Canon EF lenses

[Martin Brazil]

Does anyone know if the old EF range of lenses for Canon film cameras are compatible with their new digital cameras ? My friend has a Rebel film camera with a couple of EF lenses and she is looking to buy a new 50D and would like to use her old lenses if possible. I have checked the net and it seems to me that they are but I would feel a lot happier if anyone has first hand experience of this combination and can give me a simple yes or no.
Thanks in advance.

[flyinion]

Yep they are. As a matter of fact the 70-300mm I bought for my new XSi is an EF lens and I can use the old 35-80mm EF from my early 90's film Rebel as well. Just to be more clear, EF is still a current series of lens. EF-S is a new series BUT unless I'm mistaken (someone here will correct me ) those only work on the APS-C sensor models.

[WesternGuy]

Martin, the old EF lenses will work on all the new Canon digital cameras. I have a 35-70 and a 70-210, plus a 50 mm EF macro from film days and they all work on my 5D and my Rebel XT backup. I suspect, but have never set out to prove it, that these older EF lenses do not give the same quality images as newer lenses (whether you can tell or not, will depend on what you are photographing - my opinion), but they do work and work well. HTH. The only problem (IMHO) is that when you use them on an APS-C sensor, you have to multiply the focal length by 1.6 to get the effect on a FF camera, e.g. a 50 mm lens on an APS-C camera will give you the same image as an 80 mm lens will on a FF camera or your old 35mm film camera. HTH.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

[Martin Brazil]

Thanks very much Fly and Western, exactly what we were hoping to hear, my friend will be pleased.