Canon bans Viltrox from selling RF lenses
Wednesday 7 September 2022, 20:02 by Nando Harmsen | 3,207 views | 7 commentsThis article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.
Until recently, Viltrox was the only manufacturer offering RF lenses with autofocus. Until Canon banned this. The reason was unclear, but Canon Germany has responded.
Does this mean that no RF lenses from other brands will appear for the time being?
It is striking that there are still no lenses available from other brands for the Canon RF mount. Only Laowa, Meike and Viltrox have, or had, lenses with an RF mount.
There may be one or two smaller brands as well, but the major brands Sigma and Tamron offer nothing.
Now that Canon has banned manufacturer Viltrox from selling its lenses, (as far as I know, only Laowa and Meike remain.
The reason the latter two still have an offering is that these are all lenses without communication with the camera. Manual lenses, in other words, without autofocus.
Canon Germany recently issued a statement explaining that producing RF lenses with autofocus breaks patents and design rights.
Canon therefore asked Viltrox to stop all production, due to 'infringement of Canon's intellectual property rights.'
This is obviously a thorn in the side of Canon users who have switched to the RF system and are now waiting in vain for lenses from another brand.
It is not known when other brands will be allowed to offer this mount.
Of course, it is possible to use lenses with an EF mount via the adapter. This means you can still use Sigma and Tamron, and other brands, with autofocus. However, it would be nicer without an adapter.
For the time being, Canon therefore has exclusive rights to produce RF lenses with autofocus. Whether shielding this market is a smart plan is the question.
What do you think about it? Should Canon open up the market, or keep it to itself?
Let us know in a comment below this article.
About the author
Nando Harmsen has been photographing for more than 40 years. He specialises in wedding photography and landscape photography. Nando also gives talks, workshops, masterclasses and photo trips, and regularly reviews new and interesting equipment.
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7 comments
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Wouter van Duin wrote on Tuesday 13 September 2022 at 11:29 | replyIf this is correct and the name and the images of that lens are correct then I can understand that, in that case it concerns an illegal copy.
Translated from Dutch.
But a slightly different name, Viltrox, has by now earned a very good reputation for quality AF lenses for many different brands and mounts. I've been using them on my FujiFilm-X cameras for a very long time and with great pleasure. -
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Sjuul wrote on Tuesday 13 September 2022 at 11:59 | replyI understand.that Canon currently only wants to be a seller of the RF lens. But I do hope that in the future, for example, Sigma and Tamron will also be allowed to enter the market with RF lenses.
Translated from Dutch. -
guest wrote on Tuesday 13 September 2022 at 12:24 | replyBecause the number of lenses is still limited (and expensive), many amateur photographers (with modest budgets) will decide to look at other brands, and it is precisely (for this target group) attractive if there is a wide range available, where Canon's L quality is not really necessary.
Translated from Dutch. -
Evert Jan wrote on Tuesday 13 September 2022 at 12:46 | replyMaybe we should all refrain from buying RF lenses for the time being and report that to Canon. Who knows, then Canon will understand that consumers do want a choice of brands and the problem will solve itself.
Translated from Dutch. -
Paul eos wrote on Tuesday 13 September 2022 at 13:00 | replyMakes sense that Canon first wants to recoup some of the money they invested in research, development and production. Copying something is much easier and costs peanuts in comparison.
Translated from Dutch.
Suppose you developed something really great yourself and risked all your money on it, then I copy it and sell it for half the price. I'd like to see your face. -
Donald Willemsen
wrote on Saturday 17 September 2022 at 00:53
| reply
I wonder whether Canon can actually retain this exclusive right in the EU. The EU forces companies to allow competition in the market. You can bet that the fines won't be lenient.
Translated from Dutch.
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