digitalhank

Iam thinking about upgrading from my Canon T3i to the newer Canon T6i. Will my lenses from the T3i function the same on the T6i?

marki3rd Loc: Columbus, Indiana

Absolutely! Yes.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

The T3i and T6i are what are commonly referred to as crop sensor cameras, or, APS-C cameras. ALL Canon EF and EF-S lenses will work with them. The only restriction with Canon lenses is that the EF-S lenses are designed to be used only on crop sensor bodies. Trying to use them on full frame bodies will likely result in damage to the lens or camera. In your case, that is not an issue.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

As others have said, yes, without question. You should enjoy the upgrade.

gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

Yes. On all Canon cameras with crop sensors. Will not work on full frame cameras.

TommiRulz Loc: Corpus Christi, TX

OH YES !!!! And upgrading from your T3i to the T6i will be so much fun !!! Do It !!!! BUT don't get convinced to buy the T6 because its $250 cheaper.... it's cheaper for a reason, the T6 still has the old technology - so it basically be the same camera as the T3i. Make sure sure you get the T6i or T6s

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

All Canon EF lenses ever made will work perfectly with every EOS camera ever made. All functions the lens has will be fully available on any EOS camera including the T6i. So do not worry at all about this. Canon does make a couple of subsets in the EF lineup, EFs lenses are strictly for the crop sensor as you have now. So all your EFs lenses will work perfectly as intended on your T6i or any other CURRENT crop sensor camera. The 10D will not mount EFs lenses as they were not made then. I would imagine the mount could be changed out but not worth it for a $15.00 camera.
then the M line for the mirrorless cameras.
So get the T6i and use every lens you have perfectly.

Carl D Loc: Albemarle, NC.

Yes, and you will love the upgrade in bodies!

anotherview Loc: California

Yes. They both use the Canon EF mount.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Welcome to UHH digitalhank,

Previous responses are correct... absolutely YES. Any Canon lenses you used on a T3i will fit and work on a T6i. And, if you have any of them, most 3rd party (i.e., Sigma, Tokina, Tamron, etc.) used on the T3i also should work fine.



No, there is virtually no possibility of damage because the Canon EF-S bayonet mount is a variation that prevents them from even being mounted onto FF cameras. It's true that, if it were possible to mount them, some of the EF-S lenses using a retro-focus design where the rear elements protrude slightly inside the camera might interfere with a FF camera's mirror. But, it is not even possible to fit the EF-S lenses to the FF camera (unless the EF-S lens has been deliberately, physically modified).

And it's irrelevant in this case anyway. The original poster is asking about using lenses from a T3i on a T6i and - both of which are APS-C/crop sensor models - they can utilize all Canon EF-S and EF lenses. No problem. All third party lenses designed for use on Canon EOS cameras also will fit and likely will work (there can sometimes be electronic incompatibilities between older third party lenses and newer cameras... but even then there will be no damage done... and 3rd party lenses bought with a T3i just aren't all that old, so are very likely to work fine).

Basically, original poster can use any of the 125 million+ EF and EF-S lenses produced by Canon over the past 25 years, including any they used with their older camera, and will find them fully compatible.

digitalhank, the biggest question you might face is whether to get the T6i or the slightly more expensive T6s. They are mostly the same camera... size, sensor, autofocus system and much else is the same. But the T6i has a control layout like your T3i and other Rebel models, while the T6s is the first of the Rebel series to adopt much of the control layout found on the 60D/70D/80D... Most obvious are a secondary LCD, mode dial on the lefthand shoulder, more direct access to AF point selection, exposure compensation and other exposure controls via a multi-directional buttons on the rear of the camera. There are a few other things.

If you have been happy with the T3i, you'll probably like the T6i. If you would find helpful a little faster handling, such as for sports action shooting, the T6s might be a better option.

Both T6i and T6s (outside N. America: EOS 750D and 760D) use an "active matrix" focus screen and AF system that's very similar to what's used in the 70D, which in turn was a slightly "dumbed down" version of the 19-point AF system introduced in the original 7D. This takes a little practice to use and become comfortable with, coming from a fixed focus screen such as in the T3i. But, once you learn it, you will probably really like it (most folks do).d

Note: The T6s is the very top and most advanced of the Rebel series line, with the T6i very slightly below. The Rebel T6 (no "i" or "s", known as EOS 1300D in other parts of the world) that someone mentioned is the other extreme. It's the most entry-level model in the series. Actually, some T6 specs are pretty similar to T3i. But in some other ways it would be a downgrade from that camera.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

As you state, it is irrelevant in this case, but the mounts are of both EF and EF-S lenses are identical. Physical differences of the rear element construction prevent, in most cases, the mounting of EF-S lenses on FF bodies. Compare them and you will see.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

We've been down this path before, and although there are aspects of your points which are valid I strongly believe that they lead to confusion and misunderstanding. Perhaps we should revisit how this is described.

For example, it isn't necessarily the rear element construction that prevents mounting an EF-S lens on a full frame EOS camera. The rear element is usually deemed to refer to a piece of glass or optical component. The design of the EF-S lens bodies include a component that obstructs the mounting of EF-S lenses on full frame bodies. That component can be removed/replaced on certain lenses, which can allow some lenses to be mounted, but not without risk of damage. The primary difference appears to be in the camera body design, where modern APS-C camera bodies have a recess behind the physical mount/locking ring that does not obstruct the ability to mount EF-S lenses.

I struggle with your claim that the mounts are identical, since I do not think that you are including the full set of information required to be useful. These may be 'academic' points, but I feel it would be helpful if we could agree on the description and terminology to help avoid confusion.

Perhaps we could agree on something like: "The design of EF-S lenses and of EOS full frame bodies prevents the mounting of EF-S lenses on EOS FF bodies to avoid damage to the lens, the body, or both."

Thoughts?

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

Exactly! While I have stated in the past that it is the rear element design of most EF-S lenses that makes attempts to mount them on FF bodies a bad idea, that is open to interpretation. Since the rear element of most EF-S lenses are mounted further aft then with EF lenses, my interpretation seems valid, but it certainly could be that Canon has added a design feature, independent of the element itself, that prevents mounting. My contention all along has been that the actual stainless steel male mounting rings on both types of lenses, and the female halves on both types of bodies, will work in either combination. I stated that simply for technical accuracy since so many people seem to believe that it is the mount rings themselves that prevent mounting of the EF-S lenses on FF bodies. In most cases the rings never come in contact because of the lens structure.
You and I seem to be in agreement on this ( Finally! ) but no doubt there will be others who will wish to continue the debate. To those people I say: Prove me wrong. I'll thank you if you can, but use specific facts, not "Well, everybody knows" or "because they don't". Those types of statements mean nothing. Or, try this little experiment if you have a FF body and an EF-S lens, and are feeling adventurous (or if you just want to feel good about proving me wrong): Remove the mount ring from the EF-S lens and mount just the ring on the FF body. It will mount, providing you index it properly. One of the 3 mounting lugs is slightly longer then the other two. It's the one with the travel stop. Index it properly, in the same relationship as on the lens, and it will mount.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Thank you! I'm glad we have common ground on this. Take care.

digitalhank

Thanks to all who responded. I asked what I thought was a simple question that has become far too complicated. If I had wanted to build a new lens all you answers have great revelence. My mistake was asking a simple closed ended yes or no question. I appreciate all you responses and information. I got my simple amswer "Yes".

So thanks for all your answers and information.