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We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again; a camera platform is only as good as the lenses available for it. Canon and Nikon have gone about creating gorgeous first-party lenses for their Mirrorless platforms. However, a lack of competition has seen their prices remain sky-high. These high prices have put off many photographers from jumping into both the RF and Z mount systems. However, we hear Sigma might finally start developing lenses for these Mirrorless platforms in 2021. This is fantastic, people. Let’s talk about it more after the break.
According to a post on Photo Rumors, Sigma has decided to take the plunge into RF and Z mount lenses. Back in February, Sigma said they were still unsure about what they would do. However, it seems as though new camera releases from Canon and Nikon and increased interest in the platforms have pushed Sigma over the edge. Honestly, Canon and Nikon should be thanking their lucky stars. It will be a blessing that Sigma Art and Contemporary lenses might soon be available for their cameras.
Competition from Sigma Will Be a Good Thing
Sony has seen great success in the Mirrorless race because of the sheer amount of lens options for their cameras. Sigma, Tamron, Rokinon, and others all adopted the E Mount early on. Their lenses helped drive competition that kept prices low. These lenses also gave us options. More options when it comes to lenses is always a great thing. Believe me, I would love to shoot with a Canon again. Still, I can’t afford the $10,000 it would take to get the four staple first-party lenses I need for my business. However, now that Rokinon/Samyang have joined the RF and Z mount fray (see our review of the Samyang RF 85mm f1.4), and now that Sigma could be joining in, suddenly both RF and Z mount cameras sound much more appealing.
Others Will Likely Follow Suit
As mentioned above, you can already grab some autofocusing Rokinon/Samyang lenses for Canon RF cameras. You can even get some manual focusing Rokinon/Samyang lenses for Nikon Z mount cameras. You can also find some Lensbaby lenses for them too. It’s exciting to think we may finally see Sigma pushing their 85mm f1.4 DG DN for Canon and Nikon Mirrorless cameras. The 14-24mm f2.8 DG DN would be welcomed to the platforms, as would many of their other fine prime lenses. Other manufacturers like Tamron will probably also join in on the fun as well.
There will be many purists out there who bad mouth third party lenses. However, competition, as we’ve seen, is a good thing in the end for everyone. Canon and Nikon’s Mirrorless platforms will get more recognition. We, the photographers, will get the spoils of consumer war, which means more options and better prices. It’s a win-win situation. If Canon and Nikon really want to start closing the gap on Sony, they’d be wise to play nice with Sigma and other third party lens manufacturers. So, Canon and Nikon, the ball’s in your court. Seriously, let these guys in on your AF systems secret sauce so they can get these lenses to market pronto.
What do you think about Sigma and other lens manufacturers pushing out lenses for Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts? Which third-party lenses on these platforms would you look forward to the most? Would you switch to either Canon or Nikon with increased lens support? Let us know in the comment section below.