Longevity of the Canon EF-S Format

[Seight_Returns]

I'm firmly of the view that DSLR bodies should be viewed as consumables with features/sensors improving such that an enthusiastic amateur is going to "need" to upgrade every 4 or 5 years - whereas lenses can be viewed as a much longer term investment.

I'm building up my kit with this in mind, I currently have a 400d and a 7d and my lenses in active use are:
EF-S 10-22
EF-S 18-55 (the IS version)
EF-S 15-85
EF 50/1.8
EF 70-300L

Gathering dust on a shelf waiting me to find the time to Ebay them I have:
Sigma 17-70 (the older non IS one)
EF-S 18-55 (the original non IS one)
EF 70-300 IS

My current want list is
EF-S 17-55 (want a fast general purpose lens for low light no flash/shallow DOF portraits)
EF-S 55-250 (want a small/light tele to partner with 18-55 for hols etc when the 70-300L is too bulky/heavy)
EF 85/1.8 (indoor sports/kids school plays/close portraits)

If I get here, I reckon I'll have the ideal kit for what I want to do.

I imagine that my next camera body purchase will be in 18 months or so and will be the 1100d or 600d replacement which will hopefully incude built in geo-tagging and the one afer that will be in 5 years or so will be to replace the 7d when hopefully the next generation of sensors will have even better high ISO performance.

My concern is that I'm getting very bought into the EF-S format. If Canon abandon the APS-C sensor in the near future for a larger format sensor, then I'm pretty much screwed as I won't be able to use my EF-S lenses and subsequently they'll have no resale value.

What are your thoughts on how long EF-S will be useable with Canon's consumer/prosumer DSLRs ?

[MartinP]

In my opinion APS-C sensors will be here for a long time to come. Canon and Nikon know that investment in lenses/accessories tie their customers to the brand. Forcing a customer to start again from scratch gives them an opportunity to switch brands at the same time. Also consumer products are so cost sensitive and bigger sensors + full frame glass are always going to add an awful lot of cost into the product.

I think you're quite safe with an EF-S lens collection.

[Gemm]

Seight_Returns said:

My concern is that I'm getting very bought into the EF-S format. If Canon abandon the APS-C sensor in the near future for a larger format sensor, then I'm pretty much screwed as I won't be able to use my EF-S lenses and subsequently they'll have no resale value.

What are your thoughts on how long EF-S will be useable with Canon's consumer/prosumer DSLRs ?

I have a feeling you abandoning your current cameras for a pro body will come earlier than Canon abandoning APS-C sensor?

[tim-b]

Can't imagine it will happen any time soon, seems the smaller DSLR's are increasingly popular, and not just because they're cheaper (as I see it the physical size/weight is a big factor), so unless they go to a smaller sensor it would make sense for them to stick with the current size (I don't think they would go to FF across the range as that would mean larger bodies).

But if you're worried, why not stick to EF lenses, which would also give you the option to upgrade your 7D to a FF body.

[Seight_Returns]

tim-b said:

But if you're worried, why not stick to EF lenses, which would also give you the option to upgrade your 7D to a FF body.

Fair Question.

I very much like the idea of having 2 bodies - a small/light one for hols/travel/family and a bigger more feature rich one for when weight/bulk isn't an issue. Whilst EF lenses will of course work fine on APS-C bodies, I find that the zoom ranges of most EF zooms are obvilously optimised for FF and are inconvenient on APS-C particularly if I'm only carrying one lens, which is often the case - 18-55,17-55,15-85 are all fine for a one lens walkaround, 24-70 or 24-105 aren't wide enough for general purpose use on a 1.6x camera. And of course there's no EF option that gives true UWA on APS-C.

I'd like my lenses to be equally useable on both bodies - and as such I think I'm unlikely to want to own 2 bodies with different size sensors - a pair of 1Dxs and a bag full of L glass would of course be ideal - but would undoubtably be the end of my marriage.

Edited by Seight_Returns on Thursday 19th January 12:40

[Craikeybaby]

First of all, I don't think the EF-S format will be going anywhere soon.

I think it is actually better to have 2 bodies with different crop factors, as you can use each to their advantage, for instance, if I'm shooting sport or wildlife I'll grab my 20D rather than my 5D for the better range it gives me, but as most of my stuff is shot wide the 5D gets used more. It also gives you more options for your lenses, for instance my 17-40 is a good walkabout lens on the 20D, but also a great ultra wideangle on FF.

PS I might be interested in a cheap 18-55 as I now regret selling mine, as I'd rather not tie up my 17-40 for timelapses etc.

Edited by Craikeybaby on Thursday 19th January 13:06

[rxtx]

Craikeybaby said:

I think it is actually better to have 2 bodies with different crop factors, as you can use each to their advantage, for instance, if I'm shooting sport or wildlife I'll grab my 20D rather than my 5D for the better range it gives me, but as most of my stuff is shot wide the 5D gets used more. It also gives you more options for your lenses, for instance my 17-40 is a good walkabout lens on the 20D, but also a great ultra wideangle on FF.

Agreed, I have both (although my old crop camera needs updating) but both have slightly different merits, and both are used for different things.

[markmullen]

Craikeybaby said:

I think it is actually better to have 2 bodies with different crop factors, as you can use each to their advantage, for instance, if I'm shooting sport or wildlife I'll grab my 20D rather than my 5D for the better range it gives me, but as most of my stuff is shot wide the 5D gets used more. It also gives you more options for your lenses, for instance my 17-40 is a good walkabout lens on the 20D, but also a great ultra wideangle on FF.

I agree, I keep a 1D mkii (1.3 crop and fast frame rate) for motorsport and airshows and use my 1Ds mkii (full frame, low frame rate) for my main work, landscapes.

To the OP, If you're collecting really good EF-S lenses such as the 17-55 you shouldn't have an issue moving them on in the future if required. I don't think the range is likely to end any time soon, the whole concept of being able to make lenses smaller and lighter than those required for full frame is a good one.