Canon, one of the most trusted brands in SLRs, is focusing its development efforts on the next generation of digital camera, mirrorless cameras. Its EOS R camera system drops an optical viewfinder for an EVF and works with an all new lens system.
The upgrade is worth it. Canon’s second-generation EOS R5 and R6 offer much smarter autofocus systems, and add sensor-based stabilization, a feature Canon never developed for its SLR system, as well as pro-grade video capture.
Canon RF Lenses
The EOS R cameras use RF lenses, different from the EF lenses for its SLR system. Adapters are there to make it a little easier to swap your trusty EOS 5D Mark IV for a new EOS R5.
But not everyone is coming in from a Canon SLR, and there are real reasons to pick a made-for-R lens over using one with an adapter. Telephotos especially benefit from hybrid optical and in-body stabilization, a feature exclusive to RF lenses.
Canon has a few years of development behind the system, but there are still lenses only available in EF mount. And while we’ve seen a spattering of lenses from third parties, including autofocus options from budget brand Rokinon-Samyang, the big players (Sigma and Tamron) haven’t jumped on to make RF-mount lenses.
You can still use third-party SLR lenses with the same adapters as Canon EF glass. If you’re open to manual focus, you can also use virtually any vintage lens, it’s just a matter of finding the
All Full-Frame
All of Canon’s R cameras and RF lenses include full-frame sensors. It’s a departure from its SLR line, which split between EF lenses for full-frame and EF-S for APS-C.
Canon sells another line of mirrorless cameras, EOS M, with APS-C sensors, but there’s no cross-compatibility between EOS R and EOS M systems. You can’t share lenses between them.
There are still affordable lenses for entry-level shoppers, a good fit for customers jumping in with the $1,000 EOS RP. On the high-end, the Canon L series continues on. These premium lenses are built to the standards Canon pros have to come to expect.
We’re here to highlight the lenses available for Canon R cameras, splitting them up by type of lens.
