amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

It is only Canon who is restricting third party manufacturers from making RF-mount autofocus lenses for their R-series cameras. There are many manual focus lenses being made for them.

Sony, Nikon, Fuji, Olympus, Panasonic all have at least some third party lens options. Fuji and Olympus don't make full frame cameras, so you really are down to choice of:

- Canon (RF-mount)
- Nikon (Z-mount)
- Panasonic & Leica (L-mount)
- Sony (E-mount)

Sony full frame mirrorless E-mount cameras have been around the longest... around 9 years... giving them time to build their own lens system. Sony also welcomed third party lenses, which some say is because their own lens development was lagging for a long time (it's now pretty good). As a result, B&H Photo lists 129 full frame, autofocusing E-mount lenses (there is some duplication). Those include 41 Sony lenses, 28 Sigma, 16 Samyang/Rokinon, 12 Tamron and 5 Zeiss, as well as some smaller numbers from several others.

Panasonic and Leica have teamed up to build the new L-mount system (Panasonic partners with Olympus on Micro 4/3, too). Both are offering their own cameras as well as sharing and offering interchangeable lenses. Sigma is also a part of this alliance and actually makes the majority of the lenses for the system so far: 29 full frame, autofocus. Panasonic makes 13 lenses, Leica makes 10.

Nikon's mirrorless Z-series are relatively new, too... and currently there are 35 full frame autofocus lenses listed by B&H Photo. 27 are from Nikon themselves. Viltrox offers 4, Yongnuo makes 2, while TTartisans and Tamron each offer one lens.

I don't know that this is truly a "deal killer", if Canon's cameras really appeal to you. There are already 29 Canon full frame, autofocus RF lenses. The new R6 Mark II, original R6, R5 and R3 offer a lot of options and a range of prices. They all use a very similar high performance AF system that some feel is the best or close to it. While the total numbers aren't as large, Canon has a pretty good array of RF lenses already, covering a pretty wide array of focal lengths, as well as ranging from very affordable to super pricey. Plus you can easily adapt any EF (DSLR) lens for use on the R-series mirrorless. There have been some 125 million Canon EF lenses made (plus a lot of 3rd party lenses made for EF mount). Canon management claims they will grow the RF mount system to around 50 lenses in the next two or three years. Before they started discontinuing them to devote most of their efforts to the new mirrorless system, Canon had around 90 EF/EF-S lenses. Only Nikon offered a larger number of lens models, over 100 at one point. They too have been discontinuing their F-mount (DSLR) lenses in favor of the new Z-mount for the mirrorless.

I would recommend you make a list of what lenses you plan to buy now or in the near future. You should do the same thing regarding the camera features you want. Then look closely at each of the four systems to see which offers what you need and want. Compare prices, sizes, weights... then once you have narrowed it down to some specific items search for some reviews.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

In spite of those cripples Canon ultimately wins and maintains a dominating lead over competitors.
The intelligentsia said Canon was doomed for going EF yet because of going EF they completely destroyed Nikon who now struggles to hold a back and forth 3rd and 4th place position in the market and still is behind in the Mirrorless market with a second rate AF compared to Canon and Sony, even with their Z9.
Time will tell here.

Jsykes

And I found the opposite comments form Tamron and Sigma say the opposite, try googling it
'
Comments on google are easy to find, definitive and official Canon statements.......... not so much.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

No need for official from Canon.

https://photorumors.com/2022/08/28/viltrox-we-have-been-told-by-canon-to-stop-selling-all-rf-mount-products/

tcanzano Loc: Bristol, NH

I spent a lot of time listening to reviews on the Sony A7III and they all gave it excellent reviews. I pretty sure I am going to go with that Sony.

Hemp Imagery

I am currently using a tamron 70-200 f2.8, with FTZ2 adaptor, on both Z50 & Z9

tcanzano Loc: Bristol, NH

There is no adapter needed with the Sony

johnec Loc: Lancaster county, PA

Can’t quite decide whether your degree is in philosophy or B.S…but your posts are certainly entertaining 😊

Dan5000 Loc: New Hampshire

I also use the EF-RF adaptor on my EOS R. I have Canon EF and EFS lenses as well as Sigma lenses. I only recently bought an RF 100 - 400 lens, only because I thought it was a good buy. No problem using any of these lenses.

AntonioReyna Loc: Los Angeles, California

Yes, the EF lenses and MOST third party lenses work very well with the adapter.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Sony has the most native and third party lenses at the moment...adapter not needed.

gwilliams6

Just a current fact here:

There are over 200 mirrorless E-mount Lenses from Sony, Sigma, Tamron, Samyang/Rokinon, Zeiss, Tokina, Yongnuo, Viltrox, Meike, and others. No other brand of mirrorless camera comes close to Sony in that total of mirrorless lenses available. Not talking about DSLR-designed lenses that Canon and Nikon have in their stable.

Most folks aren't keen on waiting years for Canon to fill out its Canon-only RF lens lineup with either cheaper kit-quality RF lenses or expensive top-quality RF lenses. People with all ranges of budgets have mirrorless cameras and mirrorless lenses they want to buy and use now, and photos to take now, not later.

Those considerations matter to many when choosing a ready and complete mirrorless system to buy into now, not later. It isn't just the relative low number of top quality RF lenses available right now today, but the cost of these top quality RF lenses vs the vast number and lower cost of many top quality E-mount lenses available.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Sony_E-mount_lenses

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_third-party_Sony_E-mount_lenses

How good are many of these third-party E-mount lenses? Well here is SAB's MTF-Standard sharpness test results on over 190 E-mount lenses, tested on the toughest platform, resolving the 61mp sensor of the Sony A7RIV. Sharpness is just one criteria when choosing any lens. Other considerations are color, bokeh, AF performance, CA, flare ,size, weight, price, etc. But these sharpness test results are a good place to start. As SAB states, on lower than 61mp sensors, these lens sharpness results would be even closer. As you see in the test results, third-party lens makers produce many excellent top quality E-mount lenses, equal and in some cases even better than some OEM Sony lenses.

https://sonyalpha.blog/2019/11/10/which-lenses-to-maximise-the-potential-of-the-sony-a7riv/

I currently have three of the best Sony cameras, A7RIV, A1, A7SIII ,and I currently have 13 top-quality E-mount lenses covering 10mm to 600mm from Sony, Sigma and Tamron.

Full disclosure, I kept one Canon lens the specialty Canon TS 17mm f4 Tilt-Shift lens, which I use with an MC-11 adaptor (it is a manual focus lens).

Cheers and best to you.

hwb Loc: IL

All the big 3 companies make great cameras and lenses. I wanted to get into the mirrorless cameras also. I have a Nikon system. I researched all the specs, listened to all the debates except one, myself. When I teach students learning photography, the first question out of the box is "what camera should I buy?". My answer is which one feels good to you. Does it fit your hand? Does the weight feel comfortable? Is it a camera that will grow with you?

I for got those first steps. I was mad at Nikon for making me wait so long for lenses, and the new "Z9". So I jumped ship. The camera I purchased was tech. great!!! The lenses were wonderful!!! I hated it! The camera was too small for my hands. It was super lite. The system felt like a toy to me. I made myself work with it for 4 months. I couldn't take it any longer. I found a buyer, packed it all up, and sold it. I picked up my old Nikon and went merrily on my way.

Hope this helps.

gwilliams6

I understand everyone has different ergonomic likes and dislikes. I am a big guy with big hands and used big-bodied DSLRs from both Nikon and Canon for decades.

I moved over to Sony in 2017 and I am totally used to the smaller form factor for their bodies. Sony listened to pros and have improved the ergonomics and grips of their bodies. I am happy to lose the size and weight of those bricks of DSLRs I used . No turning back for me to any DSLR or any integrated grip mirrorless either. I like having the option to use my bodies with or without an additional battery grip, adding bulk and weight, especially when I have an all day shoot, or a long trek to get to a location. And I love and use all the distinct mirrorless advantages over DSLRs.

Everyone is different and what works for you, works for you. Use what works for you and be happy.

Cheers and best to you

kvanhook Loc: Oriental, NC

Sony! In body image stabilization. Light weight. Can adapt Nikon lenses if you have any. Did I say Sony?