We need 3rd. party lenses... soon!

I really hope that Sigma and or Tamron will make some lenses for µ4/3 soon. The competition from cheaper lenses would force at least Olympus to create some better lenses to compete and we would all be better off.

I guess this is also the point that can make and break any of these new mirrorless systems the first one that gets support and a set of lenses from Sigma or Tamron will have a huge advantage and sort of be the std.

The reason why I am looking at this now is I was just looking at the new Tamron 17-50 f2.8 lens, such a fast normal zoom lens would be wonderful to have... Even if it should be moved slightly to the wider end for µ4/3... might also make it a bit smaller.

The G1 has been on the market for 2 years and has been joined by a further 4 Pan bodies and 3 Oly bodies and still not even bodged (as in 4/3 versions with an extension built in to the rear end) existing glass for native M43 mount ..

the 3rd parties want fast easy money and that means canon and nikon fit - with a side order of Pentax and Sony if its easy enough to do - Sigma added 4/3 too but they're basically the EOS/SA lenses with different mount and control electronics. M43 native glass would mean a total redesign for a tiny market - not Sigma, Tamron or Tokina's Bag ..

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Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist

Yeah, native m43 lenses with AF seem to complicated to make - both new optical and electronic design.

Noktor could be making another one: http://43rumors.com/ft5-noktor-to-make-custom-lens-design-for-microfourthirds-and-even-faster-lenses/ , although it will surely have no AF.

MadsR said:

The reason why I am looking at this now is I was just looking at the new Tamron 17-50 f2.8 lens, such a fast normal zoom lens would be wonderful to have... Even if it should be moved slightly to the wider end for µ4/3... might also make it a bit smaller.

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The Oly 14-54/2.8-3.5 Mk II is pretty good, and supports CDAF. Shame it's not constant aperture though.

One of the good things about MFT's small lineup is that it has curbed my Gear Acquisition Syndrome and stabilised the blood loss from my wallet.

One interesting possibility-Cosina, makers of Voightlander cameras and rangefinder lenses. I would love some fast manual primes in native u4/3 mounts. I would buy them all!

MadsR said:

I really hope that Sigma and or Tamron will make some lenses for µ4/3 soon.

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Tamron usually makes one big announcement a year. This year, at Photokina, I'm told they will make three. It's likely that at least one of them will concern the MILC revolution.

Perhaps Sigma and Tamron are waiting to see who else enters the mirrorless market space so they'll know what the largest flange distance is. That way they can design lenses that work with all mirrorless cameras.

The last thing they want to do is jump in with some lens designs that work with m4/3, Sony, and Samsung, and then have Nikon and Canon design bodies that won't work with their new designs.

JeanPierre Martel said:

MadsR said:

I really hope that Sigma and or Tamron will make some lenses for µ4/3 soon.

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Tamron usually makes one big announcement a year. This year, at Photokina, I'm told they will make three. It's likely that at least one of them will concern the MILC revolution.

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I have difficulties seeing Tamron jumping in at the size of the current EVIL market.

I hope it's not just another new web site, like it was the last time Tamron had a teaser campaign. :O

Seriously, though, I appreciate your info on this and the Oly CA correction.
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Just my two öre,
Erik from Sweden

Mingjai said:

Perhaps Sigma and Tamron are waiting to see who else enters the mirrorless market space so they'll know what the largest flange distance is. That way they can design lenses that work with all mirrorless cameras.

The last thing they want to do is jump in with some lens designs that work with m4/3, Sony, and Samsung, and then have Nikon and Canon design bodies that won't work with their new designs.

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The DSLR market worked fine for the 3rd party makers. Canon's 1.62x and the 1.54x-ish crop from three other systems were close enough not to affect the usefullness of the lens designs: make them cover 1.54x and they will still have fairly sensible focal lengths for 1.62x. 4/3" didn't work so well, zooms that start at 18mm aren't very wide anymore, UWAs aren't so UWA anymore and bigger than needed, and there are higher demands on the lens resolution. But the 4/3rds DSLR market is just around 5% so Tamron and Tokina could ignore it with no ill effects and Sigma didn't bother to make specific designs for it.

But with EVIL, µ43 is a dominating system so much harder to ignore. And if the rumour of Nikon 2.5x is correct the range of sensor sizes they have to serve is even wider (this is yet another reason 2.5x would make sense for Nikon).

It will be much harder for the 3rd party makers to get the volume advantage that they have been enjoying with DSLRs. And there's the problem with CD-AF and the new protocols that have to be licensed or reverse-engineered and the implications for the lens design.

No wonder Sigma have said they will wait and see.

Unfortunately, I think it may take quite a while before we see 3rd party AF lenses.
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Just my two öre,
Erik from Sweden

Ehrik said:

I have difficulties seeing Tamron jumping in at the size of the current EVIL market.

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Can Tamron afford to ignore this lucrative market? ;-)

I'm sure that any good prime macro lens or any bright prime lens made by Tamron would sell like hot cakes. That being said, I'm not suggesting that this what Tamron will do: to be honest, I have no clue. I just know that they will make three big announcements this year and would be very surprised if none of them would concern MILCs.

Ehrik said:

Seriously, though, I appreciate your info on this and the Oly CA correction.

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Thanks.

JeanPierre Martel said:

Ehrik said:

I have difficulties seeing Tamron jumping in at the size of the current EVIL market.

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Can Tamron afford to ignore this lucrative market? ;-)

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They apparently felt they did afford to ignore the 4/3rds market, which should be of about a similar size. It's true the profit margins are (likely) much bigger for µ43 at this point but there are also much bigger R&D costs.

JeanPierre Martel said:

I'm sure that any good prime macro lens or any bright prime lens made by Tamron would sell like hot cakes. That being said, I'm not suggesting that this what Tamron will do: to be honest, I have no clue. I just know that they will make three big announcements this year and would be very surprised if none of them would concern MILCs.

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Maybe they will make a declaration of intent, just like the one Sigma did a while ago.

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Just my two öre,
Erik from Sweden