Canon 5D MKii and Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 lenses: I have a Canon T4i now and I am considering upgrading to a FF Canon 5D MKii that is within my budget, and would like to know if there...

JW from PA

I have a Canon T4i now and I am considering upgrading to a FF Canon 5D MKii that is within my budget, and would like to know if there would be any problems with that camera and the lenses combination.

Thank you all in advance.

Semper Fi,
Joe W.

keithet58 Loc: Western Colorado

if a lens works on your t4i it will work on a 5d.

htbrown Loc: San Francisco Bay Area

Isn't a T4 a crop-sensor camera? All lenses for a 5d will work on a crop-sensor, but the reverse is not true. EFS lenses are, I believe, made for crop-sensor cameras and will not work on a full-frame camera.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

keithet58 wrote:

if a lens works on your t4i it will work on a 5d.

Please refrain from giving advice until you know something about cameras.
I'm a Nikon shooter and I even know better than this.

"The Canon 5D Mark II will work with pretty much any EF-mount lens ever made, however it is not compatible with EF-S lenses designed for cameras with APS-C size sensors. Designed with a smaller image circle (the area covered by the image on the film/sensor plane), EF-S lenses tend to be smaller and lighter than full-frame models with the same focal length and maximum aperture. EF-S lenses can't be used on full-frame Canon cameras, nor on their models with 1.3x crop factors, like the current EOS-1D Mark III."

"EF-S" lenses are designed to fit only "Crop" sensor cameras. It will not fit your 5D Mk III because it has a "Full Frame" sized image sensor. EF-S lenses usually have their rear element closer to the image sensor and they can interfere with the movement of the mirror when you operate the shutter".

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The Tamron lens seems to be a crop-sensor lens, assuming the Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR DI-II LD (or a similar cropped-sensor lens)

If images like this example are OK, you should be able to mount and use the Tamron lens. But probably a better choice is to find full-frame lenses for a full-frame body. The Tamrom lens identified above has an EF mount that will mount to both EOS full-frame and cropped sensor bodies, presenting the opportunity for images such as below on the 5DII.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

JW from PA wrote:

I have a Canon T4i now and I am considering upgrading to a FF Canon 5D MKii that is within my budget, and would like to know if there would be any problems with that camera and the lenses combination.

Thank you all in advance.

Semper Fi,
Joe W.

Yes it will "work", but that lens is made for a crop sensor and projects a smaller diameter image which will not fully cover the full frame 5D sensor. That means you images will be vignetted in the corners. You will see that in your viewfinder so there will be no surprises.

JW from PA

CHG Canon, that is what I was trying to find out.
Thank You,

Semper Fi
Joe W.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

You'll need to get a new lens, too.

Tamron's "crop only" desing lenses for APS-C cameras such as the T4i are labelled "Di II". They will vignette heavily on a full frame camera. The 17-50mm is a Di II lens.

Their lenses for full frame such as the 5D Mark II are labelled "Di". These can also be used on APS-C without any problem.

It's not quite the same, but a 24-70mm f/2.8 on the 5DII would give angle of view and speed that's most similar to the 17-50 on T4i.

The 24-70mm will be bigger, heavier and more expensive... but that will be true of most full frame lenses, compared to crop-only designs.

ggab Loc: ?

JW from PA wrote:

I have a Canon T4i now and I am considering upgrading to a FF Canon 5D MKii that is within my budget, and would like to know if there would be any problems with that camera and the lenses combination.

Thank you all in advance.

Semper Fi,
Joe W.

The Tamron SP AF 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF) is a good value fast standard zoom lens for APS-C (crop sensor) cameras, offering a constant aperture of F2.8

thrash50

All lens manufacturers have downloadable lens specification sheets that explain which lens will fit on different cameras, and are made for different sensors, according to the lettering, and numbering on the lenses. The only reason I see for buying a crop sensor lens is price, since full sensor lenses for Canon mount fit all crop sensor Canon cameras.

b roll wanabee

I have 5dmkii and have used crop sensor lenses.
To get the most from the camera prime lenses really show the difference. I worked my way through the zoom lenses to get the range and am now working in prime lenses. 100mm 2.8l really showed me what that camera can do.

I use a t2i for a lot and in most cases it is enough camera for me. It is actually better if you are ripping off a ton of pictures. Using the 5dmkii, proper lighting, prime lense, composition and post processing is the only way that a significant improvement will be noticed.

Bottom line to use the 5dmkii and have an improvement over the t4i will require effort.

JW from PA

Just wanted thank all who responded to my question. Thanks again and Happy New Year.
Semper Fi,
Joe W.