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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.
There are a lot of Canon shooters that would never buying a third-party lens for EOS R and don't feel there is a need, or don't care, and then there are others that will have a bag full of them.
I really don't have an opinion on this topic one way or another. I would gladly use a third-party lens for full-frame if it something Canon doesn't make and that I want. Canon isn't going to make every kind of lens that shooters may want.
Is it finally happening?
We have been told that full-frame RF mount lenses with autofocus are coming in the next year, and possibly sooner. Though the first ones won't be from Sigma we're told. This doesn't surprise us too much, but may not be good news for some of you.
Which brand is going to be first is unknown at the moment. We do think it'll be one of the Chinese brands like Viltrox, but your guess is as good as mine.
Canon and RF Mount Control
When it comes to Canon's control of the RF mount, we have no idea what third-party agreements with Canon entail. How much money do these companies have to pay Canon? How strict is Canon as far as performance requirements? What sort of lenses might third party manufacturers not be allowed to make for the mount?
We have no idea and probably never will, Canon is notoriously coy about their business decisions.
Summary
As you all know, Canon has allowed autofocus RF mount for APS-C cameras and both Sigma and Tamron make a selection of prime and zoom lenses. I think part of the reason is Canon may not have figured out their ‘RF-S' strategy, or they simply don't want to make a bunch of crop lenses.
A lot of people around here agree that Canon's current strategy is working just fine from a sales point of view, and that may be truer than not. Canon seems to be selling more and more lenses every year.
I'll give one personal observation on the topic.
There is a possibility that third-party autofocus full-frame lenses embraced by the likes of Sony could be a factor in getting younger generations into the brand. I have mentioned before that the younger shooters I see out and about are more often carrying a full-frame Sony camera than any other brand. Again, that's just my own observation.
I don't want to start some kind of firestorm or beat a dead horse, I just think the information is good once I consider the source.
More to come soon…
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.
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.
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% 😆.
There is Vistilen/Meike 85f1.4 for RF mount. I own one and I like it.
and if they are indeed worse for everyone, then they will not sell, simple
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.
RF 35mm f 1.2
RF 200mm f 1.8 or f2
I will buy it.