Will We Finally See Third-Party Autofocus for Full-Frame RF?

[Canon Rumors]

This article took a couple of days going back and forth as to whether or not it should be written. The topic of third-party RF lenses for full-frame cameras has been a polarizing one.

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[David - Sydney]

I’d be happy to see new 3rd party EF lenses and/or a manual focus sigma 14/1.4

 

[Uneternal]

Better sooner than later.
There are lots of first-time buyers. Nodadays many of them want a full frame as their first camera, given how cheap some of them (RP / R8) are. For many it's an important selling point whether the camera has third-party support or not.
But many long-time Canon photographers are also envious of Sony lenses such as the Sigma 50mm 1.2 or the ultra-sharp Yongnuo 85mm 1.8 DF DSM, which received top ratings from DxOMark.
IMO a closed system certainly boosts your lens sales but it's still a strategy that doesn't win in the long run.

 

[roby17269]

More choice is always better

 

[DhlcadR6]

Better sooner than later.
There are lots of first-time buyers. Nodadays many of them want a full frame as their first camera, given how cheap some of them (RP / R8) are. For many it's an important selling point whether the camera has third-party support or not.
But many long-time Canon photographers are also envious of Sony lenses such as the Sigma 50mm 1.2 or the ultra-sharp Yongnuo 85mm 1.8 DF DSM, which received top ratings from DxOMark.
IMO a closed system certainly boosts your lens sales but it's still a strategy that doesn't win in the long run.

Yongnuo 85mm 1.8 DF DSM is already available for RF, it's not official but the focus ring can switch to multifunction ring.

 

[DhlcadR6]

I think Canon could try lower their 28-70STM & 16-28STM MSRP by 300USD, and let 3rd parties in. So Canon competes well enough to secure majority of the consumers.

The "young Sony people" usually hve a Sony body with one Tamron 28-75/200, or one kit lenses. And they buy it based on YouTube's Sony-biased/sponsored video content creators. I don't think Canon has Sony's budget on marketing. That's why Canon needs to bring out more lenses to further solidify RF lineup.

Btw I don't think Chinese 3rd parties will be doing licenced agreement like Sigma Tamron for RF-S. Especially Viltrox, since they got informed not to make RF mount versions back in 2022. They're letting the CN community starting the trend of anti-Canon. And Yongnuo purposely made a RF mount lenses with different locking mechanisms to avoid the legal IP issue. Getting them to pay a licensing fee is impossible.

 

[Snapster]

Canon simply can't make all lenses on their own. An 85mm 1.4 is still missing entirely. Some staple lenses for the RF mount like the 35mm VCM are just disappointing compared to the competition. Or even their own EF predecessor. Just because it's the only option won't mean I bend to buy it. I will rather start shooting on parallel systems based on best lenses. And that will bring Canon zero money instead of third party licensing money.

Meanwhile, companies like Sigma, Viltrox, Tamron and Samyang are killing it with new high quality high value lenses popping up all the time. Except for the RF mount. I wouldn't even mind paying an extra 10% "Canon tax" for third party lenses. Or let's say 5% .

 

[Berowne]

... An 85mm 1.4 is still missing entirely. ...

Wrong. There is the fabulous EF 85/1.4L IS - which i own. You have to adapt it, but nobody else offers a stabilized fast 85mm Lens.

 

[Anon]

Regarding the young audience: I think Canon is not pushing the Influencers enough to catch new shooters. Once brand loyalty is built, it is hard for competitors to break through the bias. YouTube, TikTok etc. are full of Sony (and the odd Fujifilm).

 

[bn5fg]

Wrong. There is the fabulous EF 85/1.4L IS - which i own. You have to adapt it, but nobody else offers a stabilized fast 85mm Lens.

An 85mm 1.4 is still missing entirely.

There is Vistilen/Meike 85f1.4 for RF mount. I own one and I like it.

 

[Besisika]

+1 for Viltrox and mayby Sirui

 

[EricN]

More choice is always better

What if it's worse choices?

 

[roby17269]

What if it's worse choices?

Worse for you, better for someone else... so still better
and if they are indeed worse for everyone, then they will not sell, simple

 

[EricN]

Worse for you, better for someone else... so still better
and if they are indeed worse for everyone, then they will not sell, simple

Great points!

 

[Snapster]

Wrong. There is the fabulous EF 85/1.4L IS - which i own. You have to adapt it, but nobody else offers a stabilized fast 85mm Lens.

I sold my adapter and EF lenses and they're not coming back. I didn't go mirrorless to adapt old tech and fiddling with the adapter was just annoying.

 

[Quackator]

In the past, many people bought Canon lenses for their Blackmagic, RED, even some Panasonic
and (with mount converter) Sony cameras.
Failing to open the mount led to Blackmagic switching to L-Mount on their latest cameras,
and RED likely to phase out Canon mounts after being bought by Nikon.
Sony users with a bunch of Canon lenses were only one body away from switching back.
Canon is fast losing these feeder constellations.

That said, I love both the Sigma 1.4/50mm and 1.8/135mm ART lenses. The main difference
to their RF competitors is that I can use them on my BMPCC as well, and that the mount
converter with drop-in filter mount gives me black mist (from Meike), V-ND and C-PL filters.
One small filter for all my EF compatible lenses.

Aside of that these two ART lenses came with next to no chromatic aberrations wide open (!)
when Canon still was fast asleep at the wheel.

 

[Walrus]

Hopefully. Finally.

 

[neuroanatomist]

Canon is fast losing these feeder constellations.

But Canon is not losing market share. That’s the difference between opinion and reality.

 

[M1k4]

Whoever makes optically good/great

RF 35mm f 1.2
RF 200mm f 1.8 or f2

I will buy it.

 

[LCDVS00]

Viltrox Maybe. I hope most of Chinese third-party lenses provider will be authorized,including Meke, Laowa and Viltrox.