These Are Your Favorite EF Lenses

[Canon Rumors]

Last week I asked the Facebook world what their favorite Canon EF mount lenses were, including third-party manufacturers. I like doing this sort of thing to learn what shooters outside of my own personal bubble loved to shoot with and in a lot of cases, they still use these great EF lenses to this day. […]

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[GMCPhotographics]

I don't currently own or use any RF lenses. My entire lens protfolio is EF. Many of these lenses have been aquired over a lot of years and I'm slow to swap out unless there is a strong incentive. Sometimes, "new and shiney" isn't enough for me. Although a new RF 85mm f1.2L for it's improved AF and sharpness, the RF 10-20mm for it's easy portability and the RF100-500mm LIS (replacing my venerable and trusty EF 100-400mm L II) would give me a lighter lens with a little bit of extra reach.

The EF 135mm f2.0 L is such a sweet lens and one of the few original (mk1) fast primes that render sharp images wide open on current top tier 45mp sensors.
For me, I had a long term love / hate relationship with the EF 50mm f1.2 L. I loved the build and reliability, but it's AF was as inconsistent as an early Sigma and I've had copies that just were not sharp regardless of aperture. For me, the RF 50mm f1.2 L is an obvious choice and I can't see any reason for the EF version otehr than price point or that it's already in your bag.

If the EF 24-70mm f2.8 L (mkI ) was a little sharper wide open on my R5, I would still be using this lens today. It's such a sweet lens, apart from wide open sharpness, it's better in many ways than the later mkII or even (dare I say it) the RF variant.

My EF 400mm f2.8 LIS mk II isn't going anywhere soon....although not as light and the later mkIII / RF version....it's so sharp with 1.4 or 2x TC's when shot wide open.

No love for the EF 35mm f1.4 II L? Is it too close in performance to the current RF 35mm f1.4 L VCM?

Other lenses like the EF 85mm f1.2 II L, EF 8-15mm L Fisheye and EF 11-24mm L are all lenses that have been suceeded and improved upon by RF mount variants that are all slightly superior in one or two aspects....however are still amazing optics.

 

[Old Man FL/FD]

My EF 100-400 mm L Mk II spends the most time on my body.

Attached out-of-camera image taken on a G1X Mk I.

 

[neuroanatomist]

These are my favorite EF lenses:

 

[Gino_FOTO]

The best EF lens I’ve ever interacted with was the 35mm f/1.4L II. The photos it produces 'sing' even as unedited RAW files. While the big white primes are likely even more magical, I’ve never had the chance to work with any of those.

 

[candyman]

I really enjoy using the EF100mm f/2. It might not have top-notch image quality, but it performs well and is small and light. I also can't part with the EF70-200 f/4 IS II. It has good image quality, internal zoom, and is easy to handle with the tripod collar. A lens I will definitely continue using is the EF100-400 II. It has excellent image quality. Another lens I won't part with is the TSE-24 II (with the ROGETI TSE Frame III). It has very good image quality and is easy to use. My other lenses are RF lenses: RF10-20, RF14-35, RF24-105, and the 16, 28, and 50 f/1.8.

 

[Canon Rumors]

I just ordered a 135 F2.. I haven't used one for 10 years, but I seemed to be more comfortable with the focal length after renting the 1.8. The price for the RF one is a bit silly for the number of times I'd use it.

I didn't see anyone mention the 200 F2.8L II. That lens was/is terrific. I guess it was a bit of an oddball with 70-200s and 135s.

 

[Deleted member 399245]

I love my EF 28mm for the simple reason that is mentioned in the article: no RF equivalent and no commercial prospects to build one.
70-200 f4 IS is also great, small and inexpensive. For those that want a tele lens I'd say it's hard to beat.

 

[Thane]

The EF 24-70mm f2.8 did not have IS.

 

[Sporgon]

+1 for the Tamron 85mm f/1.8 SP. Really good lens, for some reason on this particular Tamron model even the outer AF points work reliably on a dslr.
Couldn’t bring myself to change this for the Canon EF 85/1.4 L.

 

[blackcoffee17]

EF 16-35 F4 and Sigma 150mm 2.8 macro

 

[Canon Rumors]

The EF 24-70mm f2.8 did not have IS.

Thanks for that, I knew I'd get something wrong, even after 3 spell checks and multiple read-overs

 

[Old Man FL/FD]

An interesting design feature of the EF 24-70 mm f/2.8 L Mk I extending-type zoom lens is that it extends out at minimum focal length, 24 mm. This allows a ‘proper’ lens shade at the wide end which would otherwise be pretty short (think 24-105 mm.)

 

[Click]

EF 500mm f/4L IS II and EF 600mm f/4L IS II

 

[Del Paso]

EF 85 f/1,4, EF 135 f/2, TS-E 24mm, EF 70-200 f/4 L II, Ext III 1,4X, EF 16-35 f/4

 

[AlanF]

I had favourite EFs when I was using DSLRs: telephotos like the EF 400mm f/4 DO ii; 100-400mm ii; 300mm f/2.8 ii; and even the Sigma 150-600mm C. But, I don't miss them at all now I've gone over to mirrorless. The RF 100-500mm beats out the two zooms, and the RF 200-800mm is so useful for longer range, and at 800mm is at least as sharp as the 400mm DO ii with the 2xTC, which I used a lot with my 5Div. The two primes were considered light at the time, but newer versions would be much lighter, and I would buy one of them were they to become available.

 

[Exploreshootshare]

EF 100-400mm L mkii hands down! Loved the lens and I wouldn't have sold but then the RF version had 100mm extra reach and less weight. Also on my list:
- EF 16-35mm F4 L
- Sigma EF 20mm F1.4

So, basically my favorite EF lenses now have even better successors. Glad I went all in on having only "native mount" lenses

I´d love to try the following EF lenses:
- 135mm F2 L (considering purchasing one)
- 180mm F3.5 macro
- 200mm F2 (or F1.8)

Edit: Just found a place where I can rent the EF 135mm F2 for reasonable money (40 € for 3 1/2 days). I will shoot my wifes younger cousins church confirmation with it looking forward to it!

 

[DSB]

For me personally, the favorite EF lens was the 300 f2.8 L IS II. It was compact, hand-holdable and had great performance. I did immensely enjoy the wonderful rendering of EF 200 f1.8, but always felt like it demanded much more careful operation.

While a more niche segment, all of Canons EF tilt shift lenses were beasts and I still own and use all of them (17, 24, 50, 90 and 135). That set of lenses remains unmatched by any other major camera mount - including Canon's own RF, which still doesn't have a single TS lens in the lineup.

 

[dolina]

RF L primes I do not have EF L lenses of:

- 1200mm
- 600mm
- 135mm
- 35mm
- 20mm

Will likely try to get the RF 135mm f/1.8L IS USM. Wish it was a f/1.4 though lie the Sigma.

 

[P-visie]

My favourite EF lenses are the EF180mm f/3.5L Macro USM and the EF600mm f/4L IS II USM lenses.