Thank you for this video. Definitely helped to relieve any anxiety I may have had about needing to transition all my gear to mirrorless. Great review and well presented!
Thanks for the mention! Yes, it's great for adapted lenses to enjoy a new lease of life with better autofocus across a broader area, better face and eye detection and the possibility of IBIS on some models. As you know, I've been gradually testing all the new RF lenses and where possible comparing them against the old EF versions and yes, the new ones are expensive and in some cases large too. But in almost every case, the RF version does something different or better, like a broader zoom range, IS when it wasn't available on the EF model, smaller barrel, lighter barrel etc etc. I've also found in side-by-side tests that while the adapted EF lenses focus quickly, they're not normally as quick or as consistent as the native RF ones - you'll see that especially in my 70-200 and 100-500 reviews. In all cases so far, the RF model has been better overall in my opinion BUT they are pricier AND they also face the fact the latest EF versions were often already very good to start with.
Thanks Gordon. I am glad to see that Canon are productively increasing the performance of EF lenses, whilst subliminally tempting us all over to the RF lens line up. The RF lenses are great, the ones that I have used. I think I have done well to resist them for a year!
@@benharveyphotography well the problem is while they are better for a new buyer, if you already own the EF versions, they're also still very good. Also remember that adapting gives you the chance to use adapters with extra functionality, like filter holders or speedboosters.
Hi Craig, I made this video years ago and there have been lots of responses about the aesthetics and I still stand by what I said many years later. But it is not just a shallow comment about the colour, it is also about the balance of the camera. If you have a Canon mirrorless camera (which is generally small - I still have the EOS R and now a Canon R8 which is even smaller), putting an adaptor and even a medium size EF lens (say a 24-105 f4) make it a very unbalanced set up that you may want to consider if it is a pleasurable experience shooting with. Although Canon charge way too much in my opinion for their new lenses, they are making them smaller and lighter to match the reduced size and weight of the camera bodies. All of the camera brands are. So just consider the balance of the balance of the camera and lens when you are adapting. Adapting EF lenses is an intermediate step between building up a native mirrorless lens collection, the RF lenses will get you eventually!
@@benharveyphotography Hi Ben, i understand what you are saying i have a little OCD myself but there was no mention of the balance in the video a good majority of it was just about it not looking good, the rest of the video was very good and informative about how lens preform better etc. Just a bit to much about the looks for me ......Sorry 😒😒😒
@craigyboy542 no problem. It was a long time ago as I said but I can take criticism where it is due. I haven’t deleted your comment, you should be able to see it on here unless YT has filtered it for some reason.
For me, I dont really care if the EF lenses are not looking good on a Canon Mirrorless Camera as long as Im getting nice output. I'm currently using a 77d + Sigma 18-35 and Tamron 70-200 f2.8 G2. My initial plan is to upgrade to 90d but now I'm leaning toward R7.
The Sigma 18-35 F1.8 is a cropped sensor lens, it will work on an R6 but it will either show you massive vignette when at 18mm or automatically crop in 1.6x if it is smart enough to know that it is a cropped sensor lens. In essence you would get a 24-35mm lens equivalent as you cant use the wide end of the lens @@grg.000
If the lenses perform perfectly with the adaptor, I see no problem using the adaptor. I have a EF 85 1.2 and a RF 85 1.2 DS on my R6. Love both of them :-D
@@sydneynomura281 The RF version is technically superior in every way. The EF version provides a dreamy look (because it is softer at 1.2) and a more interesting lens flare :-)
Watching this in 2024. I just bought an r100 and an adapter so I can use all of my EF lenses on it. I have noticed that I'm getting really good performance out of these old lenses. I've only bought one RF lens so far.
Very nice, I'm wanting to upgrade to the R6 but was worried if the EF adapter would work well with my lenses. I'm not worried about how it looks 😅 as long as it works
My canon 135 F/2 L mounted on a 5D ii was almost unusable for kids portraits when they were moving. Now, mounted on a R5, I have 100% images with focus on eyes even when my kids are running everywhere. Just a dream to use.
I still have my Canon 135 f2, its such a lovely lens, and I used to use it on a 5d3, but this is lacking continuous autofocus and eye/face detection - so as you say it is a massive bonus when adapted to a Canon mirrorless, especially an R6 or R5 as their focusing system is fantastic.
Interesting video and good to know these EF lenses work even better on the RF cameras. I just purchased a Canon R3 and the RF 70-200 f/2.8. I have two 1DX Mk3 bodies, 16-35 f2.8, 24-70 f2.8, EF 70-200 f2.8, 300 f2.8, 50 f1.2 and 85 f1.2. I'm likely going to sell both 1DX Mk3s, EF 70-200 2.8 and 300 f2.8 which I can say is never used as too long for what I shoot. The 70-200 is my go to and the weight saving in new camera and lens is worth it. However, having the ability to re-use the other lenses which are only used occasionally makes the switch less of a financial burden - RF glass ain't cheap. The long awaited R1 just didn't seem worth the extra (or on hindsight the wait) to me.
Great content Ben. Thanks! Canon read you right--the RF Lens product development & marketing strategy worked very well in having you seamlessly transition to RF lenses. The market was clearly left with options but for Pro use with sensitivity to ergonomics/design, it truly makes sense to get RF lens eventually for RF camera series.
***Correction, it also takes vintage FD lenses, thus 4 types of lenses*** I use them with no issues on my R5 and I hear you about the aesthetics, although the color doesn't bother me, just the extra length. However, the control ring is a game changer as I now customized it for Kelvins. Insane customizability. If you are thinking about getting a mirrorless, buy EF L's or FD's! You will get every focal length possible and can use the 1.6 crop mode for extra reach when in a pinch. My 50 1.2 came alive wide open on the R5, I have never seen such responsive AF even when using my 50 1.4 wide open as well, notorious for hunting but not anymore. R bodies are a no brainer if you want to evolve in photography.
Hi Fred, the FD lenses fit on the R bodies without an adaptor? I had no idea. I only have one FD lens that I use with a reverse ring for macro...but that’s interesting. I also use the crop mode when shooting video. If you export in 1080 then you can film in 4K which makes my new 35mm full frame, a 60mm with Canons 1.7x crop when shooting in 4K, and then of course you can punch in to double that in video editing software.
@@benharveyphotography Hello Ben, they fit with an FD-EOS R adaptor which works great. I bought the Vello brand from B&H and the Fotasy one from amazon as a backup, both great metallic build. You also need to go the menu on the Custom Function section page 4 and turn "ON" where is says "Release shutter w/o lens". Yes, I'm a firm believer in downsampling to 1080, you get a lot of clean edit options. Even though mine has full frame 4k, I do use the crop mode in video as well as photos, with stunning results. Crops also add a nice non distracting visual element when focusing on a subject. At the moment, my favorite modes to record are 4k HQ and 4k 120.
This was actually very helpful. Im returning to photography after taking a break and am looking to buy a Canon EOS R5. I have a 5D Mark III that I want to keep as my back up but now dont have to worry about replacing glass.
No Problem. I recently got a loner from Canon of the R6 with a few of their lenses and one of the benefit of RF lenses over adapting is the burst rate of stills. A canon R5 might be 20 photos per second, but that is dependent upon the lens you mount to it. Some older lenses can’t achieve that because of their design. So if you are shooting action sports that is something to consider.
Great to see some honesty and not someone sponsored. I have a similar collection of EF L lens and until the RF lens come down to a price that I don't need to sell a kidney I also will be be sticking with by dirty old EF lens. Like you I just board a second hand 35mm RF which is probably the only affordable RF lens.
Thanks Phillip, yes I don’t see any sponsorship anytime soon. There is a nifty 16mm f2.8 in the pipeline from Canon which is set to be very affordable. I am still holding onto my perfectly good EF glass and adapting them. That said, the adaptors are in such demand I heard Canon have even ran out of them!
My lenses are native RF with one exception: the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS III USM. Thanks to eBay I got that lens with tax and shipping for about $1400, which is half the price of the RF before taxes and shipping. On a 20MP camera body the small difference in sharpness didn't feel worth double the price. Maybe one day I'll go RF for the portability, but for now I console myself knowing the EF one has internal zooming to keep it nice and sealed.
I have mainly moved across to native mirrorless lenses now, with the exception of a few EF lenses for architecture and landscape where autofocus is irrelevant. The optical quality remains the same, and something like the 20-700 f2.8 is mounted to the tripod via the lens anyway, so the adaptor become kind or irrelevant to the size of the overall setup. Canons RF lenses remain way too expensive, maybe one day they will open up their mount to sigma and Tamron etc.
Thank you for the wonderful review. I’m also a long-time Canon user and enthusiast nature & wildlife photographer. I use EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM, EF 400mm f/5.6L USM and EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lenses for wildlife shots. My eyes are also set on the amazing new EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM lens that is significantly lighter than version II and the lightest 400mm f/2.8 in the market. I always use my 2.8 tele lenses with 1.4x and 2x converters. Now, seriously contemplating procurement of an EOS R. Main objective is, sometimes I stack two converters with the 2.8 tele lenses and capture distant subjects focusing manually on 5DII and 7D. My assumption is; perhaps this stacked combo will AF on the EOS R! Basis for such assumption: it does AF with a touch in Live View on my dual-pixel body 70D. As the Live View is generated directly from the sensor; that stacked combo will also AF with EOS R in its EVF. What do you say? Thanks in advance.
Hi Quazi, thanks for your comment. As I understand it, you have a few long EF lenses and converters and would like to know what the focusing will be like on the EOS R. My only experience with telephoto on the EOS R are the 100-400 EF Mk 2 & the 70-200 f4. Both work perfectly. When/if I need a bit more reach then I put the 100-400 on my 80D therefore it becomes 600mm. Beyond this I have not used this combination with teleconverters. If you need a massive reach then you might be interested in Canons new RF telephoto primes, they are stuck at F11 though, but are lightweight and very sharp - I have used both of them. Being Canon, and compatibility, I am sure that the focusing performance of the adaptors on the EOS R will be equal if not better than a Canon DSLR in live view. But if you were trying to capture wildlife, then the EOS R is a bit slow an you would be much better off with the R6 or R5, they have superior focusing capabilities and shoot at a much higher burst rate.
Hi Ian. I do. I spend all of my hard earnt money on my camera and lenses and I want to feel good about them. The ‘change’ in aesthetics is how any company gets us to buy their stuff. Apple keep changing the shape of their phones to make our phone look old and make us want to buy it. Their latest phones have gone back to the bevelled edge of older iPhones. I have commented elsewhere in the feed that the adaptor is a temporary fix, it increases the size of the equipment in your hand and there is room for it to fail. I also went out to shoot deer locally once, I took my eos R, my canon 100-400 and forgot the adapter!
@@benharveyphotography for sure, just went out and recoded some evening street photography in my latest two videos and uploaded, really blown away by the quality 🤯😀 works amazing with my 24-70 2.8
Sooo ... I love the look of the 50mm on the adapter :D maybe IRL I won't like it as much, but on screen it looks kinda interesting. The color mismatch is a bigger bummer.
Great video...... good to hear about the auto focus performance of EF lenses on R6/5. As for the colour difference (black v grey (or white / cream)..... it won’t bother me in the slightest. Thanks for the video.
Thanks Bernie, obviously I haven’t tried all of the lenses adapted on the R6 & R5, but I did use the 100mm 2.8L EF, and the 35 f1.8 RF and the 24-105 F4 RF and they were all amazing due to the new focusing system on the R5 & R6. I know the colour difference is a first world problem, that I can deal with, but some of the lenses just don’t sit right on a much smaller body do they?
I liked this video, thanks for that. Have you looked at the current Canon EOS R cameras available in 2023? If so, have you plans to do a video on that?
Hi Aaron, I have used/held all of the Canon mirrorless cameras that have been released by Canon - as I help Gordon Laing from Cameralabs.com with his camera and lens reviews from time to time. I noticed a significant boost in focusing capabilities when going from the EOS R and R5 to the R6, R5, R6mk2 etc. I am sure that there are people online doing focusing comparisons with EF lenses on an adaptor to a mirrorless body - however there are sooooo many Canon lenses and in reality I would not be able to get access to the EF version and RF version of a lens to make a comparison. If you want to know how a native lens performs, then check out Cameralabs channel. Gordon doesn’t review adapted lenses however.
There is a lot of talk w/canon for third party lenses. You can buy great canon EF lenses and adapt them at discounted prices. If you want Canon to invest in R&D for future products you need to support their glass also.
At present, Canon are not allowing any third party autofocus lenses, some companies that were making them have stopped production for fear of being legally pursued. I think this is a bad move, as options are good. I have been in the Canon system for a long time, and I had the choice to buy Canon and third party - but I still chose to buy Canon L-series lenses. But by taking that option away in the RF mount, Canon are well behind the competition and companies like Sony are a much more cost effective system to buy into, with options from Sony, Tamron, Sigma, Samyang……if I was starting afresh in a new mirrorless system I am afraid I would not choose Canon based upon lens options right now.
The adaptor looks fine, it is only a few lenses that really don’t look/work well adapted, the 50mm f1.2 was my example. Ironically the Canon lenses look better on a Sigma adaptor on a Sony mirrorless as they are all black, they look like they belong together.
I am going to buy an RF lens one day… just let me get this one last EF L lens before I change…. Three years after this clip, I still buy used EF L’s for my R7 and R6ii
A very useful video for me Ben ;) I'm thinking about buying either the R5C or the R1 when it finally arrives. I've been using Canon 1Ds III for the last 10 years, and this camera has never let me down... and I mean - NEVER. Initially, when I bought it, I didn't have money left for lenses. And as I previously owned a 30D, I had EF-S lenses. I couldn't use them with 1Ds, so I bought a cheap 50mm 1.8, plastic fantastic lens. Although this lens was having big issues with focusing on my 30D, it worked amazingly well on 1Ds III for portraits. Later on, I started investing in the "L" series, thinking - they would serve me well. And they did, again, no issue with any of them. Now I've been learning video recording/editing for some time and would like to get a capable camera, with the capability of taking good quality pictures as well, as recording video. Was close to buying R5, but resigned after many negative opinions about overheating. I continued recording with my smartphone on a gimbal instead. Now is the time I consider investing in a new camera( and inevitably in a new gimbal for it ). But all these compatibility issues, adapters, and new RF standards just drive me crazy :) I think I'll wait for the R1 to go on sale( to know the price ), and make my decision between R5C and R1.
Hi Daniel, there is a lot to unpack there. I made this video many years ago when I was transitioning from DSLR to mirrorless and most of my lenses are now native lenses. The good news is that you have quite a few Canon mirrorless cameras to choose from. In terms of video specs most of them now shoot in 4K, some of them in slow motion. The R5 over heating was an issue primarily with shooting in 8k and slow motion where it is very demanding on processing power (downscaling high megapixel resolution to 4k for example). So depending upon your video needs, you might need a R5 or an R1. A reliable source of camera is my friend Gordon Laing at Camera Labs and he gets exclusive access to new Canon released.
Good video - bit tired of the pressure to move to RF. I’ve got the R6 with the adapter and my images are fantastic. Only problem is every now and then the focus blurs, sometimes at a critical moment. It’s worse when I have the heavy lens on the camera. Any ideas?
Hello. Yes, I can relate - especially since I have spent years ‘building’ a collection of EF lenses for shooting many genres. I have t experiences any issues with my adaptor (I have the basic Canon one, not the ND or the control ring one). When you say blurs it is simply missing focus entirely or it’s not locking focus on what it says is in focus? I would run a few test if static objects with the camera on a tripod and see what is happening.
Been toying with the idea to jump to mirrorless from my 5D iv but not decided best option yet. Weight of gear is something that is a factor too so probably need to look into all the options including moving away from Canon but been a Canon user for years so not an easy decision
Hey Jim, send me a PM if you have any questions. I have an EOS R, and a Sony A7iii (its a bit unusual for someone to be using two camera brands! I also get to try out a lot of new cameras via my friend Gordon at Cameralabs. No better way than to try before you buy! The 5dMk4 is amazing based upon my EOS having the same inners, although I jumped from a 5d3 to the EOS R. There probably is no real reason to upgrade except for the knowledge that Canon are unfortunately no longer developing EF lenses. Which I feel a bit sad about, because I have invested in a lot of EF lenses. But there is genuinely nothing wrong with a high end DSLR and L-series lenses from a few years ago. I still use a Canon 135 f2 and that is 24 years old now. An amazing lens!!!
Of course the old lenses will be better on the new cameras. These old lenses were used on slow dslr cameras and with the much inproved AF on these new mirrorless cameras, they will perform better. However, how the older lenses (ef) will perform on the new cameras against the RF lenses. As an example, take the best 24-70 2.8 ef and compare it with the 24-70 2.8 RF lenses on lets say EOS R5? That would be the question
Is it worth buying EF lenses today despite of coming of age of mirrorless generation? I still have a perfectly working 5D3 and invested to L prime lenses. Thanks for your advice!
Hi Mark, this is the question. I would say that it depends on what you shoot and how long you can/will resist the temptation to upgrade? I switched to mirrorless because at the time there were no full frame DSLR’s with a flip out screen that I could make my RU-vid videos with and shoot stills (with the exception of 6d mk2 which is meh). So I bought an eos r. I was perfectly happy with my 5d3, although I have to say that for shooting portraits mirrorless is much easier with face and eye detection. If you shoot landscapes then there is less reason to switch because you have live view things are a lot more calm and calculated. It’s probably a personal choice if you switch or not.
@@benharveyphotography thanks for your reply. Im more of a food photographer. I wanted to get the eos R6 but I dont have the budget 🤣 Now, I’m balancing the idea of needs and wants. I checked a lot of videos just like yours that EF lenses can be easily mounted to an eos R with an adopter at an ease. Plus that EF lenses can also be used to other non canon cameras like Sony and Red. But what do you think Ben? If its you, will you still buy the lens? Do you think it’s still worthy? Thanks
Hi Mark, the L series lenses are fantastic lenses. As long as you don’t buy them like you are making an investment - expecting to get your money back then fine. But they on the basis that you are going to keep them and they are a ‘bargain’ compared to the RF versions. I am keeping all my EF lenses.
@@benharveyphotography thanks Ben! Appreciate your replies! On your own experience using EF lenses with EOS R, is it almost the same like your using a native RF lenses? I know it’s not 100% the same but if the difference is just little and I can still get the quality of images and videos I need, I think I will keep using EF lenses. Aside that I don’t have the money. Haha
Hi Mark, I only have one RF lens - so I can’t really make a fair comparison. But I use my EF lenses on the R for portraits and landscapes, architecture and I have no complaints. If you are pixel peeping then the RF versions seem to be slightly sharper and you have the control ring to control ISO for example. You get more than just the same lens with a different mount.
One point to my consideration would be the EF-RF drop-in Filter adapter. Either original Canon or the new one by Breakthrough. Saving money on lenses and CPL/ND filters sounds nice and also to use filters at all on certain wideangle lenses.
Hi Doninik, I have considered the drop in filter system but I found it very expensive considering that you have to buy a clear filter to slot in when you are not using a polariser or ND. I think the whole system came to about £400 or close. And since I shoot with more that one camera this seemed like a waste of money for me. I have opted to use magnetic filters (82mm) and use step up rings, but I am awaiting my Revoring that is a Kickstarter campaign that allow you use use one filter for various thread sizes. If you didn’t see my review, link below ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KfmskxcADsY.html
You're right, the RF 35 looks great on the R. I myself am guilty of thinking the same.... it just looks off, having an EF lens on the R5. Not to mention that the total length of the combination is significantly larger. I tried my EF 70-200 on both the 5DIV and the R5.... and the R5 combination warped the eyepiece in my backpack/bag. Just wouldn't fit properly anymore. However, I do think some RF lenses are probably worth the money, but it's unconventional. For example, look at the RF 28-70 f/2. Seeing the optical quality (low distortion, sharp even wide open and in the corners) and the amount of light it let's in...it might be a replacement for several primes. I'd replace my 28mm f/1.8, 35mm f/1.4, 50mm f/1.4 and maybe 85mm f/1.4 with it, while replacing the 24-70mm f/2.8 as well in the process. It's all about your style of shooting however. I mostly shoot portraits, people, events ... and even in a controlled set I like the flexibility of a zoom. While in your landscape work it's probably no issue to change lenses at all unless the rain is pouring down. :)
I did an interesting experiment about a year and a half ago. I put my 24 year old Canon 135 f2 against Sony’s latest G master 135 f1.8. The Sony was so sharp it hurt! Wide open. But when I shared the images online (note that I got the images as close as possible because canon and Sony cameras + dynamic range are different) people couldn’t tell which one was new and which was from the mid 90’s! So most of the sharpness benefit comes when we appreciate the images on a good screen or a high quality print. If you never do that then we are not getting the most out of the equipment.
I’m on the same boat as you. I own several of the EF L series lenses. I was thinking 🤔... now what... should I sell them all to replace them with RF ones... What pain in a butt 😂 Well I’m glad I didn’t as they still classy, beautiful glass. They might become vintage one day who knows like a Rolleiflex. Yes, ascetically the camera might look like a Frankenstein with all the different pieces but the photos speak for themselves not the tools. Great video. All the best 🙂
100% agree. I point out the aesthetics of using EF lenses on a newer camera because it will really big some people. I would also expect EF lenses to start dropping in price - but right now I don’t see any of them being a bargain?!? I still have all of my EF glass and it works great on the EOS R. Too painful on the wallet to do a complete switch to RF lens line up.
Yes, you’re right - too expensive to replace them all and you can’t keep up with technology sometimes as there will be always something better on the horizon. I remembered buying brand new EF L 70-200mm 2.8 IS USM mk1 a while ago. After 2 months of owning it Canon released improved mk2 version. I got so hyped about new image charts that I sold my Mk1 version and lost money really (because was already considered second hand), yet I had to save up for the new one as it was ridiculously expensive. Was that really worth it... perhaps for the image quality but not for my wallet 😂. I might buy 1 or 2 RF L lens in the near future but for now I’m happy with what I got.
I have the RF 35mm f1.8 and the 50mm 1.8 RF. They are relatively ‘cheap’ and feel well balanced on the EOS R. I don’t feel the need right now to replace all of my other L series lenses for a minor improvement upon image quality.
I waited for canon to come out with mirrorless for years and the thanks I got was huge expensive RF glass.....it is good to know the ef glass works. but, not going to lie, there will always be a bitter sting in the thought that to replace my $1800 24-70L with the Rf version will cost $2400.
It’s painful isn’t it. There are of course improvements with the RF lenses. I haven’t used them all but you get the control ring and I am told better sharpness, but I was pretty happy with the quality of my EF lenses - I wasn’t looking to upgrade! I think I will drag out any upgrades over a few years or wait until Sigma start making art lenses in the RF mount.
Making it possible to use EF lenses on a RF body is a boon for Canon customers. I'm almost 100% RF (still missing a 300mm f/2.8 and a 35L II equivalent) and have no regrets. But it is expensive and not for everyone. Meanwhile the R6 and R5 bring huge improvements for Canon shooters due to the combination of IBIS, eye AF and better sensors. Good time to be a Canon shooter.
I wish they did make all of my lenses in the RF mount, and I could justify the extra cost. I appreciate the innovation of the smaller 70-200 and the ability to control other functions on the lens with the control ring - but I struggle to justify replacing lenses that I am already very happy with.
Nice video BUT I am sure from you are from UK did you know butterfly knives are in fact illegal to own in UK so in wouldn't be flashing one around on a video.. Just a heads up.
Hi, Ben I just recently subscribed to your YT blog so please excuse if my ?s are naive. OK so I'm just about to take a long Euro River cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest and I'm thinking of upgrading my 2007 Canon Xsi 12 MP to the new Canon RP(don't really see much advantage to the R for my enthusiast level of photog. You seemed to be impressed with the performance of the older EF lenses with the Canon Mirrorless and said that they were now "turbo" in comparison to the older APS_C bodies focus capability. I have 3 EF lenses (orig. kit 18 - 55, a 75-300 EF, and my 28 - 135 that I bought from a pro photographer who bought 3 Canon 60D bodies and straight away sold the three 28-135s. I had read at the time (2009) that this may have been the sharpest kit zoom that Canon had packed with any of their PRO bodies and it has been my std walk-around lens since I purchased it. My question is do you advise against this and if so, why? I should tell you that I prpobably waited too long and my trip is getting close and I will not have much time to acclimate to the new set-up but most of my travel photos tend to be "auto mode shots any-way. Your thoughts?
Hi Stanford, thanks for your message. It is difficult to answer your question, as I am not sure exactly what you tend to photograph, however you have given a broad description of travel - I will work with that. The RP is certainly light and compact, which you will appreciate. I just looked up the lenses that you have and they are all sub-£200, which means that in the grand scheme of things you are not heavily vested in a system. When I made this video I have something like 6 or 7 L-series lenses, so it makes sense to stay with Canon. If you jump to a full frame mirrorless Canon then you will be able to use the two longer lenses that you mention, but the 18-55 is designed for a cropped sensor camera and you will not benefit from using it on a full frame camera. I think you will also struggle in low light situations when you travel, since the lenses that you have are variable apertures. Ignore this comment if you don't shoot low light. If you are going to spend just shy of £1000 on a new camera and put some very old lenses on it then you will not benefit from the advanced tech in the mirrorless system. My advice is that when you switch to mirrorless then dive in the deep end, pick a system that suits your needs. Explore Sony and Fuji also, you have the choice to start again now - Canon mirrorless system is very expensive when it comes to lenses. I hope that this helps and enjoy your travels! Ben
At the comment about RF lenses not having any bright lenses - it's simply physics, you cannot cheat that. You can remove the mirror and make battery smaller and thus make body smaller. You can make the mount smaller, as the light can be pointed to almost a single point there. But (aside of ridiculously expensive telephoto shenanigans) the lens has to be at least as long as its focal length (minus flange distance, of course) and as wide as its focal length divided by its top light performance (at the front glass element). So if you have 50mm f/1.2, it has to be at least roughly 50 mm long and 42 mm wide at top - and yes, for higher performance lenses this can look ridiculous on mirrorless, purely because they are tiny. Just imagine 85mm f/1.4, measuring ~61 mm at the front, stuck to a mirrorless. I imagine this is something we have to get used to in the end as mirrorless will prevail. After all, we got used to it going from big boxy cameras to tiny (in comparison) DSLRs and compacts.
Hi Ben - fantastic video, just what I was after - some reassurance before I bit the bullet and bagged an R6! By the way, got a great laugh out of your OCD comment, great to know I am not alone there haha!!! Seriously though thanks a million and I hope you get great joy from your RF 35mm!
Great video Ben. It a topic I've been thinking of with the new shift in Lens mounts Canon has adopted. You have made me feel a bit easier about all the glass I currently have. I just need to see the new mirrorless camera range to come down in price a bit before invest. It may be a few years!
Hi Justin, it depends what your requirements are for a camera as the EOS R is a reasonable price now, but of course it can’t keep up with the focusing capabilities of the R6 and the R5. The R6 has a drop in resolution for the R though down from 30MP to 20MP, whilst the R5 is 45MP but a lot of money. The good news is that we have choices now! If you are happy with your DSLR then no need to change!
@@ly8370 I used the RP when it first came out and I quite enjoyed it actually. I wouldn’t recommend it if you intend on shooting video though, but for stills it worked great.
Hi Michael, nothing fancy - I would have been shooting on my Canon 80D, in 1080. I think the image quality is down to the Sigma Art 16-35 f1.8 lens. It’s a heavy but lovely lens. Plus the Canon colours straight out of camera. My latest video was also shot using the same setup. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-giNg0UvJr8E.html
I have a question that i can't seem to find the answer for. I just bought a Canon RP and the canon adapter, but my Sigma 18-200mm lens doesnt work with this camera, because it fits the adapter pretty well but the images have a black ring on the sides of the images taken with this lens, and the camera doesnt seem to be able to fix it because it says that there are no ''data'' for the lens. Does anybody know if i can make it work? or should i just sell it and buy only canon lenses? im very confused at this point.
Hi Jud, I can hopefully clear this up. I used to have a Sigma 18-35 f1.8 lens which was designed for cropped sensor cameras. If you put it on a Canon EOS R adaptor the camera didn’t recognise it as a cropped sensor lens and therefore let you see the whole image circle, which is the darkened edges of the image. This is essentially the inside of the lens that you are seeing because it was meant to go on a smaller sensor camera. It probably says ‘EF-S’ on the lens instead of EF, which is full frame. You have two choices if you are using a cropped sensor lens on a full frame camera, either zoom in until you go beyond the darkened corners, or you go into teh menus and engage the 1.6 crop that Canon will automatically apply if you were to use a Canon EF-S lens. I hope this helps!
LOVE the fence background. Just picked up my first mirrorless, the EOS RP. Also got the 35mm RF. I'm satisfied for now with just a basic small room RU-vid setup. I'm curious if I should just buy nothing but RF lenses and skip EF altogether. I'm waiting for the 50mm RF (next year?). I'm new to this so I don't know what I'll really need, but I'm just doing some talking head stuff, maybe some light vlogging, and taking pictures of my family indoors and outdoors.
Hi Will, I had the opportunity to play with the RP before I bought my EOS R. It seems like an awesome camera to get into full frame Canon mirrorless, and thankfully they provided an update that unlocked some much needed features. I hope you are enjoying your 35mm f1.8. I think its a great all-round lens and I have been using it to film my headshots for my RU-vid videos. I too am waiting for canon to release a nifty fifty RF. The 35mm isn’t wide enough for vlogging, so with an RP you have only a few options. You can shell out a lot of money and get the 15-35 f2.8 (which I have yet to justify), adapt an older 16-35 which is what I do, or you can buy a 10-22mm EF-S lens (which has built in stabilisation) and use that on your RP. Note that it will drop in to APS-C, but it is still wide enough to vlog with. Of course you will still benefit from some sort of gamble, or mini tripod if you are walking and talking. Full frame cameras don’t have the stabilisation to correct walking movement just yet...
5:50 Technically, the shorter the flange distance, the more mounts the camera system can take. The case with Canon is that the adapting performance with their own lenses doesn't drop.
Thank you, you are right. It is interesting now that Canon have released a cropped sensor mirrorless camera that the APS-C lenses still use the same mount but the first two lenses release step in from the mount diameter. It doesn’t quite look right.
how about softness. saw a video claiming pics with the R lenses are way sharper , need to confirm if optical quality decreases when using the EF lenses .
Hello. It obviously depends what lenses you are trying to compare. The R lenses are redesigned, it isn’t just the same glass with a new mount, I would expect them to be sharper and better than their EF equivalent. But if you put an EF lens in a Canon mirror less camera it won’t be any different to putting it on a DSLR in terms of optical performance. It is just air between the sensor and the back of the lens element.
generally, RF L lenses is an upgrade from EF, technology, optical glasses, etc etc. so they expected perform better than the Ef L lenses. i own 70-200 F2.8 RF and EF mount. the RF is very very good in term of image quality 10/10. sadly the price 1/10 lol...
Big thanks man. That's what I wanted to know. I'll get some cheap or primes I don't have for the rf. I'm getting the r6 but I see the R got more mp than the r6. You helped me allot. I didn't want to get rid of all my ef lenses.
No problem - glad the video was helpful. They released the 50mm f1.8 since I made this video, which is an affordable native lens. I bought the Eos R about two years ago, the R6 wasn’t around - but I would buy the R6 now if I could start over. The focus and speed plus larger pixels make it a much better all round camera. Although I would miss the screen on top of the camera.
Thanks for the clear explanations Ben. Glad to hear that I can use all my EF lenses this way I can probably afford the R6 Mark 2 for my next upgrade from the EOS 70D. By the way you talked about prime lenses, what about Canon zoom Lenses? Will it work as well?
I used to use my Cano 24-105 F4L and my Canon 16-35L on the adaptor and it worked just fine. Better autofocus due to the technology in 4th mirrorless cameras. The R6 my 2 focusing system (same as in the R8 that I have) is rapid. A massive step up from the Canon 70D
Thank you for subscribing. I rarely adapt EF lenses anymore, as I have pretty much transitions over to native mirrorless lenses, only using some EF lenses that have not been made for mirrorless yet (tilt shift lenses) or I simply cannot justify spending a few thousand pounds on the RF equivalent of a lens that I already own (100-400L for example). I am hoping that Canon will allow Sigma to start making lenses for their mirrorless cameras!
I could never use my EOS R without the battery grip as the camera isn't balanced - with the grip the adaptor isn't an issue, + I use the daptor with the variable ND & polarizer which I couldn't use with my TS-E 17 as I shoot architecture - Will be upgrading to the R5 as soon as cash allows - I am a pro of 22 years. going from EOS 1Ds, 5D, 6Dmk2 then the EOS R - The mirrorless is a game changer and would never go back to DSLR!
I think you just saved me heaps of stress and potential $ with this. I just ordered an open box and branded in my old dslr for the r6 mark II. My instructor told me to get the f2.8 but the Rmodel is waaay too $. Then I see that I can get the eF version used and get the adapter as you say and trade in my old lenses to bring down the cost more along with the free voucher I got and now I can see that I can have the f2.8 that really is what I should have.. there are two types of adapter is the one with the control ring and the regular. is the control ring one necessary? or can one get by with the regular?
Hi Janine, Thanks for leaving the comments and apologies for the delayed response, I have been on holiday. The adaptor with the control ring is not necessary if you are coming from a DSLR as you will not miss the feature that it is offering you. it essentially you can assign things such as ISO to the ring and control it with your left hand that is supporting the lens. If you buy RF lenses in future this control ring is on all of the RF lenses anyway. So I would recommend getting the normal adaptor. The R6 Mk 2 is a fantastic camera, you will be very happy with it. I have the R8, which shares the same sensor and focusing system as the R6 mk2, but sacrifices a few features that the R6 2 has.
I was curious to find out whether or not EF lenses will be improved on all Rf bodies or just the R5/6 so thanks for answering that one, the colour thing although not the most elegant composition to grace the world wont bother me, its the performance Im after,. Incidentally I use MPB from time to time, lenses i haven't had any issues with, but they did sell me a body that turned out to have a control wheel issue with so a little disappointed on that front,
Sorry to hear that you had an issue with MPB. You are the first person that I have heard of with an issue. Hopefully they fixed the problem as they come with a warranty... As for the mirrorless experience and EF lenses, you will be happy with the experience when comparing it to a DSLR.
@@benharveyphotography tell the truth I only found out what the issue was when I came to trade in, it wasn't a permanent fault it usually didn't change the shutter speed first time when it happened then if you have it a firm push it would change, didn't really cause an issue back then as I wasn't using it very regularly, it did get worse and I was doing more weddings which is the reason why I wanted to trade up and by that time warranty was gone anyway, I'm not questioning their service as it more than likely slipped through the net, but I am just a tiny bit wary now of how rigourous their system checks are,
My budget is very low, I currently have a t5 (I bought like 8 years ago) and managed to buy around 5 lenses and would like to upgrade (is it really an upgrade I'm not sure) to an r100. Any recommendations? How terrible is the r100?
Hi, thanks for the comment. I haven't used a T5 (although I have used other cropped sensor Canon DSLRs). I think you should plan ahead and know what you intend on buying in the future. Your existing 5 lenses, are the EF lenses (designed for full frame) or EF-S lenses, and are they premium lenses (L-series) or cheap lenses that you shouldn't be too precious about. Like i said in this video many years ago, you will end up buying native RF lenses, and they have released many more affordable options since I released this video. Perhaps ask yourself why you are switching to mirrorless also, which features is your existing camera missing to jump to mirrorless? I have personally moved over to full frame only and sold my EF-S lenses. I own the original EOS R still and last year got the R8 which is a very small and lightweight full frame camera. I haven't used the R100 or any of the cropped sensor Canons however.
Hi Shoeb, I have not used an adaptor with any cropped sensor Canon mirrorless cameras (they were not released when I made this video), so I can’t really comment on this. I am sure there are others that have tested this though.
That would essentially have a section in front of the camera (the same size as the adaptor) to create the gap to enable the lenses to focus on the sensor. They will never do that as they are promoting you to buy into RF lenses. Plus it makes the camera unnecessarily larger and only ever backwards compatible with EF lenses. Sorry!
I'll probably move to mirrorless next year and think about R6 or R7. I have some EF lenses I like very much, e.g. 100mm Macro IS, F2.8 and very old 300mm f4.0 IS and 200mm F2,8 II. I guess especially the latter ones could not cope with the high resolution of the R7, what do you think? I'm also slightly afraid there won't be a lot of high quality RFS-lenses as was the case with EFS-lenses which makes the R7 not so attractive in spite of very good specs.
Hi Martin, as you say the cropped sensor mirrorless cameras from Canon are new to the market and the glass is not there yet, but to adapt of invest in full frame glass from their RF line up - which is very expensive. I don’t know the answer to your question about the resolution capabilities of the older (but very good) EF lenses is, but I am sure someone on the internet has the answers for you.
Hi Michael, if I were starting again I would only buy native lenses. Since making this video I also got the Canon 50mm f1.8, which is a great affordable lens - but I do tend to shoot a lot with primes. Although EF lenses will work just fine on the mirror less bodies, the adaptor does add a few centimetres onto the set up. You will also get extra features on the lens itself depending upon which one you get The 35mm for example has a control ring which I use to change the ISO, which comes in handy when you don’t want to take your eye from the viewfinder.
I’m a Nikon Z6 shooter and have a similar problem. The new Z mount lens look amazing but are way too expensive. But on the flip side it’s a great time to buy used F mount lens
Hello Ben, I wonder can you answer this question for me. When doing my landscape photography I would always ensure that I was lined up with the affinity marker to assist my depth of field. But these new Canon RF lenses have no marker. How do approach this situation now ???
Hi Allan, when I am using my EOS R for landscapes, I switch my lens to manual focus, which will enable two things, focus peaking and Canon have a new focusing guide with two green arrows. When your focus point is out of focus the green arrows are further apart. You twist the focus ring until the green arrows sit on top of one another and then you have sharp focus. I find it to be very reliable. It only becomes complicated it you enable touch screen to take the photograph, which you will then have to disable to select your focus points. I hope this answers your question.
Hi Dan, absolutely. The continuous autofocus on all of the canon mirrorless cameras work really well, including with adapted EF lenses. I used to have an 80D and for comparison the adapted EF lenses on my eos R is just as capable if not better.
Thinking about making the jump from my 5diii to a mirrorless system without breaking the bank, i do more photo than video so an eos R makes more sense for me than an a7iii, do you lose continuous af when adapting an EF Lens, really dont wanna say goodbye to my 24-105 L series!
Hi. This is potentially a big question, which Canon Mirrorless you should get or whether you should switch to Sony…If you go to Canon then your existing Canon lenses will adapt seamlessly. But you will want to buy the RF 24-105 like I did eventually. If you adapt a canon EF lens to a sony, the Sigma MC-11 adaptor does an OK job, but its not as good as Canon to Canon. So it depends upon how many lenses you have at the moment whether you should jump ship or not because you will only adapt for so long. If you never owned a camera and were looking to get into a system, then the most cost effective and developed system is Sony, because of the lens line up. From Sony and all third party companies. However Canon aren’t currently allowed third party lens manufacturers to develop lenses for their cameras, so you are stuck with very expensive big heavy lenses if you go with Canon mirrorless. I still own my EOS R as it have a good amount of resolution for landscape photography and architecture. However its focusing system is very casual, it has a slow burst rate and has entry level video specs. So it depends what you need to do with it. I hope that this helps.
Excellent video. I do shoot with a couple of Canon DSLRs and have the 'L' collection, not interested in switching to the R, at least for now but really interested in your comments about EF performance on R series bodies, very good to know.
Thanks for the comment John. I had the chance to play with the R6 and the R5 next to one another and the focusing capabilities are amazing. Probably the only reason that I would consider upgrading from my EOS R (which is the canon 5d4 inners). It is absolutely rapid. It can track a seagull in flight, specifically the closets eye, then when the bird turned its head away from the camera the focus went to the back of its head until it turned to reveals its eye again. Incredible. I also got to try the New Sony a7s3, and the focusing on that was equally impressive, but quite as good in my opinion. It entirely depends on what your needs are as a photographer. If you shoot landscapes then this makes no difference!
@@benharveyphotography Thanks Ben but as an old age layabout rather than someone who makes a living from photography, on the R series I can wait besides which, your video on infrared is to blame for my latest project ! My main DSLRs are a 5DS and a 7D MkII but as a lightweight carry option, I also have a system built around a Canon M6 and lenses. The Canon M you can pick up second hand for peanuts so I have sent off an original M for IR conversion but obviously given current Covid stuff this has dragged on a bit but hopefully I should get it back week after this and can then have a play. You see the havoc people like you and Gordon can have with you vlogs :) Enjoyed the one on the GoPro 9 but I'm not tempted, don't have a skate board !
Glad that I am the source of inspiration/blame for your infrared adventures :-) I try hard not to make this a channel about gear, but I am fortunate to get to try out a lot of gear - and I have to share my thoughts on it and sometimes why I decide to stick and other times when I decide to sell/switch. Note that my the majority of photos on my website have been taken with a Canon 5dmk2, and I am slowly catching up with mirrorless images. But for certain genres a ten years old camera does a fantastic job! Ps skateboards are not required to own a go pro, it just helps give the impression that I am active and allowed to use an action camera :-)
I have refrained from getting the adaptor with the filters for the reason that you also have to buy the clear filter for when the ND filters are not in use, and it actually equates to a few hundred quid, which is more than an 82mm high quality ND filter. I now tend to use magnetic ND filters or where I need a variable ND I use the H&Y Revoring to adapt my 82mm VND to any of my lens sizes (but this is a kick-starter and only available for pre-order at the moment).
Hi Bill, in theory yes as all of the fixing types are in the correct order, but I have never done it to say whether it will perform well. The adaptors are going to make the setup quite long and front heavy also. Depends what you are looking to achieve, but I have used and reviewed the RF 24-105 (both versions) and compared it to the EF version on an adaptor and I would choose the RF version every time. The cheapest 24-105 with variable aperture is actually my choice out of those three, very light and has optical stabilisation.
Great video Ben thank you! I’m about to buy my first full frame mirrorless camera and am deciding between a7Riii and EOS R (not sure which EOS R yet). It seems you own cameras in both systems. For landscape and creative fine art stills which do you recommend? I’m looking to buy used and buy into a system with relatively affordable and plentiful second hand lens options. Leaning towards Sony for dynamic range and low light but have always loved canon. Thoughts?
Hi Tyler, yes I am currently shooting with a Sony A7iii and the Canon Eos R. The Sony’s are technically more capable for landscapes, as they have more dynamic range, and a lot more lenses than Canon...for now. But you can adapt canon EF lenses onto the Sony and the Eos R, but a slight compromise on a few things as a highlighted in this video. The EoS R has 30MP, which is plenty for me. To get higher resolution in the Canon mirrorless system then you have the R5. That’s it. The canon is a nicer user experience but it does many things ‘well’. Depending if you shoot portraits under the banner of fine art, the the Eos R is slow. It only shoots a few frames a second and has no ibis. That is the only weakness I would say. The Sony on the other hand is much faster and wins for portraits and general speed of focusing capabilities. The -R5 and R6 however are better than the Sony for focusing and speed. I have never used the A7r3, but Sony’s are generally the same form factor and menus. They are a bit of a nightmare. They are also too small to fit in the hand, so I have a small rig l bracket to make it fit in my hands. I would suggest that you use/borrow a Sony and if it is a miserable experience then get the Canon. If you get on with the menus then Sony might be right for you. This is on the basis that you do not intend on using the cameras for filming yourself as you will need a Canon for that! Long answer. Sorry!
For what it’s worth Tyler, I bought the a7c because it seemed so perfect. It’s the a7iii but with a flip out screen and the same new colour science as the a7siii. I returned it less than a day later. I probably should have gave it longer usage, but I hated using it immediately. So do what he’s saying, try, borrow, rent, do what you have to do to get the camera you’re thinking about getting into your hands first, before deciding on which system you’ll invest in.
@@mikebanks4796 thanks for echoing my comments. I have held the a7C and it was again quite small in the hand - but it is what I wanted the a7iii to be when I bought that two years ago. I hope that you got all your money back and found something that works for you!?!
@@benharveyphotography I wanted to love the a7c because it’s specs are great, but I just hated using it. I did a couple test videos with it and the workflow was very annoying. Appreciate the concern and yeah, I returned it with no restocking fees. 🙂 Some will call me crazy but I grabbed the EOS R instead. I was able to get the R with the RF 24-105 f/4 brand new with some negotiating for $2,600 CAD ($2,035 USD) so it was an absolute no brainer.
@@mikebanks4796 I use the EOS R for most of my photograph and filming most of my RU-vid videos and it’s awesome. As long as you don’t need wide angle 4K (because of the crop it applies) then it’s a great all rounder.
It’s an interesting question because this does happen with an extension tube - however the distance between the back of the lens and the sensor is still the same, so I am very confident it is exactly the same amount of light coming in.
@@benharveyphotography Thanks for the reply. I am actually more concerned with the R5 with battery life. My understanding (from other sources and reviews) is that the R5 battery will last about 250 to 300 shots. If that is true, doing a wedding I'd have to change batteries about 5 times, where as with my Canon 5D4, I can do a whole wedding on one battery...(w/very rare exception I'd need to change the battery)...Thanks as always. Phil NYC Area
Hello. I have only played with the R5 pre-release, so I cant say that I have any experience of its battery life. I own an Canon EOS R, which will ‘suffer’ from the same battery use of the screen draining energy from it, however I have setup a shortcut for switching the screen to hibernate. I genuinely wouldn’t hold back from transitioning to mirrorless on the basis of battery though, they are very efficient, but I believe that burst Rate decreases as the battery life goes down, but I think that applied to DSLR’s also. I still have a 5d3 and a mirrorless camera and I use both, so I get the attachment to the DSLR, they feel reassuring robust in the hand when compared to mirrorless cameras.
@@benharveyphotography Thanks for the info and insight Ben. Appreciated. As soon as the wedding market and photography gigs pick up again, I will likely still buy an R5 at some point. I do really like my 5D4 and even still have my 5D3 for backup, so all will be good for sure. Have a good day and thanks. Phil NYC Area
Hello. Yes the Stabilisation on the lenses work just the same as they do on a DSLR, with the added benefit that the Eos R has sensor digital stabilisation also. I have tested the 24-105, 70-200, 100mm macro and 100-400 EF lenses on the Eos R and the stabilisation works just fine. The same as they would on a DSLR.
I have never tested it. The theory makes sense, as extension tubes lose you light because the lens is further away from the sensor, but the adaptor is keeping distance the same as the space that the mirror occupies. I would therefore say its not true but it would need to be tested.
Thank you for making the video. But I have one question. I wanted to ask whether I'll be able to use my Sigma 150-600(canon mount) on a RF body? Thanks in advance!
Hello, if your Sigma is an EF mount then sure, you will be able to use it with the canon EF-RF adaptor on your RF body. I assume that the sigma is full frame, but Canon have now released cropped sensor mirrorless cameras.
Hi Vincent, I have only tried it with a Sigma lens and that worked. Providing that it’s an EF or EF-S mount it will work but I don’t know about performance.
Thank you very much for this vdeo !! I got a question though, is the focal lenght the same with the adapter ? Or will my 24 mm become a 32 mm or something ?
Hi Emilie, it depends whether the lens is an EF lens (full frame) or EF-s lens (cropped sensor). If you put a full frame lens on a full frame camera via the adaptor it will stay the same, therefore 24mm will stay 24mm. However if you put the 24mm EF-S lens on a Canon mirrorless the camera will automatically crop in and it will become a 36mm (24 x1.5 crop factor). I hope this makes sense. The adaptor is simply creating a space between the sensor and the back of the lens where the mirror used to be.
