A commonly asked question is how to use the old EF lenses on the new Canon RF cameras. While it is a good way to save money in the short term, in the long term you really want to try to invest in as much native RF glass as you can. The fact is RF lenses are very superior to EF lenses and you’re much better off with the native glass, especially when it comes to the high resolution and high-speed bodies like the R5 and R3.
However, if you are very financially constrained or just experimenting with some old lenses that have been gathering dust in your closet, it might be worth it to you to take advantage of the EF to RF mount adapters Canon has made for use with their new camera bodies.
Standard Adapter
Canon actually sells 3 versions of such adapters, the first is this one:
The basic adapter above costs only $99 and will let you use pretty much any EF lens on the RF mount cameras like the EOS RP, R6, R5, and R3.
Control Ring Adapter
The next adapter adds a little extra functionality to itself with a built-in control ring. The control ring is a nifty feature added to all RF lenses so far that lets you set camera functions by rotating a dedicated ring on the lens. The control ring aims to extend that functionality to EF lenses as well.
Check it out below if you want to get one:
Drop in Filter Adapter
The third and final model of the EF to RF adapter is the drop in filter version. This version costs the most but is really cool because it allows you to use drop in filters with any EF lens! It even comes with an externally adjustable circular polarizer built in. This would be an especially nice choice if you have a large ultrawide lens like the Sigma 12-24 or a big EF super-telephoto like the 300mm f/2.8 that require large and consequently very expensive front filters. But, it’s actually a nice solution if you intend to stick with your EF lenses for a while as you can now simply purchase one filter for all your lenses. With this adapter it’s no longer necessary to buy large expensive front filters for each of your EF lenses. Too bad it doesn’t work with the RF lenses, right? Anyway, I think a camera with built in filters could be on its way in the coming years, they already did this with the new Canon EOS C70 that has built in ND filters.
If you’re interested in purchasing this EF to RF adapter, click below:
3rd Party Adapter
If you’re interested in saving a few bucks there are of course other options from 3rd party companies. One well reviewed option is this one:
The great thing about these adapters is that they don’t need any built-in electronics, they just pass the signal through to the lens. Because of that most of the 3rd party ones are ok if you just want to save money. However, I did have a major issue with 3rd party extension tube that got stuck on my RF 28-70mm! It ended up being stuck due to a misalignment of the release switch, but it illustrates a point that 3rd party is still a risk. The fact is 3rd party companies usually get to their lower prices by compromising on standards of quality, so if you really care about your camera gear, I wouldn’t waste time with 3rd party accessories.
Hopefully this answers any questions you have about how to adapt your old EF lenses to your RF cameras.