Did Canon See the Writing on the Wall with the RF Mount?

To add to this as a former Canon currently X & GFX mount shooter, the lens selection is so much better there. Fuji makes excellent lenses, but for non-traditional focal lengths or lesser used FL's that I don't want to pay Fuji prices for there are lots of options, some of them really, really good like Viltrox. I've shot my Viltrox 75mm f/1.2 more than the rest of my lenses combined for more than two years now, it's fantastic for unique portraits and subject photography. If I didn't already own the Fuji 33mm I'd probably already have picked up the Viltrox 27mm. The new 50mm f/1.2 is also awesome, but I already have the amazing Fuji 50mm f/1 on semi-permanent loan.

In short, I wouldn't buy a closed system anymore, it only limits my ability to take unique shots and have more options in my bag since money isn't unlimited.
 
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But not much. To date, their camera body market share has been consistently high. Last year it was (2.84/6.00) 47%, according to Canon's financial documents. They will release an updated 2025 forecast in a few days.
From a units sold perspective you are correct. However as mentioned Canon has a lower price per unit sold. So when you look at the market share from a revenue perspective they are losing market share. If you're just looking at the top 4 (Canon, Sony, Nikon and Fuji) in 2021 they were about 37% of the revenue down to 33% in 2024, decreasing in each of those 3 years. And this is only among the big Japanese makers and ignores DJI.

From Canon Financials:
In 2025 as well, our plan is to expand sales of full-frame models, mainly the EOS R5Mark II and EOS R1, which will raise our average selling price and lead to an increase in RF lens sales.

All the companies see the writing on the wall and know they need to move up market. Canon's 47% market share is only against other Japanese camera makers and its pretty obvious that products like the DJI Pocket 3 are eating their lunch at the low end.

If Canon were to open up their RF mount on the full frame side it would only accelerate the takeover. By keeping them out it at least drags out the process and allows them time to make any possible pivots.
 
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If Canon were to open up their RF mount on the full frame side it would only accelerate the takeover. By keeping them out it at least drags out the process and allows them time to make any possible pivots.
This is only really the case if Canon's lens selection is superior to what you can get elsewhere. That's not really the case these days IMO.
 
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OYeah, Canon really needs to up their lens game, especially on entry level. No more "optional" lens hood or slow AF motors (RF 85 F2) or zero weather sealing.
On the high end too.
Where are the equivalent to 50-150 f2.0 with internal zoom, a lighter 28-70 f2.0 with internal zoom or extend it to 24mm, a 15-35mm f2.8 with internal zoom, the 35mm f1.2, tilt shift lenses, etc... And I'm not even talking about telephotos lenses.

They have a least 10-15 lenses to release to have an offer that could satisfy most people. Hopefully some of these needed lenses will be announced in November.
 
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And that's the real issue for me. There's nothing in RF mount like the TTArtisan 40mm f/2 I recently got. I tried the RF 50mm f/1.8 and I hated it, I think it's shamefully poor for a 2020's lens. The Chinese lens is smaller, made out of metal, has an aperture ring, and while its bokeh is worse, it delivers more even resolution across the field... and also happens to be my favorite focal length. Mind you, the Sony 40mm f/2.5 was never an option either, considering how damned expensive it is for how mediocre the results are ("pixie dust" is the bare minimum I expect for $550!) That Sony also make the most interesting standard zoom on the market right now is a bonus (the 20-70mm f/4).

And then, I wanted to have AF and some EXIF for my vast collection of vintage glass, which was what originally sold me on E-mount, and the Sony + adapter have delivered that in spades 😬
While I absolutely like my second non-L Rf lens, the one you hate. From f/2,8, it is tack sharp. Of course mechanically speaking, it is not up to L standard, but what can you expect for the Euro 170 I paid for it?
Light, inexpensive, sharp, nice bokeh (mostly), and AF!
To be honest, I bought it to give it a try because it was so cheap - and kept it!
 
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On the high end too.
Where are the equivalent to 50-150 f2.0 with internal zoom, a lighter 28-70 f2.0 with internal zoom or extend it to 24mm, a 15-35mm f2.8 with internal zoom, the 35mm f1.2, tilt shift lenses, etc... And I'm not even talking about telephotos lenses.

They have a least 10-15 lenses to release to have an offer that could satisfy most people. Hopefully some of these needed lenses will be announced in November.
15-35 internal zoom? No priority in my opinion, the current one is excellent. If you think of the so-called dust issue, please read Roger Cicala's comments on what seems to be a non-issue, based on a multitude of disassemblies...
Fully agree on the other lenses, I miss them too.
 
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15-35 internal zoom? No priority in my opinion, the current one is excellent. If you think of the so-called dust issue, please read Roger Cicala's comments on what seems to be a non-issue, based on a multitude of disassemblies...
Fully agree on the other lenses, I miss them too.
Actually I secretly hope the 15-35 MK2 will instead be a 16-35 f2.0 with internal zoom
 
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15-35 internal zoom? No priority in my opinion, the current one is excellent. If you think of the so-called dust issue, please read Roger Cicala's comments on what seems to be a non-issue, based on a multitude of disassemblies...
Fully agree on the other lenses, I miss them too.

Many people want interal zooms for video. If you are using a gimbal the external zoom throws off the balance point. If it's internal you can zoom in and out with no issue.

I think its fair to say that the future of the industry will be more dependent on video than photos. Canon is catching up with the VCM lenses adding aperture control. They'll need to do the same for their zoom lenses as well.
 
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Many people want interal zooms for video. If you are using a gimbal the external zoom throws off the balance point. If it's internal you can zoom in and out with no issue.

I think its fair to say that the future of the industry will be more dependent on video than photos. Canon is catching up with the VCM lenses adding aperture control. They'll need to do the same for their zoom lenses as well.
Did you ever see the zoom throw of the 15-35 f/2,8? Hardly a cm. Nothing really to put the gimbal off balance in my opinion (as a non-video user). Are gimbals so extremely sensitive?
 
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Why not a 20-105 f4.0 ? With today's technology it should definitely be doable. Nikon sell also a 24-120 F4.0.
Doable, but it'd make the lens longer (or fatter?) and heavier. The 20-70mm is pretty squat and compact, which makes it popular for travel. Giving it more reach might appeal to some, but for others the increased size/weight would defeat the purpose and kill the appeal.
 
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Did you ever see the zoom throw of the 15-35 f/2,8? Hardly a cm. Nothing really to put the gimbal off balance in my opinion (as a non-video user). Are gimbals so extremely sensitive?

Its a combination of things. The larger gimbals have more tolerance than the smaller ones. But its not just the weight, it's the placement of that weight. The 15-35 is a heavy lens. So you have a lot of wieight outside the center balance point which is harder to stablizie. So you're going to have to go with a gimbal with a much higher weight limit.

Is it a deal breaker in and of itself, no. But then you add in no aperture control, no zoom rocker and as a package its just not for video. Sony's 16-35 does have aperature but is also not an internal zoom and is also big and heavy. That's why they also make the 16-35 f4. It has interal zoom, aperture control, zoom rocker and is relatively light weight.

I think Canon has the older more professional photography customer secured. But Sony has the younger video Youtube crowd. It will be interesting to see how their respective strategies play out.
 
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Finally stopped into my local camera shop to see the new 28-70 f/2.8 STM lens today. They also pulled out a 24-70 f/2.8 L to compare them on the counter. This photo does not do it justice. I must say, these new STM lenses are incredibly small and light. In a different league (in size and weight) than the L version. Easy to hold. Very easy. Much more discreet. I am blown away that this is a Canon product. I hope they release the 70-180 f/2.8 soon to complete the trinity. At that point I almost certainly will be finding a way to get a set. I think that these will compete reasonably well with the cheap Tamron zooms everyone raves about, or at least buys a ton of, no doubt for the zoom range, reasonable optical quality and most important: low price. Canon can probably get away with a small premium because, well they are Canon LOL. But the fact that they stepped up to make these is exciting to me. Does anybody else out there have interest in these new STM zooms?
 
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