Will Canon allow EF lenses to work on future RF bodies?

Arthur Stanley Jefferson wrote:

Just a thought, could Canon slowly phase out the compatibility of EF lenses on future RF bodies….to increase new sales revenue from RF lenses?

They could, because the EF-RF adapter is just a dumb adapter - all the protocol conversion is done by the camera, which knows how to communicate with an EF lens. It would clearly be possible to remove this feature. It wouldn't even have to be a future body - it could be done with a firmware update.

But whether they would is a different question. I think it would be the final straw for many people, who are already frustrated that Sigma, Tamron and others are locked out by Canon's closed system. If I was locked out of my EF 100L Macro, for example, that would be the last time I ever used a Canon body.

Canon_Guy wrote:

Steve Balcombe wrote:

Arthur Stanley Jefferson wrote:

Just a thought, could Canon slowly phase out the compatibility of EF lenses on future RF bodies….to increase new sales revenue from RF lenses?

They could, because the EF-RF adapter is just a dumb adapter - all the protocol conversion is done by the camera, which knows how to communicate with an EF lens. It would clearly be possible to remove this feature. It wouldn't even have to be a future body - it could be done with a firmware update.

But whether they would is a different question. I think it would be the final straw for many people, who are already frustrated that Sigma, Tamron and others are locked out by Canon's closed system.

Sigma, Tamron and others are not locked out from Canon. They work flawlessly or R cameras via adapter.

You know perfectly well what I mean, no need to be one of those internet ####s. Sigma and Tamron are locked out of the RF mount.

And to the topic: shutting down EF lenses from R cameras is very unlikely due to really huge penetration of EF lenses to R systems. That is baused also by a lack of RF equivalents to many important EF lenses (Canon and 3rd party).

If I was locked out of my EF 100L Macro, for example, that would be the last time I ever used a Canon body.

I would do the same if I could not use my EF lenses to which RF has no equivalent.

Steve Balcombe wrote:

Canon_Guy wrote:

Steve Balcombe wrote:

Arthur Stanley Jefferson wrote:

Just a thought, could Canon slowly phase out the compatibility of EF lenses on future RF bodies….to increase new sales revenue from RF lenses?

They could, because the EF-RF adapter is just a dumb adapter - all the protocol conversion is done by the camera, which knows how to communicate with an EF lens. It would clearly be possible to remove this feature. It wouldn't even have to be a future body - it could be done with a firmware update.

But whether they would is a different question. I think it would be the final straw for many people, who are already frustrated that Sigma, Tamron and others are locked out by Canon's closed system.

Sigma, Tamron and others are not locked out from Canon. They work flawlessly or R cameras via adapter.

You know perfectly well what I mean, no need to be one of those internet ####s. Sigma and Tamron are locked out of the RF mount.

Canon did their best to lock them out of EF mount, and FD mount before that, too.  Sigma only became fully usable with EF mount after their dock made their lenses user updatable.  But Canon have a lot more to lose than they have to gain by making RF mount cameras incompatible with their own EF lenses.

And Sigma will eventually find a way, but they need to be right first time. I use 30 year old Canon EF lenses on RF and EF-M mounts but I'd think twice about using a 15 year old Sigma.

Canon_Guy wrote:

Steve Balcombe wrote:

Arthur Stanley Jefferson wrote:

Just a thought, could Canon slowly phase out the compatibility of EF lenses on future RF bodies….to increase new sales revenue from RF lenses?

They could, because the EF-RF adapter is just a dumb adapter - all the protocol conversion is done by the camera, which knows how to communicate with an EF lens. It would clearly be possible to remove this feature. It wouldn't even have to be a future body - it could be done with a firmware update.

But whether they would is a different question. I think it would be the final straw for many people, who are already frustrated that Sigma, Tamron and others are locked out by Canon's closed system.

Sigma, Tamron and others are not locked out from Canon. They work flawlessly or R cameras via adapter.

True; but I think there may be a small chance of Canon cutting off it's nose to spite it's face by changing protocols to lock out 3rd party EF as well as their own EF.  I don't think it's likely, but it is not impossible.

Arthur Stanley Jefferson wrote:

Just a thought, ….could Canon slowly phase out the compatibility of EF lenses on future RF bodies…

...to increase new sales revenue from RF lenses?

…are the EF lenses we own, that make the transition to RF affordable, a problem to Canon and will they phase out the compatibilityover time?

Tech advances and leaves the old behind so long term I’m sure after there is a robust R mount catalogue Canon will discontinue the adapter and EF lens compatibility will become less of a sure thing. We see this all the time in other CE categories. Canon isn’t going to pull the plug, it’s just going to not consider EF compatibility in whatever the next Gen products at the time is, say like a R5 IV. The EF adapter was always intended as a temporary bridge to R.

Sittatunga wrote:

Steve Balcombe wrote:

Canon_Guy wrote:

Steve Balcombe wrote:

Arthur Stanley Jefferson wrote:

Just a thought, could Canon slowly phase out the compatibility of EF lenses on future RF bodies….to increase new sales revenue from RF lenses?

They could, because the EF-RF adapter is just a dumb adapter - all the protocol conversion is done by the camera, which knows how to communicate with an EF lens. It would clearly be possible to remove this feature. It wouldn't even have to be a future body - it could be done with a firmware update.

But whether they would is a different question. I think it would be the final straw for many people, who are already frustrated that Sigma, Tamron and others are locked out by Canon's closed system.

Sigma, Tamron and others are not locked out from Canon. They work flawlessly or R cameras via adapter.

You know perfectly well what I mean, no need to be one of those internet ####s. Sigma and Tamron are locked out of the RF mount.

Canon did their best to lock them out of EF mount, and FD mount before that, too. Sigma only became fully usable with EF mount after their dock made their lenses user updatable. But Canon have a lot more to lose than they have to gain by making RF mount cameras incompatible with their own EF lenses.

And Sigma will eventually find a way, but they need to be right first time. I use 30 year old Canon EF lenses on RF and EF-M mounts but I'd think twice about using a 15 year old Sigma.

To be fair to Canon here, in the case of EF the evolution of the mount was needed as new tech came along. Canon could have stopped the EF development at that point and as a result got left behind by their competitors. It would have maintained compatibility with existing third party lenses, but could had adversely affected Canon as a result. Nikon and to a lesser extent had the same issues. I don’t believe in that case this was a deliberate obstreperous move. RF seems different at the moment. A brand were stopped from selling a lens but none of us know the full story. Nor do we have the full story from canon or the other third parties. Currently the poor press and social media comment must be damaging to the brand. It depends on how much the bean counters feel they are loosing by that compared to the retention of customers buying first party only. Either way, I am quite enjoying watching this play out.

Arthur Stanley Jefferson wrote:

gavin wrote:

No. They want their installed base to shift to RF camera. People will replace EF to RF over time.

I agree they want their base to shift to RF, but I personally wouldn’t replace my EF lenses for more expensive RF lenses unless they broke or stopped working well.

I just have a uncomfortable suspicion that Canon may make more of the popular competing EF lenses less compatible. Perhaps they might not focus quite as quickly or reliably in the future! This would drive sales to RF lenses.

It's really too much effort for too little and uncertain return. I think they would sell fewer lenses that way than the customers they would lose.

Canon EF lenses adapt to Nikon Z (thanks to Fringer and others) better than Nikon AF and AF-D lenses. They also adapt to and AF on L mount, Sony,  Fuji and micro four-thirds.  Why would Canon want to be the only  Japanese manufacturer apart from Pentax that couldn't use EF lenses?

I imagine it would be a subtle slow, but gradual transition, starting with older lenses, firmware could easily be implemented to do this on each new RF body release.

In the past Canon were still trying to sell FL lenses after they brought out FD and FD lenses and cameras after they brought out EF. It's the market that has killed off Canon's previous product lines long before Canon wanted to, and I don't think that's changing now.

It sounds unethical, but Canon could argue that the older lenses have simply reached their technical end of life compatibility, rather than been retired via a firmware.

This is getting silly.  It would be unethical.  It would also be stupid and counterproductive.

….I suppose you could argue, why would Canon not do this? The thousands of EF lenses that are being used and traded secondhand do not bring any new money in, and they are already concerned enough to block 3rd party lens makers from the RF mount.

I hope Canon are kind, and my huge collection of EF lenses find a home on an R6mk2 or R5mk2 for many years but, I have my doubts.