Canon has caused a fair amount of controversy recently over their refusal to allow most third-party lenses for the RF mount. However, recent research data sheds a lot of light on the decision.
The latest BCN rankings, which track a variety of consumer electronics trends in Japan, have been released, and they show intense competition in the lens market, with the following market share for each major company (based on about 40% of Japanese retailers):
1. Canon: 17.1%
2. Sigma: 16%
3. Tamron: 15.1%
4. Sony: 14.2%
5. Nikon: 13.8%
6. OM Digital Solutions: 8.6%
7. Panasonic: 4.6%
8. Fujifilm: 4.2%
It isn't particularly surprising to see the order of the companies, but what is particularly interesting is the fact that only 3.3% separates Canon, Sigma, Tamron, Sony, and Nikon, indicating ferocious competition and showing that Canon is barely holding their lead at the moment.
The data gets even more interesting when broken down by lens mount:
1. Sony: 32.6%
2. Canon EF: 11.4%
3. Nikon F: 9.3%
4. Fujifilm X: 8.8%
5. Nikon Z: 8.5%
6. Canon RF: 7.7%
Without a doubt, Canon intends to increase those percentages, and given the intense competition, they may feel that the best way forward is to lock down the mount and leverage their deep market share of camera bodies to push users toward their own lenses. You can read the full report here.
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Yes, exactly! It is great to see that someone here actually gets it!
It is not about price at all for me. But rather about the fact that Canon refuses to make specialty niche lenses that 3rd party manufacturers are willing and able to make.
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How sad for Canon. They've been making the rounds lately in the media to ensure that they let frustrated customers know that they're thinking about them. What a load of bunk.
They would have sold one more lens if they actually came out with the RF50 mm 1.4. Will this lens ever come out? there's been shootouts from other manufacturers versions on all of the photo websites for the last month.
Where is Canon in that? Oh... NO WHERE.
I don't even know how to use my r62 AF yet (coming from a 5D3), and I'm already looking forward to that Panasonic or Sony body. So many lens options is going to be sublime!
I had the Eos R and now the R6. ( Also a couple of 5dmk4s ) I do not own rf glass, and I would like to add one more mirrorless body. However I would need to start repurchasing my lenses in RF. The way I see it I will bite the bullet and switch. On the long run it would be the best option *for me*
Reading the full report, when it comes to lens mounts market share in units, Sony's E mount leads, with Micro Four Thirds a close second.
On the Sony E mount out of the top 10 selling lenses, 6 are from Tamron and one from Sigma.
With its much smaller RF market for lenses, Canon simply can't afford to give 70% of the RF market away.
On the other hand with Micro Four Thirds being an open mount it's interesting to note Sigma has recently chosen to not try to compete with OM Systems and Panasonic. This reflects the value for money MFT represents.
So despite of all the hype around Canon's RF mount it still has a task to become dominant.
Best thing about sony is that I can put 18 different lens mounts on one camera. I have ef mount, old Nikon lenses, c mount. For my professional work I stick to mostly sony but I have a lot of fun with my other lenses.
Since the third party lenses would have to be reverse engineered, maybe Canon wants to have full quality control over the lenses used on their cameras because it only makes Canon look bad if the lenses don't perform perfectly as Canon lenses.
They could do this by publishing standards, and certifying conformal lenses, like Micro Four Thirds does. This could be organized as a zero-sum (or even profit-making) process via license fees.
But I'm guessing the bean-counters at Canon were aware of this approach, and determined they could make more money all on their own.
More power to 'em, if that's the way they want to do things. I certainly won't be buying Canon.
I'm also thinking that Canon's stance probably isn't enforceable, under the same anti-monopoly legislation that said Xerox cannot void warranties for using third-party toners.
This won't last. Keep in mind that, at one time, the only telephone you could buy came from your service provider. This is what Canon wants you to be happy with:
If Canon doesn't allow Sigma to make lenses, I WILL SWITCH TO SONY soon.
I'm a Canon C70 owner and Canon is totally ignoring this camera. Who wants to spend $2400 on a Canon 28-70 f/2, it's not even the right zoom range + aperture for the C70?? and it's HUGE and heavy, it take 95mm filters????
We NEED 3RD PARTY LENSES if this is the best Canon can do...
the Canon C70 needs a 18-55mm f/1.8 lens for APS-C coverage.
Had i known last July 2022 that Canon will block 3rd party lenses I would have bought a Sony A73 instead of the RP. Hey I am just a hobbyist and canon lenses are so expensive! I have been with the Canon ecosystem since 2007. And used mostly 3rd party lenses like Tamron as they are more affordable. I was eyeing the Viltrox 85mm but was overtaken by events. I have been trying to sell my gear now but has been unsalable because of this issue. DOWN WITH CANON FOOLISHNESS!
I have the R5, RF 28-70 f2, RF 70-200 2.8, RF 85 1.2. They are gorgeous and perfect. I just came from one of the largest photography conventions in the country and most serious photographers are using RF glass. Several of the instructors who are making six digits year after year are using the RF L series. It sounds like most of the people on here crying about the RF line are hobbyists. It’s also funny all the “I’m going to Sony” crybabies there are.
"It’s also funny all the “I’m going to Sony” crybabies there are."
So true! They should have gone to Micro Four Thirds, instead! :-)
--- "Several of the instructors who are making six digits year after year are using the RF L series."
They were making that before the RF L series. The RF L series has only been out for a few years, duh. You are such fake news. :D
--- "It sounds like most of the people on here crying about the RF line are hobbyists."
Canon should care. I'd wager there are more hobbyists than "pros" and they are more likely to spend more $$$. And, I'd wager they are not likely to buy Canon glass, speedlights, etc if they ain't got no Canon body.
--- "I have the R5, RF 28-70 f2, RF 70-200 2.8, RF 85 1.2. They are gorgeous and perfect."
A waste in your hands, though.