canon ef-s vs ef lens comparison

If you're confused about the difference between an EF and an EF-S lens, you're not alone. A lot Canon shooter want to know the differences between EF and EF-S lenses.

It can be confusing because you CAN use the larger EF lenses on the smaller APS-C cameras. I do it all the time. This post will give you the pluses and minuses of Canon EF-S vs EF lenses.

Canon EF-S lenses have a smaller image circle and are made to fit the smaller APS-C Canon "crop" cameras. Canon EF lenses have a larger image circle, are bigger, and are made to work with full frame APS Canons, but also work on APS-C cameras.

Look at the EF vs. EF-S comparison in the graphic below.

Canon EF vs EF-S Lens Coverage

The EF lenses cover a 62.5% larger area and will cover the entire full frame camera sensors and will more than cover the entire surface area of the smaller APS-C cameras.

most popular canon eF and EF-S Lenses

The Canon Geek website has published posts on many of the lenses mentioned above. See ALL Canon Lenses for a list of the posts.

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pros and cons of EF and EF-S Lenses

Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the Canon EF-S and EF lenses.

One of the clear advantages of starting with an EF lens is that you can use it on either the full frame APS or smaller APS-C cameras. The disadvantage of starting with an EF-S lens is that you'd have to upgrade to a large lens should you ever upgrade from a small APS-C crop camera like I did when I first became a Canon shooter.

EF-S lenses win the price advantage. They're made with smaller diameter optics and are less expensive to manufacture. That means they're more affordable for you.

"Owl Couple" Taken with Canon EF Lens (100-400mm L)
and full frame Canon camera (5D Mark III)

In general, most the EF lenses are made to higher quality standards for professional photographers ( particularly the "L" line of Canon lenses), who usually shoot with full frame sensor cameras. Usually, that means superior image quality too.

using an EF lens on a smaller APS-C camera

The question arises if you can use an EF lens of a APS-C camera. The answer is yes. Attaching your EF lens to a smaller sensor camera doesn't change its actual focal length. You're actually just using less of the image circle of the EF lens and getting a narrower angle of view. 

The challenge that comes with that is that your angle of view may be too narrow to fit the entire subject into your composition. Below is a sample photo of an EF lens used on an APS-C camera.

Canon EF 100-400 Lens on an APS-C Canon 90D

You get a narrower view on an APS-C camera (like the 90D), whether you use an EF-S lens, or an EF Lens, like the 100-400mm lens that was used to take this photo of the Waving American flag.

Can you use an EF-s lens on a larger Full frame camera

Canon EF-S lenses do not work with full frame Canons. It doesn't work. The lens mount makes it impossible for you to even mount the smaller EF-S lenses onto a camera body that requires a larger EF lens.

The image circle of an EF-S lens is not big enough to cover the entire full frame sensor. If the mount did fit, you would have the corners of the sensor that would not receive any light when the shutter was opened.

EF-s lens versus ef lens video

This short, but informative video will help you get a better understand of the differences between an EF and an EF-S Lens.

angle of view comparison EF-S vs. EF

EF-S lenses don't have as wide of an angle of view relative to their focal length. Lenses, when used on a APS-C camera, "crop" into a full size image by a factor 1.6 times. You should be familiar with the term crop factor. The best way to explain this is with an example.

My Canon 70D (an APS-C camera) has that 1.6x crop factor. That means with an EF-S 10-18mm lens, it's angle of view is really equivalent to [10-18 multiplied by 1.6]  or a 16-28.8mm angle of view on a non-crop, full frame camera.

Here's a full explanation of crop factor published on my digital photography tips website.

how to tell the difference between EF-S and EF Lenses

There are 3 ways to tell the difference between the EF and EF-S lenses. First, just look at the overall size difference between the EF-S and EF lenses. Second, just read the printed writing on the lens itself.

The Canon EF-S 10-18mm on the left, when attached to a APS-C crop camera gives almost the exact same angle of view as the EF 17-35mm lens on a full frame camera.

Finally, you can look at the size of the opening on the camera end of the lens. The EF lenses have much bigger internal diameter and lens opening near the camera.

Size comparison EF-S vs EF Lenses

As an Amazon affiliate Canon Camera Geek receives a small commission from qualifying purchases, at NO added cost to you.

how to remember the EF vs. EF-S designation

I hope you found this explanation of Canon EF and EF-S lenses helpful. Use the search box below to find other posts about Canon gear or check out the list of related Canon lens articles below my signature. Have a blast by shooting your Canon.

Bruce Lovelace is the publisher of Canon Camera Geek. Read more about him on the About Page. He also publishes how to articles and camera gear reviews at the Photography Tips website.

View some of Bruce's photos on Instagram  and Flickr.   Join the tribe of followers on YouTube. Bruce also runs photo workshops and provides 1 on 1 digital photography coaching.

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