What are the advantages of Canon EF-S lenses on APS-C cameras, and does crop factor still apply?
Asked 1/6/2012
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I understand EF-S lenses are designed for Canon APS-C cameras, but what practical benefits do they offer compared with regular EF lenses on the same crop-sensor body? Do they improve things like sharpness, color, depth of field, size, or weight? Also, when using an EF-S lens on an APS-C camera, does the usual crop factor still affect the field of view the same way it does with an EF lens?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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EF-S are not just optimized for APS-C cameras, they are made for those only. In other words, they will NOT work on full-frame models or even APS-H ones. The imaging circle the project is smaller which lets them be made lighter and more compact than equivalent full-frame lenses.
The FLM (Focal-Length Multiplier) still applies when comparing the angle-of-view with full-frame lenses. Remember, the focal-length does not change because of the camera but it is the field-of-view that gets reduced.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
14y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
EF-S lenses are made specifically for Canon APS-C bodies. Their main advantage is not different color or depth of field by itself, but design efficiency: because they only need to cover a smaller sensor, they can use a smaller image circle and often be made lighter, smaller, and sometimes simpler to design than an equivalent EF lens.
That smaller image circle can also help with wide-angle designs, and may reduce wasted light inside the camera, which can help with flare. Sharpness is not automatically better just because a lens is EF-S, but designing for the smaller APS-C area can make it easier to build a lens optimized for that format.
The tradeoff is compatibility: EF-S lenses are for APS-C bodies only and are not meant for full-frame Canon cameras.
Yes, crop factor still applies. The lens focal length does not change, but the APS-C sensor records a narrower field of view than full frame. So an EF-S lens on APS-C is still subject to the same crop-factor comparison to full frame as an EF lens on APS-C.
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