Canon EF, EFS ?

[BillW]

To go with a proposed new 7D purchase, I am considering the lenses.
I figure that lenses are more enduring items than their hosts, the bodies. I may at some point upgrade to, or add, a full frame model.
There fore I am debating whether, despite there being more S series lenses, and some very enticing ones, I should begin accumulating a select two or three EF lenses.
But a question from a Canon digital slr newbie, do both series lenses work as well as each other with the 7D? If there are any differences, what are they please?
Bill

[Tricky]

EFS lenses only work on cropped sensor bodies, so if you're planning an upgrade to a full frame sometime soon, then you might want to stay with EF lenses right from the start. That said, you can pretty easily sell used lenses on eBay, sometimes for hardly any loss over their new price (I just sold an EFS60mm lens for $30 less than what I bought it for 2.5 years ago...).

The upside with EFS lenses is that they require less glass than an EF lens as they have less sensor area to cover... hence they can be lighter and cheaper than an EF lens at the same focal length / speed. There's a few EFS lenses which are very good quality (eg 10-22, 17-55, 60mm macro) but none are L-class quality.

I started out with EFS lenses and although I'm slowly migrating towards EF lenses and a full frame body, I've never regretted starting off with EFS lenses.

EDIT: If you want an ultra wide angle of view on your cropped sensor, then you have no choice but to get an EFS lens (or one of the third party equivalents) such as the 10-22mm - EF lenses don't go below 14mm.

EDIT2: There's an argument that EF lenses have an 'easy time' on cropped sensors, as the cropped sensor only use a portion of the glass, ie only the sweet spot in the middle rather than the edges (where there tends to be more distortion and CA).

[Rob]

If you can afford the EF lenses, they are the best way to go. I made many a mistake going the other way at a high cost

[BillW]

Thanks so far Tricky and Rob.
Are there a few 'classic' EF series, not necessarily the latest but ones you keep going back to, the ones you will never part with?
To begin with, I would be tempted by a close range zoom, say 24 - ?, and a moderate telephoto zoom, say 80 or 100 - 200 or 300?
After that, as the budget allows I may accumulate faster, more specialised ones.
Bill.

[balwoges]

There are some great EFS lenses and as I have just upgraded to a 5D11 I sold them a couple of weeks ago and got back what I paid for them, I should add I bought them from B&H in USA. Good lenses keep their value, the EFS lenses I sold were the 10-22mm, 60mm macro & 15-85mm lens, all great lenses with a crop camera. So, dont hesitate to buy and enjoy until you upgrade to that full frame camera.

Just my tuppence worth!

[nhutty]

if there is a chance of one day upgrading to FF, then definitely go EF if you are tossing up between the EF and EF-S lens.

I also found out the hard way when upgrading to a 5Dmk2, but luckily EF-S lens hold their value quite well