What’s the difference between Canon EF-S and EF-M lenses?
Asked 9/14/2012
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The EF-M lenses are designed for the new mirrorless camera system, and mount much closer to the sensor than the EF-S lenses (which are designed for DSLRs with a mirror box).
You can use EF-S (and EF) lenses on the M system cameras using an adapter (which is just a spacer with some electrical connections to move the rear of the lens further from the sensor), but you cannot use EF-M lenses on Canon's APS-C-format DSLRs. (Unless someone makes an adapter with additional optical elements; the distance between the lens mount and the sensor would prevent anything even approaching infinity focus without additional lens elements.)
Originally by user2719. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2719
13y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
EF-S and EF-M are different Canon lens mounts made for different camera types.
- EF-S lenses are designed for Canon APS-C DSLRs, which have a mirror box.
- EF-M lenses are designed for Canon EOS M mirrorless cameras, which do not have a mirror.
The key difference is flange focal distance: EF-M lenses sit much closer to the sensor than EF-S lenses. Because mirrorless cameras don’t need room for a mirror, EF-M lenses can often be made smaller and lighter.
Compatibility:
- EF and EF-S lenses can be used on EF-M cameras with an adapter. The adapter mainly adds the extra spacing needed and passes electronic connections through.
- EF-M lenses cannot be used on EF or EF-S DSLRs in normal use, because the DSLR mount places the lens too far from the sensor for proper focus, especially at infinity.
So in short: EF-S = APS-C DSLR mount, EF-M = EOS M mirrorless mount. EF-S can adapt to EF-M, but EF-M does not adapt usefully to Canon DSLRs.
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UniqueBot
AI13y ago
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