EF-S Prime lenses

[lonelywhitelights]

This might have been covered somewhere else but - why are there no EF-S prime lenses?

[snowweasel]

There's at least one I know of off the top of my head (because I own it) the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro.

[davidchang]

besides the 60mm f/2.8 macro?

[lonelywhitelights]

besides the 60mm f/2.8 macro?

There's at least one I know of off the top of my head (because I own it) the EF-S 60mm f/2.8 macro.

! I was just browsing the EF-S section on the Canon site but the 60mm isn't listed - but it is listed in the Macro section (which I didn't check before posting this!) so I apologise for that!

but still, only one EF-S prime? seems a bit crazy I think

[snowweasel]

My guess would be there just isn't much demand for primes specifically for crop cameras that isn't already covered by an EF lens.

[neuroanatomist]

EF-S lenses, generically speaking from a marketing perspective, are aimed at the consumer market.  Today's consumers vastly prefer zooms over primes.  However, the 50/1.8 II is a popular lens (primarily due to its low cost), so I can see an EF-S 30mm or 35mm f/1.8 lens at some point - but for it to sell well, it will need to be cheap. 

If Canon does release EF-S primes other than the 1:1 macro, I'd expect them to be low-end consumer grade lenses.

[Random Orbits]

This might have been covered somewhere else but - why are there no EF-S prime lenses?

Why would there be a need for EF-S primes except at the ultra wide end?  Is there something wrong with the EF primes?  What range are you specifically looking for?

[NormanBates]

a prime lens specifically designed for APS-C (i.e. without the restriction that it has to cover a bigger image circle, and keep IQ in its edges too) could be cheaper and offer better IQ

if I put it in front of my PS's small sensor, my best Leica primes are decidedly soft in comparison with the probably-plastic lens in that $150 camera

[moreorless]

EF-S lenses, generically speaking from a marketing perspective, are aimed at the consumer market.  Today's consumers vastly prefer zooms over primes.  However, the 50/1.8 II is a popular lens (primarily due to its low cost), so I can see an EF-S 30mm or 35mm f/1.8 lens at some point - but for it to sell well, it will need to be cheap. 

If Canon does release EF-S primes other than the 1:1 macro, I'd expect them to be low-end consumer grade lenses.

Canon do have the advanatge that there EF 35mm f/2 seems to hold up somewhat better than Nikon's FX version, I'd guess they may well be happy keeping a smaller lens lineup and charging that much extra.

One other potential EF-S prime to me seems to be an UWA considering your currently struggling to get under 17mm without spending $450+ on a lens. Would say a 12mm prime with a relatively modest appature(say 3.5 or 4) offer potential cost savings? If so I see that as being a big advanatge to any manifacturer who can come up with one.

[AJ]

Canon 60/2.8 macro
Tamron 60/2 macro
Sigma 30/1.4
Samyang 8 mm fish-eye

But yes indeed they are rare.  In many cases it's just as easy to let the lens project a FF image circle.  For example, there's no point in an EF-S 300/4, and even EF-S 85/1.8 would be questionable when there s a cheap, small and optically good FF lens that does the job.  But for shorter focal lengths there's a void.

I think lens manufacturers are really missing the boat.  I think a cheap 30/1.8 would sell really well.  I think there's a market for a 15/2.8 with top-notch optics, for example.

[Daniel Flather]

The ef 35/2.0 on a crop has a FOV of a 56.7mm lens*, but a perspective of a 35 wide angle lens.  Hence the want for an efs-prime.


*1.62 crop factor

[Random Orbits]

The ef 35/2.0 on a crop has a FOV of a 56.7mm lens*, but a perspective of a 35 wide angle lens.  Hence the want for an efs-prime.
*1.62 crop factor

Maybe it's not a big enough of a market for Canon to make it profitable.  It'd be easier for Sigma and other 3rd party manufacturers because they have lower costs than Canon and they have a potentially larger base (Canon + Nikon crop users).

[Daniel Flather]

The ef 35/2.0 on a crop has a FOV of a 56.7mm lens*, but a perspective of a 35 wide angle lens.  Hence the want for an efs-prime.
*1.62 crop factor

Maybe it's not a big enough of a market for Canon to make it profitable.  It'd be easier for Sigma and other 3rd party manufacturers because they have lower costs than Canon and they have a potentially larger base (Canon + Nikon crop users).

Yes, but I'm on the 5d3 list and will be selling my 50D, so, for me, crop issues  are now moot —yes.

[Random Orbits]

Maybe it's not a big enough of a market for Canon to make it profitable.  It'd be easier for Sigma and other 3rd party manufacturers because they have lower costs than Canon and they have a potentially larger base (Canon + Nikon crop users).

Yes, but I'm on the 5d3 list and will be selling my 50D, so, for me, crop issues  are now moot —yes.

LOL!  Hopefully, I'll be moving FF within the year too.  Just waiting for the side-by-side comparisons between the 5DII and 5DIII before deciding on one.

[Jettatore]

I assume there is less glass (smaller diameter of the glass) in an EF-S lens, so there is probably some cost savings there???  But other than this, unless it really is a big cost savings, what's the point of EF-S vs. just making a 31.25 EF lens (that after 1.6x crop multiplication becomes a 50mm on a 1.6 crop body...).  I ask because I'd rather have a lens that will functionally work on both a 7D and a 5D than one that will only work on a 7D or rebel.