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Journalists in China lately had a chance to interview a bunch of Japanese Canon executives, and posed questions concerning the present state of third-party lenses for RF-mount mirrorless cameras. First noticed by Canon Rumors on the Weibo account Digital camera Beta, Canon executives acknowledged that the corporate is open to the concept of third-party RF-mount lenses and is, actually, in talks with a number of lens producers. Whereas this sounds promising, Canon is rather more reserved and deliberate in relation to permitting different optical producers to make use of their RF lens mount customary. And unusually, has taken authorized motion to forestall lensmakers coming into the RF system with out permission.
This roughly aligns with what we heard from Canon after we posed an identical query to firm executives again at CP+ earlier this 12 months.
In line with the brand new Digital camera Beta interview, Canon is open to requests for licensing the RF-mount to 3rd events. Nonetheless, it would not simply problem a blanket license for the surface producer to make any and all lenses. Canon, as an alternative, treats every third-party lens request on a case-by-case foundation.
Picture credit score: Canon
Precisely how Canon decides which third-party lenses get an official license for the RF mount was not made clear. And as Canon Rumors factors out, simply what precisely does a license for the RF-mount permit third-party producers to do? Past simply making lenses match with the bodily RF-mount on R-series cameras, will third events get entry to proprietary Canon autofocus specs or firmware? Will third events be restricted to guide focus lenses? We merely do not know.
The Viltrox 85mm F1.8 AF lens was a third-party lens appropriate with Canon’s RF-mount and featured autofocus performance. Viltrox was requested by Canon to cease promoting this lens and all different RF-mount lenses.
One of many main advantages of interchangeable lens cameras is the flexibleness to make use of all kinds of lenses to go well with not solely the look, model or state of affairs you are attempting to {photograph} but in addition your finances constraints. Third-party lenses are sometimes inexpensive than these from digital camera makers. Pricing apart, having extra decisions for lenses is best than fewer decisions. Canon’s older EF-mount had wonderful third-party assist from Tamron, Sigma, Tokina, and lots of others, but there’s a lack of third-party lenses for RF mount to date. In the meantime, many different mirrorless platforms, reminiscent of Sony’s E-mount and Panasonic/Sigma/Leica’s L-mount, all have in depth assist from producers.
Lately, Nikon’s Z-mount has gained assist from Tamron (a few of Tamron’s lenses are even rebranded as first get together) and Sigma (bringing its DC DN APS-C lenses to the system), making the RF lineup appear that a lot much less various.
With Canon’s assertion in thoughts, one can speculate that Canon is anxious about third-party choices competing immediately with their very own. From a enterprise perspective, it is a legitimate technique. That mentioned, we have all the time believed that extra lens decisions profit the buyer, and enhance the attractiveness of any given system total.
Though it is unclear whether or not or not we are going to quickly start to see a rise in third-party lenses for Canon’s mirrorless cameras, it is clear that the demand is there.
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