Canon EF-S lenses are a series of lenses designed by Canon for use with their APS-C sensor DSLR cameras.
The “S” in EF-S stands for “Short Back Focus”, which refers to the distance between the rear lens element and the camera’s sensor.
This design allows the lenses to be smaller and lighter than their EF counterparts, which are designed for full-frame cameras.
The EF-S lenses have a crop factor of 1.6, which means that their focal length is multiplied by 1.6 when used on an APS-C sensor camera.
For example, a 50mm EF-S lens would have an effective focal length of 80mm on an APS-C camera.
One key difference between EF-S lenses and other lenses is that EF-S lenses cannot be used on full-frame cameras, as they are designed specifically for APS-C sensor cameras.
Additionally, some EF lenses may have a wider aperture or better build quality than their EF-S counterparts, although there are many high-quality EF-S lenses available.
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Canon EF S Lenses List
Here is a list of Canon EF-S lenses:
- EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
- EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
- EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
- EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
- EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
- EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
- EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II
- EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
- EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
- EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
- EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
- EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM
This lens is designed for wide-angle photography, with a zoom range of 10-18mm. It’s ideal for capturing landscapes, architecture, and interiors.
The lens features Canon’s STM autofocus system, which is smooth and quiet, making it ideal for shooting video.
The lens also has image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
The maximum aperture of f/4.5-5.6 is not particularly fast, but it’s suitable for most daylight shooting situations.
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EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
This lens is similar to the EF-S 10-18mm but has a larger maximum aperture of f/3.5-4.5, which makes it better for low-light photography.
The lens also features Canon’s USM autofocus system, which is fast and accurate.
Like the EF-S 10-18mm, it’s great for capturing landscapes, architecture, and interiors. The lens has a zoom range of 10-22mm, which gives it a wider field of view than most standard lenses.
EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
This lens is a versatile standard zoom lens with a zoom range of 15-85mm. It’s suitable for a variety of purposes, from landscapes to portraits.
The lens features Canon’s USM autofocus system, which is fast and accurate, making it great for sports and action photography.
The lens also has image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
The maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6 is not particularly fast, but it’s suitable for most daylight shooting situations.
EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM
This lens is a fast standard zoom lens with a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8.
This lens is great for low-light photography and for creating shallow depth-of-field effects. It’s ideal for portraits and indoor events.
The lens features Canon’s USM autofocus system, which is fast and accurate, making it great for sports and action photography.
The lens also has image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
This lens is another versatile standard zoom lens with a zoom range of 17-85mm. It’s similar to the EF-S 15-85mm but has a smaller maximum aperture.
The lens features Canon’s USM autofocus system, which is fast and accurate.
The lens also has image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images. The lens is suitable for a variety of purposes, from landscapes to portraits.
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
This lens is a basic kit lens that is often sold with Canon DSLRs. It has a zoom range of 18-55mm and is suitable for general photography.
The lens features Canon’s STM autofocus system, which is smooth and quiet, making it ideal for shooting video.
The lens also has image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
The maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6 is not particularly fast, but it’s suitable for most daylight shooting situations.
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II
The EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II is an older version of the EF-S 18-55mm kit lens that was released before the STM version.
It’s a basic kit lens with a zoom range of 18-55mm that’s suitable for general photography.
The lens features Canon’s Image Stabilization technology, which helps reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
However, the autofocus system is not as advanced as the STM or USM versions of the lens, making it less suitable for shooting fast-moving subjects or videos.
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EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
This lens is a newer version of the EF-S 18-55mm kit lens with a slightly smaller maximum aperture than the previous versions.
It features Canon’s STM autofocus system, which is smooth and quiet, making it ideal for shooting video.
The lens also has image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
It’s a good all-purpose lens for beginners or for those who need a lightweight and compact lens.
EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
This lens is a versatile all-purpose lens with a zoom range of 18-135mm that’s suitable for general photography.
It features Canon’s STM autofocus system, which is smooth and quiet, making it ideal for shooting video.
The lens also has image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
It’s a good choice for those who want a single lens that can cover a wide range of shooting situations, from landscapes to portraits.
EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
This is a newer version of the EF-S 18-135mm lens with a faster and more accurate autofocus system than the STM version.
It features Canon’s USM autofocus system, which is fast and accurate, making it great for sports and action photography.
The lens also has image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
It’s a good choice for those who want a versatile lens that can handle a wide range of shooting situations, from landscapes to portraits.
EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
This is an all-in-one superzoom lens with a zoom range of 18-200mm that’s suitable for travel photography.
It features Canon’s Image Stabilization technology, which helps reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
However, the lens has a relatively slow maximum aperture of f/3.5-5.6, which can make it difficult to use in low-light situations or to create shallow depth-of-field effects.
It’s a good choice for those who want a single lens that can cover a wide range of shooting situations, from landscapes to wildlife.
EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
This is a telephoto zoom lens with a zoom range of 55-250mm that’s suitable for sports and wildlife photography.
It features Canon’s STM autofocus system, which is smooth and quiet, making it ideal for shooting video.
The lens also has image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
It’s a good choice for those who want a relatively affordable telephoto lens that can handle a range of shooting situations, from portraits to wildlife.
However, the maximum aperture of f/4-5.6 can make it difficult to use in low-light situations.
Third-party Canon EF-S lenses
- Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD
- Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM
- Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II
- Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II VC LD Aspherical IF SP AF
- Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art
- Tokina AT-X 14-20mm f/2 PRO DX
- Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC
- Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM | C
- Tamron 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di II LD Macro
- Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM APO
Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD
This lens is a wide-angle zoom lens with a zoom range of 10-24mm. It features Tamron’s HLD (High/Low torque-modulated Drive) autofocus system, which is fast and accurate.
The lens also has image stabilization, which helps to reduce camera shake and produce sharper images. The maximum aperture of f/3.5-4.5 is suitable for most daylight shooting situations.
Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM
This lens is a wide-angle zoom lens with a zoom range of 10-20mm. It features Sigma’s HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) autofocus system, which is fast and accurate.
The lens also has a constant maximum aperture of f/3.5, which makes it great for low-light photography and creating shallow depth-of-field effects. It’s a good choice for landscapes, architecture, and interiors.
Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X116 Pro DX II
This lens is a fast wide-angle zoom lens with a zoom range of 11-16mm.
It features Tokina’s SD-M (Silent Drive-Module) autofocus system, which is fast and quiet, making it ideal for shooting video.
The lens also has a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, which makes it great for low-light photography and creating shallow depth-of-field effects. It’s a good choice for landscapes, architecture, and interiors.
Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II VC LD Aspherical IF SP AF
This lens is a fast standard zoom lens with a zoom range of 17-50mm.
It features Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization technology, which helps reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
The lens also has a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, which makes it great for low-light photography and creating shallow depth-of-field effects. It’s a good choice for portraits, indoor events, and low-light photography.
Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art
This lens is a fast standard zoom lens with a zoom range of 18-35mm. It features Sigma’s HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) autofocus system, which is fast and accurate.
The lens also has a constant maximum aperture of f/1.8, which makes it great for low-light photography and creating very shallow depth-of-field effects. It’s a good choice for portraits, indoor events, and low-light photography.
Tokina AT-X 14-20mm f/2 PRO DX
This lens is a fast wide-angle zoom lens with a zoom range of 14-20mm. It features Tokina’s SD-M (Silent Drive-Module) autofocus system, which is fast and quiet, making it ideal for shooting video.
The lens also has a constant maximum aperture of f/2, which makes it great for low-light photography and creating shallow depth-of-field effects. It’s a good choice for landscapes, architecture, and interiors.
Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC
This lens is an all-purpose zoom lens with a zoom range of 18-200mm.
It features Tamron’s VC (Vibration Compensation) image stabilization technology, which helps reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
The lens has a variable maximum aperture of f/3.5-6.3, which makes it suitable for most day-to-day shooting situations. It’s a good choice for travel and everyday photography.
Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM | C
This lens is an all-purpose zoom lens with a zoom range of 18-300mm. It features Sigma’s OS (Optical Stabilizer) image stabilization technology, which helps reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
The lens has a variable maximum aperture of f/3.5-6.3, which is not as fast as other lenses on this list.
However, it’s a good choice for travel and general photography when you want to pack light and only carry one lens. The lens also has macro capabilities, allowing you to get close-up shots of small subjects.
Tamron 55-200mm f/4-5.6 Di II LD Macro
This lens is a telephoto zoom lens with a zoom range of 55-200mm. It features Tamron’s LD (Low Dispersion) glass to help reduce chromatic aberration and produce sharper images.
The lens has a variable maximum aperture of f/4-5.6, which is not as fast as other lenses on this list.
However, it’s a good choice for portraits, sports, and wildlife photography when you need to get closer to your subject.
Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM APO
This lens is a fast telephoto zoom lens with a zoom range of 50-150mm. It features Sigma’s HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) autofocus system, which is fast and accurate.
The lens also has a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, which makes it great for low-light photography and creating shallow depth-of-field effects.
It’s a good choice for portraits, sports, and wildlife photography when you need to get closer to your subject.
How to choose the right Canon EF-S lens for your camera
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a Canon EF-S lens:
Purpose:
Consider what type of photography you plan to do. If you’re interested in landscapes, architecture, or interiors, a wide-angle lens like the EF-S 10-18mm or EF-S 10-22mm might be a good choice.
If you want a lens that can handle a wide range of shooting situations, a standard zoom lens like the EF-S 15-85mm or EF-S 18-135mm might be a better fit.
If you’re interested in portraits or creating shallow depth-of-field effects, a fast standard zoom lens like the EF-S 17-55mm or a telephoto lens like the EF-S 55-250mm might be a better choice.
Maximum Aperture:
The maximum aperture of a lens determines how much light the lens can let in.
A larger maximum aperture (represented by a smaller f-number) allows more light to enter the lens and can produce a shallower depth-of-field effect.
If you plan to do a lot of low-light photography or want to create a shallow depth-of-field effect, consider a lens with a larger maximum aperture like the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 or the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM.
Autofocus System:
Canon offers different autofocus systems on its lenses, including STM and USM. STM (Stepping Motor) autofocus is smooth and quiet, making it ideal for shooting video.
USM (Ultrasonic Motor) autofocus is fast and accurate, making it great for sports and action photography.
Consider which autofocus system is more important to you based on the type of photography you plan to do.
Image Stabilization:
Image stabilization technology helps reduce camera shake and produce sharper images.
Canon offers different levels of image stabilization on its lenses, so consider whether this feature is important to you based on the type of photography you plan to do.
Budget:
Canon EF-S lenses range in price from around $100 for a basic kit lens to over $1,000 for a professional-grade lens.
Consider your budget when choosing a lens, but also keep in mind that a more expensive lens may offer better image quality and more advanced features.
FAQs
What Does EF-S Stand For In Canon Lenses?
EF-S stands for “Electro-Focus Short-back focus” and refers to a type of lens mount developed by Canon specifically for use on their APS-C sensor cameras.
Can EF-S Lenses Be Used On Full-Frame Canon Cameras?
No, EF-S lenses are designed specifically for Canon’s APS-C sensor cameras and are not compatible with full-frame cameras.
Attempting to mount an EF-S lens on a full-frame camera may cause damage to the lens or camera.
What Are Some Popular Canon EF-S Lenses?
Some popular Canon EF-S lenses include the EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM, EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM, and EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM.
Are EF-S Lenses Generally Less Expensive Than EF Lenses?
EF-S lenses are typically less expensive than their EF counterparts, but this can vary depending on the specific lens and its features.
Are EF-S Lenses Inferior To EF Lenses In Terms Of Image Quality?
Not necessarily. While EF-S lenses are designed for use on APS-C sensor cameras, they can still produce high-quality images.
However, some EF lenses may offer superior performance in certain areas, such as low-light performance or bokeh.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right Canon EF-S lens for your camera can be a difficult decision. There are a variety of lenses to choose from, each with its own set of features and specifications.
Factors to consider include purpose, maximum aperture, autofocus system, image stabilization, and budget.
With so many options, it’s important to consider your individual needs before deciding to find the lens that best suits you.