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    Chinese Lens Makers May Bring the First Third-Party Full-Frame RF Lenses

    By Updated:21 Comments Third Party Lenses 3 Mins Read

    Since the day the RF mount was announced back in 2018, there have been calls for third-party lenses makers such as SIGMA to move their goods to the new mount from Canon.

    Unfortunately, Canon has been very closed with the RF mount and shut down early autofocus Rokinon lenses from being sold. The chorus has become louder over the years, and it will likely get even louder the longer that customers have to wait.

    Modern third-party lenses don’t peak my interest all that much, but there is a large segmenet of photographers that really want to see them come to market, as Canon lenses aren’t getting any cheaper.

    That said, Canon has had no problem selling their “overpriced” lenses since the launch of the EOS R syste.

    SIGMA RF 10-18MM F/2.8 DC DN

    • APS-C Format | f/2.8 to f/22
    • 16-29mm (Full-Frame Equivalent)
    • Ultra Wide-Angle Zoom
    • Fast Internal Focus System
    • Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm
    • Dust & Splash-Resistant Design

    It wasn’t until this year that we saw the first three manufacturers bring third-party APS-C lenses to the RF mount. SIGMA has announced 6 lenses, all of which should hit the street before the year is out. Tamron and Samyang have both announced one a piece. We do expect Meike to enter the fold sooner than later.

    We have been told (along with others) that at least three Chinese lens makers may be the first third-party full-frame RF lenses to come to market in late 2025. The most mentioned brand is Viltrox and the likelihood of bringing their upcoming 35mm f/1.2 LAB lens to the RF mount first. Viltrox has quickly become a recognized brand and has released some really night autofocus lenses for the E and X mounts.

    Tamron RF 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD

    • 18-32mm (35mm Equivalent)
    • Fast Ultra-Wide Angle Zoom
    • Rapid eXtra Silent Stepping Drive Motor
    • 1x XLD, 2x GM Asph., and 2x LD Elements
    • BBAR-G2 Lens Coating
    • Weather-Sealed Construction
    • Rounded 7-Blade Diaphragm

    Who the other brands are is anyone’s guess at this time. Though Meike & Brightin Star are making autofocus lenses.

    We have also heard numerous times over the last year or so that Venus Optics is also working on a series of full-frame autofocus lenses, they are known for the Laowa brand.

    This is good news, even if it’s not SIGMA who’s going to be the first out of the gate, which doesn’t surprise me. I think the Chinese lens makers want to be somewhat more affordable than SIGMA, as SIGMA appears to want to be up-market and still provide great value when compared to the OEM lenses from the likes of Canon, Sony and Nikon.

    Once we move into 2025, there will likely be a lot more information that will flow if indeed third-party full frame lenses are coming in late 2025. Keep in mind, making lenses is a hard process, and the Chinese makers are playing catch-up for the moment, but we do see the gap closing quickly.

    There is also another report that hit the web today with the same information, so you can check out what thenewcamera.com has to say.

    This information also appeared on Weibo, but we have been unable to find the post again.

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    21 comments

    3. @CR your article says "We have been told (along with others) that at least three Chinese lens makers may be the first third-party full-frame RF lenses to come to market in late 2025. The most mentioned brand is Viltrox ..." and "Who the other brands are is anyone's guess at this time, but we've seen both Samyang and Meike bring autofocus full frame lenses to other mounts like the E and X mounts." If you are suggesting that Samyang may be one of the Chinese lens makers preparing to bring full frame RF lenses with AF to market, the problem with that is Samyang is a South Korean company, not a Chinese company :)

      FWIW, Samyang (and I think one or two other third party lens makers?) did release RF lenses with AF in the relatively early days of the R system, eg Samyang had an 85mm f/1.4 RF lens with AF, but Canon got those lenses taken off the market due to some sort of IP infringement.
    6. I have a ton of EF Sigmas that I don't imagine I'll replace: 28/1.4, 135/1.8, 40/1.4. Not sure I'd buy it due to having a 28 and 40, but the Sigma 35/1.2 is one of the third-party lenses that would actually interest me. I don't know if the Viltrox 35/1.2 is as good as the Sigma of that spec.

      In terms of third-party lenses with AF, I only use Sigmas, personally. I have a few random full-manual third-party lenses but that's a different ballgame.

      In any case, the more complete the selection eventually becomes, the better.
    7. I am not too much interested in 3rd party me-too-lenses.
      But I am very interested in 3rd party lenses widening the horizon on the RF-mount.

      i.e. the RF Voigtländers 40mm, 50mm, 75mm are great. The 40mm 1.2 is my most beloved of all RF lenses!
    8. Really, really want Sigma lenses. Canon's optics are beautiful, but most of their lenses are humongous. The new VCM line is great but still nowhere near the size and handiness of, say, Sigma's Contemporary primes.

      And yes, the STM lenses are good performers but their styling is abysmal, which doesn't matter in practical use, but it makes me enjoy them less.

      But that being said, I 100% understand Canon wanting time to get their VCM options out first. I'm just a bit surprised it's taken 6 years.
    9. This development will definitely support the chorus of forecasters (1) that Chinese manufacturers will disrupt and take over the Japanese dominance for ILC body/lenses.
      I forecast that DJI will switch from their collaboration with Hasselblad to Hauwei/Viltrox by the end of the year. /s
    10. I just slap my EF lens and adapter onto my RF mount and think no more about it. They can be like that if they want. No one looks at any image and says oh an EF lens was used on that foto. And where are those RF tilt shift lenses anyhow?
    11. I forecast that DJI will switch from their collaboration with Hasselblad to Hauwei/Viltrox by the end of the year. /s
      Is this a joke? DJI owns a majority stake in Hasselblad, so a switch seems unlikely.
    13. Unless there has been a strategy change within Canon I don't see this happening. 7 years of the RF mount and not a single FF AF lens from a 3rd party has been licensed to date. Canon appear to want a largely closed system for FF, time will tell if remains that way or not. May be good for Canon's profit margins but many Canon users are missing out big time on what's available. Recently picked up the Sigma 28-105mm f2.8 Art and its a great one lens solution for studio portraits.
    14. Unless there has been a strategy change within Canon I don't see this happening. 7 years of the RF mount and not a single FF AF lens from a 3rd party has been licensed to date. Canon appear to want a largely closed system for FF, time will tell if remains that way or not. May be good for Canon's profit margins but many Canon users are missing out big time on what's available. Recently picked up the Sigma 28-105mm f2.8 Art and its a great one lens solution for studio portraits.
      Quite possible. For comparison, it was 2 years between the launch of APS-C EOS R bodies and the first licensed Sigma lens for them.

      Canon users aren't missing out on what's available regarding the Sigma 28-105/2.8, but they're missing out on paying much less for an optically weaker (though still very good) lens with the wide end of the range missing. Personally, I find the 24-28mm range important in a standard/walkaround zoom, so I'd far prefer the RF 24-105/2.8 lens anyway. Neither lens is optically perfect, but the Canon delivers better IQ, as well (as it should for double the price tag).
    15. Quite possible. For comparison, it was 2 years between the launch of APS-C EOS R bodies and the first licensed Sigma lens for them.

      Canon users aren't missing out on what's available regarding the Sigma 28-105/2.8, but they're missing out on paying much less for an optically weaker (though still very good) lens with the wide end of the range missing. Personally, I find the 24-28mm range important in a standard/walkaround zoom, so I'd far prefer the RF 24-105/2.8 lens anyway. Neither lens is optically perfect, but the Canon delivers better IQ, as well (as it should for double the price tag).
      Not everyone needs or wants pay for a larger, heavier and much more expensive lens which yes has the more useful 24mm on the wide end for many. However for what I do 28mm is more than wide enough. As for IQ based on a review I saw the 2 lenses were very evenly matched. Both amazing in the centre and both a bit softer in the corners but still very good.
    16. Sooner or later Canon has to give in to full frame lenses. The portfolio of other manufacturers is increasingly growing and I would be lying if I said I\'m not jealously looking at the new Sigma Art 50mm f/1.2 or their 28-105mm f/2.8 for Sony. If I would have to pick 3 Chinese manufacturers that are going to release full frame lenses first, it would probably be Viltrox, Yongnuo and maybe Sirui. TTArtisan or 7Artisans could also be a wildcard who produce AF lenses.
    17. Sooner or later Canon has to give in to full frame lenses. The portfolio of other manufacturers is increasingly growing and I would be lying if I said I\'m not jealously looking at the new Sigma Art 50mm f/1.2 or their 28-105mm f/2.8 for Sony. If I would have to pick 3 Chinese manufacturers that are going to release full frame lenses first, it would probably be Viltrox, Yongnuo and maybe Sirui. TTArtisan or 7Artisans could also be a wildcard who produce AF lenses.
      After 6 years of the RF mount, at this point I really don't see it happening. Canon seemingly wants the system to be closed to 3rd party FF AF lenses. Sigma will only release lenses on a platform when the OEM grants them a licence to do so (Tamron quite possibly is the same) the Chinese manufacturers reverse engineer their glass but most likely haven't for RF because of the threat of legal action.
    18. Sooner or later Canon has to give in to full frame lenses.
      Why?

      The portfolio of other manufacturers is increasingly growing and I would be lying if I said I\'m not jealously looking at the new Sigma Art 50mm f/1.2 or their 28-105mm f/2.8 for Sony.
      Oh, because you want them to. Of course. :ROFLMAO:

      I mean, you list two lenses that Canon totally doesn’t have anything remotely similar to, so your logic is impeccable. :rolleyes:
    19. After 6 years of the RF mount, at this point I really don't see it happening. Canon seemingly wants the system to be closed to 3rd party FF AF lenses. Sigma will only release lenses on a platform when the OEM grants them a licence to do so (Tamron quite possibly is the same) the Chinese manufacturers reverse engineer their glass but most likely haven't for RF because of the threat of legal action.
      Reverse engineering by itself is not illegal. Legal action would only be possible if the third party had illegal access to Canon’s own code and the third party had used that.

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