Viltrox to make RF-S Mount lenses soon?

[Richard-CN]

There's a rumor that Viltrox will be the next manufacturer granted the ability to make lenses for the electronic RF mount, and the first lenses will be coming “soon”. This honestly doesn't surprise me much – Viltrox was one of the 3 manufacturers that made mirrorless autofocus lenses for the EOS-M mount. What does surprise […]

See full article...

 

[DhlcadR6]

So now we need R7ii to maximise the RF APS-C lenses.

 

[mimbu]

Viltrox is moving to a four-tier lens strategy, Air, EVO, Pro, Lab.

Viltrox made 2 lenses for the EOS-M Mount, and if I were a betting man, I'd assume those would be the first ones to move over to the RF mount.

See full article...

I don't think that's super likely. Viltrox is moving everything to their Air / EVO / PRO / LAB lineups. If they do start releasing RF-S lenses, I would expect them only to do so with their current gen lenses and not older ones. As they replace the older ones, those new lenses would then arrive for RF-S.

 

[Richard-CN]

Viltrox is moving to a four-tier lens strategy, Air, EVO, Pro, Lab.

I don't think that's super likely. Viltrox is moving everything to their Air / EVO / PRO / LAB lineups. If they do start releasing RF-S lenses, I would expect them only to do so with their current gen lenses and not older ones. As they replace the older ones, those new lenses would then arrive for RF-S.

they could simply switch the mechnical mount from the EF-M lenses and they would work.

 

[mimbu]

they could simply switch the mechnical mount from the EF-M lenses and they would work.

They could, but I don't think they will. Viltrox has gotten a lot smarter about branding and I don't think they will release any more lenses that don't fall cleanly into their new 4 tier lineup.

 

[Mxw.be]

I hope they will port their apsc pro lenses first. If I remember correctly there was also a Efm 50 mm from Viltrox.

 

[johnchio]

I heard their autofocus is quite good (at least the VCM on their new 135)? Could be good for us Canon users who want something more than STM but don't have money for the expensive L lenses

 

[P-visie]

Digital camera information (digicame) has a post that Nikon is sueing Viltrox for intellectual property infringement on Chinese made Z-mount lenses.
How would that impact Canon granting a license to Viltrox for RF mount lenses?

Google translated link to Digicame.

 

[EOS 4 Life]

How would that impact Canon granting a license to Viltrox for RF mount lenses?

Not at all

 

[DhlcadR6]

Digital camera information (digicame) has a post that Nikon is sueing Viltrox for intellectual property infringement on Chinese made Z-mount lenses.
How would that impact Canon granting a license to Viltrox for RF mount lenses?

Google translated link to Digicame.

As long as Viltrox and Canon made an agreement, Viltrox can make it. I presume all it needs is an fee to Canon.

The problem with CN 3rd parties is that they are mostly unwilling to pay the tax. Despite they can mark up the MSRP to compensate the cost.

 

[P-visie]

As long as Viltrox and Canon made an agreement, Viltrox can make it. I presume all it needs is an fee to Canon.

The problem with CN 3rd parties is that they are mostly unwilling to pay the tax. Despite they can mark up the MSRP to compensate the cost.

Yes, but Chinese companies do not have a good track record for the protection of IP. Canon and Viltrox can get an agreement, but Canon will want to have ironclad protection for their IP and be able to enforce that agreement.

Viltrox has been making AF Z-mount lens since 2021 (according to ChatGPT). The Viltrox website lists 25 Z-mount lenses. I find it hard to believe that Nikon has only just discovered that Viltrox has been making Z-mount lenses without a license agreement. That license agreement must have have included IP protection.

 

[DhlcadR6]

Yes, but Chinese companies do not have a good track record for the protection of IP. Canon and Viltrox can get an agreement, but Canon will want to have ironclad protection for their IP and be able to enforce that agreement.

Viltrox has been making AF Z-mount lens since 2021 (according to ChatGPT). The Viltrox website lists 25 Z-mount lenses. I find it hard to believe that Nikon has only just discovered that Viltrox has been making Z-mount lenses without a license agreement. That license agreement must have have included IP protection.

I don't want to talk too much about the Nikon Viltrox fiasco. Basically Nikon targets Viltrox because they are making great primes, much better than Nikon& approved 3rd parties offerings. Nikon wants to act like Sony that's 3rd parties friendly, despite the fact that Nikon&Sony actually wants to do what Canon does.

 

[Mxw.be]

Are there any updates on this topic?

 

[mimbu]

Viltrox has been making AF Z-mount lens since 2021 (according to ChatGPT). The Viltrox website lists 25 Z-mount lenses. I find it hard to believe that Nikon has only just discovered that Viltrox has been making Z-mount lenses without a license agreement. That license agreement must have have included IP protection.

Nikon sued Viltrox immediately after their patents got approved in China. There is no agreement between Nikon and Viltrox, and unlike Sigma or Tamron, the Viltrox lens pages do not state that their lenses are made under license.

As far as Canon goes, they will keep FF RF locked down until they are forced to do otherwise. The only paths to an open RF mount are patent invalidation, patent expiration, or a government body like the EU forcing open platforms.

 

[Mxw.be]

So no rfs lenses in the pipeline?

 

[mimbu]

So no rfs lenses in the pipeline?

Viltrox once released some lenses for RF. Canon made a bunch of legal threats and Viltrox pulled those lenses and removed all mention of them from their website. It's as though the lenses never existed, but they did. Same thing happened with Samyang with the same result.

Canon has always been the most aggressively anti-third-party glass, and now they have patents on the mount & protocols to effectively block RF users from having choice.

If choice is important to you, RF is the wrong mount to own.