Canon S lenses and L lenses

[Desmond]

Hi,

Can someone explain to me the difference between a 'S' type lens and a 'L' type Cano lens?

The salesperson was just trying to confuse me tonight, so I left :(

Des.

[studio206]

I believe the S or EF-S lens are the ones that are for the digital slr... the L lens are canon's top of the line lenses... the L lens can be used on any of canon's eos bodies... but the EF-S lens can only be used on EOS 30D, 20D, 20Da, Digital Rebel XT, Digital Rebel XTi, and Digital Rebel. i dunno why the guy was like there is an s type lens o.O

[Ronald S. Jr.]

EF-S lenses are specially manufactured to, in essence, give people with cropped sensors what they normally wouldn't have. They're lenses made only for cameras with APS-C sensors (1.6x). This would include the 300D, 350D (XT), 400D (XTi), 20D, 20Da, and 30D. For example, the 10-22 EF-S lens by Canon gives the user a field of view of a 16-35 lens. However, should you put a 16-35 lens on the cropped sensor, you'd get a much more narrow field of view. Also, I'll add that EF-S lenses are not compatible with the 5D or 1-series. Only 1.6x bodies.

L lenses, on the other hand, were mainly manufactured to cater to those using full frame bodies. They can be used on any EOS body, but when used on the EF-S lenses, they narrow your field of view, which can change what lens you think you may need. They are Canon's top of the line professional series. Many are weathersealed, all are made mostly of metal, and some employ some very high class glass, such as Super UD or Fluorite elements.

[Desmond]

So, if I plan on sticking with my Canon 30D for a few years I really don't have anything to worry about with the 'S' series lenses then???

The sales guy I think just wanted an upsell. Business has not been good overall in the industry here leading up to Xmas and this is the quiet period.

He then went on about the 5D, the L series lenses, and how I can take them into the shower (I really don't know *WHAT* he was thinking I did... but anyhow) and still use the camera as it is all sealed...

Thank you again for explaining this in so much depth to a newbie :)

[Adaptive]

Don't bring your camera in the shower unless you get one of these first!! hehe :)

[Ronald S. Jr.]

He then went on about the 5D, the L series lenses, and how I can take them into the shower (I really don't know *WHAT* he was thinking I did... but anyhow) and still use the camera as it is all sealed...


That's absolute nonsense. The only way a camera and lens combination is weathersealed (do NOT confuse with "waterproof") is if the body is a 1-series and the body is a weathersealed L lens (not all L's are sealed), and the lens has a filter on the front. They will withstand wind, sand, water, etc., to a degree. You can't dunk them in water.

[Desmond]

Thankyou again for all the explainations, I am learning more in the last fortnight here than what I have learnt through books and reviews. At least I can ask questions and get replies that make sense.

Thankyou again. Hopefully one day when I catch up on knowledge I can share the same depth of knowledge as you guys have done with me :)

Des.