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

Sittatunga wrote:

EmotionBlur wrote:

Sittatunga wrote:

Are either of us the average canon R user? The adapter lived on the camera for the first couple of years, so effectively I had an EF mount EOS R.

That's you. I'm different and I'm happy to know that the adapter won't live on my camera any longer. Time will tell but imagine any photographer who is now switching to FF. Checks sony: plenty of lenses and brands. Checks Nikon: 3rd parties have started to release their lenses. Checks canon: either entry level lenses, or the not-so-cheap 24-105 f4, or premium, or "I see an adapter in your future". Ahem...

This thread is about EF lenses on mirrorless cameras. Of course they'll need an adapter for EF lenses. The Pentax mirrorless camera which took Pentax DSLR lenses vanished very quickly, almost without a trace.

I think EB is speaking to the broader point that adapting lenses shouldn't even be a huge concern ~5 years into a system. It's not for Nikon which launched around the same time. And ironically Sigma began launching lenses for Sony FE around 5 years from launch. So it's just kind of weird that RF users have to keep looking backwards instead of forwards. It's great to retain use of EF glass but it almost seems necessary to build out a full kit for many people.

EmotionBlur wrote:

Won't you agree that the average canon R user would feel a bit "meh" knowing that s/he had to plug the damn adapter for his brand new midrange lenses, that might also become not 100% working with future camera releases? And do you think that Sigma and Tamron are really planning their future line up under these circumstances?

I continue to take issue with "that might also become not 100% working with future camera releases" as far as Canon EF lenses are concerned.  Third party manufacturers are of course in a different situation.

If you don't like using an adapter because it adds to the size of the lens, and EF lenses are already typically larger than RF lenses, that's fine.  If you have specific reason to believe that Canon will render Canon EF lenses non-functional or otherwise make them less usable than at present, present it.  But don't rely on what other companies have done.  Nikon, for example, kept an old mechanically-linked mount and bolted on electronic features, while Canon has an entirely electronic mount.

Otherwise, this is simply fear, uncertainty, and doubt.

Robert Krawitz wrote:

EmotionBlur wrote:

Won't you agree that the average canon R user would feel a bit "meh" knowing that s/he had to plug the damn adapter for his brand new midrange lenses, that might also become not 100% working with future camera releases? And do you think that Sigma and Tamron are really planning their future line up under these circumstances?

I continue to take issue with "that might also become not 100% working with future camera releases" as far as Canon EF lenses are concerned. Third party manufacturers are of course in a different situation.

I'm mostly talking about 3rd party lenses. And it's a "maybe". There's also the potential issues of EF lenses that already happened (some are "too old" and not fully compatible with max specs), how about some other canon lenses that might become "too old" for some next gen R camera? I mean, we're talking about a system that it's going to be left behind after all. My point is that these are just questions that a newcomer to FF world might raise, when comparing Canon to other manufacturers. No need for "evidence" or whatsoever.

EmotionBlur wrote:

Robert Krawitz wrote:

EmotionBlur wrote:

Won't you agree that the average canon R user would feel a bit "meh" knowing that s/he had to plug the damn adapter for his brand new midrange lenses, that might also become not 100% working with future camera releases? And do you think that Sigma and Tamron are really planning their future line up under these circumstances?

I continue to take issue with "that might also become not 100% working with future camera releases" as far as Canon EF lenses are concerned. Third party manufacturers are of course in a different situation.

I'm mostly talking about 3rd party lenses. And it's a "maybe". There's also the potential issues of EF lenses that already happened (some are "too old" and not fully compatible with max specs), how about some other canon lenses that might become "too old" for some next gen R camera? I mean, we're talking about a system that it's going to be left behind after all. My point is that these are just questions that a newcomer to FF world might raise, when comparing Canon to other manufacturers. No need for "evidence" or whatsoever.

We'll see. I just ordered the Tap-In Console to update to the latest firmware for my Tamron 100-400/4.5-6.3. I bought this lens brand new in 2018 but there was a firmware update in Feb. 2019 which I just found out the other day.

So far all my Canon EF lenses (with the exception of 16-35/4 L IS which I have yet to try) are spot on with its AF performance on the R6MKII.

sportyaccordy wrote:

I think EB is speaking to the broader point that adapting lenses shouldn't even be a huge concern ~5 years into a system. It's not for Nikon which launched around the same time. And ironically Sigma began launching lenses for Sony FE around 5 years from launch. So it's just kind of weird that RF users have to keep looking backwards instead of forwards. It's great to retain use of EF glass but it almost seems necessary to build out a full kit for many people.

It takes many years to design and build an extensive portfolio of lenses.  Canon made the strategic choice to focus on RF lenses that could differentiate themselves from EF lenses rather than to build that whole portfolio at once.  For example, they have lenses like the 100-500, 600 f/11, 800 f/11 (all of which are too slow to focus on EF bodies), the f/2 zooms, and more compact versions of the basic lenses where the shorter flange distance opened possibilities that could not easily be realized on the EF mount.

Otherwise, their strategy has been to rely on EF lenses and only gradually replace them with RF ones.  Nikon and Sigma more or less had to release new lenses very quickly.  Canon didn't, because the RF mount is intrinsically back compatible with the electronics and protocols of the EF mount.

Sittatunga wrote:

sportyaccordy wrote:

Sittatunga wrote:

EmotionBlur wrote:

Sittatunga wrote:

Are either of us the average canon R user? The adapter lived on the camera for the first couple of years, so effectively I had an EF mount EOS R.

That's you. I'm different and I'm happy to know that the adapter won't live on my camera any longer. Time will tell but imagine any photographer who is now switching to FF. Checks sony: plenty of lenses and brands. Checks Nikon: 3rd parties have started to release their lenses. Checks canon: either entry level lenses, or the not-so-cheap 24-105 f4, or premium, or "I see an adapter in your future". Ahem...

This thread is about EF lenses on mirrorless cameras. Of course they'll need an adapter for EF lenses. The Pentax mirrorless camera which took Pentax DSLR lenses vanished very quickly, almost without a trace.

I think EB is speaking to the broader point that adapting lenses shouldn't even be a huge concern ~5 years into a system. It's not for Nikon which launched around the same time.

It is if you want a Nikon 35mm/1.4, a 300mm/2.8 or a PC lens. The situation there is exactly the same as Canon's.

I mean those are pretty specific needs. I don't think Sony has a 300/2.8 or PC lens either. Canon RF's holes are more general.

And ironically Sigma began launching lenses for Sony FE around 5 years from launch. So it's just kind of weird that RF users have to keep looking backwards instead of forwards. It's great to retain use of EF glass but it almost seems necessary to build out a full kit for many people.

I doubt Canon would do that since the EF lenses are owned by Canon customers that bought their lenses.    Blocking a buyer of some other lenses is another level.   These are people choosing to buying an substitute for Canon lenses.

Of course anything could happen, but is it likely to happen?  I say no it is not likely to happen.

Arthur Stanley Jefferson wrote:

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

If they did, it would be marketing suicide. This type of move would annihilate the customer good will and brand trust that they have built over decades. What message would they be sending by eliminating a feature that they aggressively promoted with the launch of the RF system? This hypothesis has no basis in the realities of running a successful business in a declining and extremely competitive marketspace.

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

Canon's goal is to maximize top line sales and profitability though customer adoption of the R system. Yes, making such a move may create a short term incremental increase in RF lenses sales but the long term prospects of maintaining and attracting new users would be severely compromised.   Penny wise, Pound foolish.