Canon: We are in talks with other [lens-]manufacturers

antonio-salieri wrote:

MikeJ9116 wrote:

I am not reading much out of the quote. This is a MF lens and we know Canon is allowing third party MF RF mount lenses. I want to see where Canon specifically says there will be third party RF mount lenses with AF ability. Until then, I consider the RF mount closed for all practical purposes. Using a f/1.0 lens without the ability to take advantage of eye AF is a tough task.

No, it does say something significant. The other MF RF lenses are simply made to physically fit the mount, and are equivalent to M or FD or any other mount lenses that you can use without electronics. In fact, this Cosina 50mm f/1 is already such a lens (as it's been out in M-mount for a little while). Anyway, Canon never had any sort of case against any unauthorized lens without electronics. So all those Laowa, etc. RF lenses? Canon couldn't stop them, but it's hardly because Canon allowed them.

Cosina is one of the very small group of manufacturers that makes MF lenses that also do electronic communication. The other manufacturers that are in contact with Canon are almost certainly mostly makers of AF lenses. And Canon wouldn't be openly acknowledging the negotiations without being open to making a deal. Nor would they say they have no particular policy on third-party lenses.

As I've said before, though, "open" and "closed" is a very bad analysis of this. Many people are now saying the Nikon Z mount is "open," but the Sigma CEO says Nikon requires that companies propose each individual lens, and that they only approve them if they don't compete with Nikon lenses (this has been corroborated by other sources). Someone else on this forum called that "everybody winning," but I'd argue that there is very little material difference between that and a "closed" mount. After all, the only lenses Sigma can make are ones that Nikon decides don't matter enough for them to make. Is that really competition? I think not.

I mean, on Sony cameras, there are artificial limitations placed on third-party lenses, too. But at least Sigma gets to come out with optics like the 35mm f/1.2 that actually challenge Sony.

I think your analysis is correct, and I will add that Canon has been polling people who recently bought product asking them if they would like to see third party lenses. I think they are getting a lot of yes answers. Why not? If they ask, most everyone will say "yes". I am interested in the Tamron 35-135 f/2-2.8 (unless Canon releases a 35-135 f/2, I would prefer that to the 28-70 f/2).