Using the Canon R5 with EF Lenses
Ever since I bought my first mirrorless camera 6 years ago, my Canon R5 with EF Lenses has been my daily camera I use as a professional portrait photographer.
Originally I thought I’d use this adapter and slowly aquire new RF lenses, but this set up works so well, I never actually considered buying the new RF Lenses.
This guide covers everything I’ve learned from this experience.
Key Takeaways
- The Canon R5 works seamlessly with EF lenses using the Canon adapter and lenses.
- Autofocus is often faster and more accurate than the same lenses on older DSLR bodies.
- In-body image stabilization (IBIS) boosts sharpness and smooths out handheld video, even with older EF lenses.
- Canon’s EF-EOS R adapter maintains full lens functionality with no loss in image quality.
- RF lenses offer enhanced performance, but EF lenses remain a cost-effective and reliable choice.
Canon R5 With EF Lenses
The Canon R5 with EF Lenses works really well so long as you stay with the official Canon adapter and lenses.
This is great news for those transitioning from older Canon DSLRs with a collection of EF lenses.
This adapter acts as a bridge, letting you use any EF lens with the R5 seamlessly.
In short the adapter works so good that the old lenses actually work better on the new bodies then they did on the systems they were originally designed for.
The only downside to this is that the RF Lenses are even faster and more accurate.
The only people who might genuinely appreciate the enhancements in autofocus that the RF lenses provide would be photographers like wedding, event and other photojournalistic disciplines where there are no do overs.
EF vs RF Canon Lenses
When researching the pros and cons of EF vs RF Canon lenses, it’s important to first know what kind of photos you’re going to be capturing.
I’m a portrait photographer so the extra speed and accuracy of the RF lenses aren’t as important to me.
Even when I photograph children running though wild flowers the eye af with the old lenses works amazingly well.
Although I’m convinced I’d get an even higher keep rate with RF Lenses, I think it would be fairly negligible as the old glass already performs so much better on the new camera bodies.
When RF Lenses Are Better
That said, if you’re a documentary style wedding photographer and need that extra speed and accuracy, you’ll appreciate the 12-pin connection of the RF lenses. This extra connectivity allows RF lenses to transmit more data to the camera body at higher speeds.
Moreover, RF lenses come with an innovative control ring. This feature allows you to program the ring for common adjustments like ISO, shutter speed, or exposure compensation. While EF lenses lack this ring, select EF-EOS R adapters include it, which is a neat workaround.
Flagship RF models, such as the RF 24-70mm and RF 70-200mm, are not only compact but also outperform their EF counterparts in image quality and autofocus speed.
When EF Lenses Are Better
However, it’s not all about newer technology. EF L series lenses are still exceptional quality images and were the best you could buy 10 years ago.
Following the release of RF lenses, they’ve become much more affordable, which should make the EF lenses really attractive to you if you shoot slower kinds of photography like, product, landscapes or posed portraits.
If top-notch image quality and the fastest autofocus are your priorities, RF lenses are unbeatable. However, for a balance of cost and features, EF lenses still deliver fantastic results at a more attractive price point.
When trying to figure weather to invest in EF vs RF lenses, the better decision ultimately hinges the types of photos you want to capture and your budget.
Canon R5 Adapters for EF Lenses
For photographers eager to use their beloved EF lenses with the modern Canon R5, there’s good news. All EF lenses are fully compatible with the R5, provided you use an EF-EOS R adapter.
This adapter will allow you to use your collection of EF lenses with the cutting-edge technology of the R5. In my experience, the integration is smooth, ensuring that the lenses perform with the R5 as if they were native to the camera.
There are lots of 3rd party adapters available, but I chose to go with the Canon EF-EOS R adapter because of its track record of reliability and build quality.
This combination improves autofocus performance (when compared to EF lenses on DSLR bodies) without any degradation of image quality. For a deep dive into various Canon EF-EOS R adapters, see this detailed review.
EF Lenses on Canon R5 Portrait Examples
Below, I share my firsthand experiences with different EF lenses on the R5. I’ve included some studio portrait examples as well as some action shots of little kids as examples to demonstrate it’s ability to capture fast-ish unpredictable action.
Canon R5 with EF 16-24mm f/2.8
This is probably the lens I use the least, but it’s really great for environmental portraits when I want to capture more of the background and location.
This shot, really demonstrates the speed and accuracy of the autofocus with this lens attached. Off camera my wife is raining leaves down from above.
Despite the falling leaves, the eye autofocus stayed locked on the boy, even as he ran around the field. The keep rate is night and day better than it was on my old DSLR.
Canon R5 with EF 24-70mm f/2.8
The EF 24-70mm f/2.8 is one of the lenses I use the most for my portraits. When paired with the Canon R5, it excels in fast-paced environments like photojournalism or children’s portraits. I especially notice the difference in autofocus speed and accuracy in low-light conditions compared to the old EF camera bodies.
The autofocus is swift and pinpoint accurate, capturing each moment with stunning clarity.
This is kind of my general purpose portrait lens and I use it for everything from environmental landscape portraits to close ups.
Canon R5 with EF 70-200mm f/2.8
The the EF 70-200mm f/2.8 is my personal favorite lens and pairing it with the Canon R5 made me fall in love with it all over again on the new mirrorless body.
Its autofocus is so fast and so precise compared to the old bodies. The in body stablization of the R5 even allows me to shoot at even slower shutter speeds hand held.
ideal for capturing distant subjects at events and in photojournalism. The lens’s compatibility with the R5’s image stabilization allows for sharp, up-close, and personal portraits, even from afar.
Canon R5 with EF 85mm f/1.4
The EF 85mm f/1.4 lens, combined with the Canon R5, is perfect for shooting natural light photojournalism in low-light scenarios. The autofocus is remarkably fast and accurate.
The autofocus is so good I’ll use this lens for photographing little kids at f1.4 because I’m so confident that the auto focus system will grab the eye in tack sharp focus.
There’s even been times where I’ve used the R5’s IBIS (in body image stabilization) to capture portraits wide open at very low shutter speeds like 1/8 second with sharp results. This lens is currently tied for my favorite lens and makes me want more prime glass.
Canon R5 with EF Lens FAQ
Curious how your EF lenses are going to perform on the Canon R5? This FAQ tackles the most common questions I get from photographers making the switch. From autofocus performance to stabilization, here’s what you need to know before mounting your first EF lens on the R5.
How Well Does the Canon R5 Work With EF Lenses
Extremely well. With the EF-EOS R adapter, EF lenses retain full autofocus, metering, and image quality on the Canon R5. In-body image stabilization (IBIS) works seamlessly, even with older lenses, improving sharpness and video stability.
While RF lenses are faster and offer more features, EF lenses remain highly effective, cost-efficient, and perform better on the R5 than they did on older DSLRs.
How is the Canon R5 IBIS with EF Lenses?
Excellent. The Canon R5’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS) works flawlessly with EF lenses, including older ones. You get up to 8 stops of stabilization, and when paired with EF lenses that have optical IS, the two systems work together seamlessly.
This means sharper handheld photos at slower shutter speeds and impressively smooth handheld video, even without a gimbal.
Can Canon R5 Use EF Lenses?
Yes, the Canon R5 works perfectly with EF lenses using the EF-EOS R adapter. Autofocus is fast and accurate, image quality remains excellent, and in many cases, EF lenses perform even better than they did on DSLRs like the 5D Mark III.
The adapter is reliable and plug and play easy, so long as you use the Canon adapter with Canon lenses. There are many documented reports of 3rd party lenses and adapters not working well with the new RF camera bodies. If you’re going to adapt EF lenses to RF mount cameras its best to use all Canon gear.