had a weird problem with the old EF 24-70 2.8 f2.8 mk1 on the R6 where the in-camera stabilizer would sometimes make a clonking noise with visible picture distortion like it shifted to its most extreme value and bumped into a stop. couldnt find anything online and never had problems with any other lenses. as this lens is not up to current sensor resolutions anyway and i wanted a fast stabilized zoom for filming with the R5C i sold it anyway and got the RF 24-70 2.8 IS which is a joy to use. i never liked 24-70 2.8 zooms as they are just a bread and butter work utility and always used fast primes when possible but that lens stays on quite often. i did not see any reason so far to sell my EF sigma ART primes and the EF 135mm f2 as they all just work brilliantly on the R6 and R5C. and there is no RF counterpart for the EF 85 1.4 IS.

[@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?

[@mvp_kryptonite]

I have the canon pass through and the focal reducer. The later is fantastic. I have plenty of EF L lenses and that essentially makes it behave like it was on a full frame body (no improved bokeh but you get the extra stop of light). I’m hoping Canon add plenty of Z power lenses as only the 28-70/2, 24-105/2.8 and 100-300/2.8 peak my interest in the RF mount range

[@mvp_kryptonite]

Oh just realised you highlighted those 3 lenses anyway. Hoping the future is bright

[@andyuong8593]

I had 80D and just got R7 should I buy EF lens?

[@noreaction1]

I just want to use my RF lenses on one of those fancy freefly ember cameras and still use the autofocus

[@kevin-haggerty-khmp]

Saw you today at NAB dude!!

[@Josh_Sattin]

Awesome! I hope you enjoyed the show!

[@kevin-haggerty-khmp]

@@Josh_Sattin loved it brother!!

[@PizzlesTechTime]

Having Trouble finding the Speedbooster in stock by viltrox

[@lumixS5M2]

Thanks. adapters difficult to get specially the combo RF. are there Sony-E to RF?

[@Josh_Sattin]

You're welcome. No an E to RF adapter is not possible.

[@NileshDoifode]

I just purchase R 8 with EF to RF adaptor.

[@user-em4uu1rs9h]

I'll tell you my story: my choice is Canon r6 mark ll. But the budget only allowed me to buy a body. I also purchased a Meike adapter with a built-in ND filter. This adapter is 3 times cheaper than Canon, but the quality is excellent! My thoughts on optics: for now I use rental optics, even cinema. But I will buy RF lenses. Thanks for video!

[@Josh_Sattin]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@caffeinatedcameras]

So many adapters!!!!

[@Josh_Sattin]

So many!

[@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.

[@mvp_kryptonite]

I noticed that using the EF 70-200 with an extender and adapted, the zoom ring just feels so far from what I’m used to. Coupled with as you mention the weight it was easily noticeable

[@Josh_Sattin]

Thanks for adding that to the conversation Brian!

[@BryanWilkat]

Hey Josh, I know your channel focuses more on video than photography but it should be worth mentioning to viewers(or specifically to those shopping the older EF lenses) that the H+ burst photo modes don't work with all Canon EF lenses or 3rd party EF lenses nor does the IS/VC work well on Sigma or Tamron adapted EF lenses. I agree people should stay away from the older Canon EF or mark I lenses as many users on Reddit and other forums have noted that the C70/R5C camera's don't even let you hit record let alone change the aperture with some older EF glass! Also, I second the Meike EF-RF VND adapter, the Meike VND has less colour shift than the Canon VND does too.

[@Josh_Sattin]

The reason I don't speak about photography is that I do very little photography and don't feel comfortable giving advice or information about it. Actually the Canon drop-in VND is more color accurate than the Meike one up until the last few stops of ND. You can see my comparison here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKmuiZyqbq5je7c

[@alloaphotographers6513]

You don't get full IBIS with adapter

[@mauricioli3901]

Hi Josh, great vid. I have RF, Sigma and EF. ☕📸🌋🌴👍🏻☀️🏝

[@Josh_Sattin]

Thanks! Yeah, I have that mix of lenses as well!

[@bartvandamme7068]

A lot also depends on what you intend to do with the gear. If you plan to spend a lot of time in a studio, sticking with EF lenses makes sense. When you intend to travel around quite a bit, trading in your EF glass for much lighter RF glass can significantly decrease the weight you have to carry around. I'm not a professional photographer (it's more of a hobby I invest a lot into), but I'm extremely happy with the affordability, quality, versatility and decreased weight of Canon's non-L lenses. The 100-400 is an amazing lens, and finally having affordable access to an 800 for wildlife shooting is a game changer for me.

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

Some people like the EF lens better because the new RF lens can too sharp. There is a view of the Canon RF 85mm f1.2 vs the Canon EF 85mm f1.8 and if you read the comments people liked the Canon EF 85mm f1.8 better. People want to look at a nice photo of a person not all the cracks and holes in their faces with these newer lens.

[@NileshDoifode]

You forgot to EF to Z mount adaptor...🤣🤣

[@musicman8942]

I thought Canon did a cease and desist with Metabones's speed boosters?

[@Josh_Sattin]

I hadn't heard that about Metabones but I did hear about that with Viltrox.

[@bibekadhikari7677]

.

[@BOLANGTHANG]

Make sets light and simple. Don't try the old school way.

[@traumaturgist]

Why oh WHY are you not even bothering to mention that Canon is DISCONTINUING EF lenses (and camera bodies), and that means that people should really start looking in to RF much sooner? This is a huge hole in your comparison - the fact that eventually Canon will stop supplying parts for EF lenses and that the RF mount - like it or not - is the next stage of Canon's evolution?? In that sense, why are we even having this conversation about adapters since it's got a shelf life you don't even mention?

[@NickBusigo]

People still buy lenses that where made in the 60s. EF glass is an investment and shares glass and coatings with Canons CN-E lenses, which the new RF glass also shares. EF is also one of the most adapted systems being able to be used on RF, E, and L mount cameras. You will always be able to use EF glass, RF glass becomes a riskier investment if you ever change systems because you can’t use it.

[@traumaturgist]

@@NickBusigo So then please explain to me why Canon is discontinuing EF lenses, which will eventually mean the unavailability of parts and people willing to repair/maintain them. Time is inevitable; EF lenses will eventually be completely phased out as will (years from now) RF lenses once the next format become available. You can buy lenses made in the 60s, sure - but if dust jams the focus mechanisms or if something breaks, who are you going to get to repair them?