Datasheet

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The original EOS camera system was
introduced to the world in 1987. At its heart
was the EF lens mount, connecting lenses
to the camera body in a fully electronic way
for the first time.
Apart from the physical connection between
lens and camera body, all communication
between these two key components is
electronic, allowing for highly accurate,
real-time data transfer. And because each
lens has a unique performance characteristic,
Canon became the first to build the motor
that drives the focus inside each lens, rather
than using a motor inside the camera body.
Even with continued development and
evolution of focus systems, Image Stabilizer
technologies, lens element materials science,
weather sealing and design, the original EF
mount design remains unchanged. All EF
lenses are compatible with every EOS camera
ever produced, including the new digital
EOS cameras.
In 2011, Canon celebrated the cumulative
production milestone of 60 million
interchangeable EF lenses – 24 years since
the launch of Canon’s EOS camera system
and the EF lens mount.
The EF lens
1946
Serenar 50mm f/3.5
Canon’s first ever lens.
Serenar means ‘clear,’
symbolising the clarity
that the development
team was aiming for.
1961
50mm f/0.95 lens
When this lens went
on sale, it boasted the
largest aperture of any
photographic camera
lens in the world. This
legendary lens has
gained a reputation as
being brighter than the
human eye, and further
strengthened Canon’s
international standing.
1973
TS35mm f/2.8 SSC
This was the first 35mm
camera lens with tilt and
shift functionality, and was
ideal for architectural and
commercial photography,
which until then had been
monopolised by large-
format view cameras.
1989
EF 50mm f/1.0L USM
This standard lens featured
the largest aperture of
any 35mm SLR camera
lens when first launched.
The floating mechanism
helped maintain high
picture quality even at close
focusing distances, while
the electronic manual focus
function allowed full-time
manual focusing with a
very light touch even in
autofocus mode.
1999
EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM
This lens has achieved
such a high reputation that
it has come to be known
as the symbol of Canon’s
professional lenses. Its
innovative performance
has produced numerous
classic photographs in the
fields of sports, journalism,
and advertising.
2001
EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM
The ultra telephoto EF
400mm f/4 DO (multi-
layered Diffractive Optical
elements). IS USM lens
turned the old ‘big and
heavy’ image of telephoto
lenses on its head,
achieving a significantly
lighter and more
compact design than
conventional models.
2008
EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM
This is the first EF lens to
employ the bio-mimetic
Subwavelength Structure
Coating (SWC) technology.
SWC effectively minimises
lens flare and ghosting
caused by light hitting
lens surfaces at large
angles that is difficult
to prevent using
conventional coatings.
2009
EF 100mm f/2.8L
Macro IS USM
This lens is part of Canon’s
prestigious L-series, and
the first to feature an Image
Stabilizer with angle and
shift detection that is
highly effective at close
focusing distances.
Today, there are more than 60 EF lenses
available, with focal lengths ranging
from 8mm to 800mm and a range of
specialist macro, tilt and shift and fisheye
models. Professional photographers are
catered for with the L-series EF lenses.
With special optical elements, build quality
and weather sealing, the L-series represents
the pinnacle of Canon’s lens design.
Matching advances in camera technology,
EF lenses continue to evolve, including the
introduction of leading technologies such
as Diffraction Optics and Subwavelength
Structure Coating to suppress and prevent
the effect of reflections off digital camera
sensors. The EF–S lens mount has been
developed to take advantage of the
compact APS–C sensor size of cameras
such as the EOS 600D and EOS 7D,
paving the way for a new range of compact,
lightweight and high-quality lenses.
08/09