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The Canon EF lens mount was first introduced back in in 1987 and became the prevailing mount for the entire Canon EOS category for both SLR film and DSLR digital cameras. The acronym EF means "Electro-Focus": EF lens auto focusing is conducted by an in-the-lens dedicated electric motor. From a mechanical standpoint it' a bayonet-type mount, and all data transmission between lens and camera occurs by electrical contact; there is no mechanical interaction

Later on Canon established the EF-S mount in 2003, an offshoot of the Canon EF mount created strictly for 1.6x crop factor digital EOS cameras. Although an EF lens may be mounted on an EF-S cropped image body, an EF-S lens cannot be fitted to an EF body.

The top performing lenses are prime lenses, and not zoom lenses, although there are some excellent zooms. Also rated highly are macro lenses. Updated Article Jan 31, 2011

A new book, • Canon Lenses: including all the variations - is a new paradigm in publishing, Disparate content sources have been organized into a single relevant, cohesive and informative book. This content was organized using articles from Wikipedia and images using Creative Commons licensing, Books like this one represent an exciting new lexicon in the distribution of human knowledge. This book in particular embraces chapters focused upon the various Canon lenses, including EF-S lenses, EF lenses, FD lenses, kit lenses, FL lenses, and L-Series lenses.

Can you use an older lens on a D-SLR Camera?

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Canon Autofocus Zoom Lenses

Ultra Wide Angle Zooms • Wide Zooms • Standard Zooms • Telephoto Zooms
Strictly for digital EOS camerasCanon EF-S Mount Lenses
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USMCanon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM - Canon 10-22 - Tack sharp images and Crisp focus seem to be child's play to pull off shooting with this silent AF USM lens. Entire rooms in a house turn into single-shot deals, as compared to the burdensome image stitching methods. Large groups of people close by - no issue acquiring them all into a single shot. Landscape issues. Updated Review Jan 27, 2011
Canon EF-S 15-85mm F3.5-5.6 IS USMCanon EF-S 15-85mm F3.5-5.6 IS USM.  he Canon EF-S 15-85mm is for sure a desired lens ... Providing you can obtain a good one (mine had somewhat of a QC problem). In general the resolution is excellent from 15mm through 50mm while you should plan on seeing a little softness of the borders at the 85mm long end. A sore spot of this lens is the tremendous quantity of vignetting at 15mm @ f/3.5.  Updated Review Feb 15, 2011
Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USMCanon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM  - The Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 USM IS may not be a flawless lens but it keeps up with the Canon users very high expectations. The resolution numbers are rated right up there with the absolute best for being an APS-C normal zoom lens. The resolution in the center is generally right on even mounted on the Canon 50D while the borders stay an exceptional quality level.   Updated Review Feb 15, 2011
Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USMCanon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM.  While the lens does not take you to land that the L Series glass would take you, the wider range, and better clarity makes this lens, the perfect 'leave it on the camera lens'. If you are only going to buy one lens for your 20 or 30D then buy this lens. There is not a better general purpose lens out there. Updated Review
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ISCanon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS.
Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ISCanon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS.

Buck for buck this is the absolute best consumer-level Canon lens out there. The focal-length creates a great overall walk-around lens. There's onboard Image Stabilizer allow for sharp zoom photos without using a tripod. So if you have shaky hands, this is the lens that will help you compensate for that. When mounted on an Canon EOS APS-C DSLR camera the 35mm equivalent crop factor is 29-216mm,  Updated Review June 1, 2011  

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5-6 ISCanon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5-6 IS
From time to time I become troubled by those airheads who ramble on and on quoting minute particulars about some esoteric specification of these lenses. In the real world. the point is in how it shoots. This happens to be a really good lens that extends wide angle though the telephoto range. The image stabilization provides extra f stops. I always come away with great images. It's the solitary lens you need to carry for portraits, weddings and landscapes.  Updated Review Nov 12, 2011
EF Mount Accepts All Canon LensesCanon EF Mount Lenses
New Canon EF 8-15mm f/4 L USM fisheye zoom lens
Canon EF 8-15mm f/4 L USM fisheyeCanon has announced the EF 8-15mm f/4 L USM, the world's first fisheye zoom lens to offer both circular and full frame images. This replacement for the EF 15mm F2.8 fisheye will produce circular images with a 180 degree angle of view when used at its widest setting on 35mm-format cameras such as the EOS 5D Mark II, and images which cover the full sensor area at 15mm. Updated Review Updated 12/30/2010
Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USMCanon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM.  
This is a entry-level telephoto zoom. Its build quality feels a lot like that of the 18-55mm, a little shaky but nothing that get in the way with using it. Sometimes the autofocus seems a tad slow, due to the smaller aperture, especially at the telephoto end. The lens has a little softness to it, especially when zooming above135mm, even when I use a smaller aperture and support it on a tripod.It is plastic construction right down to its lens mount.  Updated Review
New Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DO IS USMCanon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DO IS  USM Street price $549.
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USMCanon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 IS USM. . 
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USMCanon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM.
Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 IIICanon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III.  
Canon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 III USMCanon EF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 III USM.

All the attributes you need for over all shooting, easily slips into your camera bag, or just mounted to your camera it weighs very little and has a quick and exact autofocus. attached to a sturdy tripod it captures excellent images with very little noise, featuring crystal clear photos. A very practical and take able telephoto zoom. With five zoom groups, the length is barely 4.8 in. (121.5mm). Featuring rear focusing, allowing the lens to stay the same length and does not rotate while focusing.  Updated Review May 4, 2011
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USMCanon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM.
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USMCanon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USMCanon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM.  - Filter Size - 77mm.  Max. Diameter x Length, Weight - 3.3 x 4.9, 2.1lbs. / 83.2 x 123.5mm, 950g.
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USMCanon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM.
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6LIS USMCanon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6LIS USM.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USMCanon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USMCanon EF 70-200mm f/2.8LIS USM. Maximum Diameter x Length, Weight - 3.4 x 7.8, 3.24 pounds. 
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USMCanon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM  
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USMCanon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM.
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USMCanon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. It's huge, weighs a lot and takes incredible photographs. You get an extra stop with he image stabilization with handheld shooting minimizing shake. It's just a a fantastic lens. Super sharp with clarity and no spectral flaring that I've seen-- none at all-- it's quick, with stealth silent autofocus. For decisive work you'll need to use a tripod or another type of support, as this contraption gets heavy very quickly. It's a serious lens built for serious photographers. In fact this telephoto dominates the niche it's in.  Typical Internet Price $1,710.  Updated Review May 18, 2011
Discontinued Canon Zoom Lenses
Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 ISCanon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS. - for EOS digital SLR cameras. Plastic build right down to the lens mount. In fact, there's so much plastic, this lens feels looks and looks af the label should read Playskool and not Canon. but, looks can sometimes be somewhat deceiving. Just get on with using it, and quit pixel peeping already. If you have a need for a metal lens mount, perhaps you are somewhat too violent with your gear and you should look for a Hummer or Caterpillar brand camera.  Updated Review Updated 01/02/2011 Discontinued
Canon EF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5  Discontinued
Canon EF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II. . Discontinued
Canon EF 28-90mm f/4-5.6 III.   Discontinued
Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II    Discontinued
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6
Canon EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 Discontinued
Canon EF 80-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II. Discontinued
 

USM = Ultrasonic Motor. Ring USM motors are silent and manual focus (FTM = Full Time Manual) is possible without switching out of autofocus. Micro USM motors are quiet, but do not allow full time manual focus.

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