Canon has a massive presence in the digital imaging world, which means there are a ton of Canon shooters out there. Obviously, Canon is doing a lot of things right. Otherwise, the company would not be the market leader.
That doesn’t mean, however, that everyone who shoots with a Canon camera is completely happy with the experience. So, in recognition of all the forum rants and massive comment threads about things wrong with Canon, I give you 10 things that Canon shooters hate about Canon:
1. Price of Lenses and Accessories
Canon lens prices continue to jump up with every revision. And we’re not talking about just nominal jumps in price. In many cases, we see several hundred or thousand dollar price jumps over the predecessors. At the same time, third-party lens makers are gaining ground with Sigma producing a solid following among Canon shooters. Many of these third-party lens manufactures provide comparable or even higher quality results at a fraction of the cost.
And then there is the case of accessories like the TC-80N3 remote, which is priced at $129 is required on many Canon cameras to capture images at predetermined intervals for timelapse work. Spare batteries can run $60-$70 or more and battery grips have been called egregious price gouging for recent models. As is the case with lenses, third-party options are available for most accessories for a fraction of the price.
2. One-Year Warranty on ALL Products
We totally get that a one-year warranty is reasonable to offer on a $500 camera. But what about if you spend $13,500 on a professional EF 800mm f/5.6L IS USM lens? Or, what about a $16,000 C500 cinema camera?
Shouldn’t the manufacturer promise that high-end professional products will remain functionally sound for more than a year?
3. Major Lag Between Product Announcement & Availability
Apple is renowned for launching a product at its announcement. Consumers are in a frenzy to get the latest and greatest gear.
The same is true of photographers. Unfortunately with Canon, we have come to expect weeks and months (in extreme cases, even years) of waiting in a pre-order line and hoping you will get a camera or lens in the first batch once it finally ships.
Canon has just announced what looks to be the amazing 50MP 5Ds and 5Ds R cameras. The trouble, of course, is that no one can actually shoot with the camera for another four months or so when its scheduled release date arrives in June 2015.
While Canon is busy bragging that it has the first 50MP full frame camera on the market, it should maybe temper those claims until it actually ships some 50MP cameras. I don’t think anyone would be surprised to see Sony or Nikon release a 50MP full frame camera that actually ships before the Canon 5Ds.
4. Affordable 4K
Ugh. Just ugh.
Canon has the ability to deliver an amazing consumer or prosumer 4K product; however, it simply refuses to do so. Meanwhile, loyal Canon shooters with a bag of Canon lenses are watching Sony, Panasonic and Samsung deliver 4K camera after camera at prices as low as under $800 (e.g., Panasonic LX100 and Samsung NX500).
Sony recently released the impressive FS7 cinema camera, which captures 4K video to internal XQD cards, for just under $8,000. Canon’s nearest competitor, the C500, is double that price.
Canon shooters have been begging for a reasonably-priced 4K camera for years but have been left hanging with no real response of any sort from Canon. Fingers are still crossed that Canon might answer that cry around NAB 2015 in a couple months.
5. Lack of Internal Interval Shooting Options
I will only give Canon a marginal amount of slack for including this in two of the latest professional DSLRs, the 7D Mark II and 5Ds/5Ds R. Internal interval shooting modes is something that users have loathed about Canon for years.
Nikon has made this standard on most of their camera models (even down to some of the consumer models) for the better part of a decade. Canon shooters have had to purchase expensive accessories to control a function that should always have been included in the cameras – especially the professional models.
6. Where is the Next Generation of Storage Formats?
Canon DSLRs continue to push more and more data down the pipeline but also continue to use CF and SD card formats. While I can understand using SD cards on consumer level cameras, I don’t see why Canon has yet to introduce a camera that accepts CFast cards.
The Canon 5Ds captures up to five 50MP files per second. Each 50MP RAW file is estimated to be 60+ megabytes. Capturing five RAW images will result in 300+MB/s being processed by the dual DIGIC6 processors and it is writing to CF cards, which max out around 160MB/s. Do you see a problem here?
CFast 2.0, which is the current standard, uses a SATA-3 connection that can handle much faster throughput for up to 600MB/s data read/write speeds. Current CFast 2.0 cards deliver read/write speeds in the 500/400MB/s range and are only going to get faster.
Aside from the speed gains, CFast cards also do away with the terrible pin design of CF cards in favor of the tab connecters like we see on SD cards. This means no more broken pins inside your camera – an expensive repair.
Canon made a commitment to the CFast 2.0 standard when it launched a couple years ago but has yet to release a single product that uses the cards.
7. Slow to Adopt New Technologies and Trends
I could have continued itemizing other features that Canon has lagged on (in addition to the 4K, interval shooting and storage formats), but I would go well beyond my list of 10 things.
Mirrorless cameras. Does Canon really not get this? That it’s a real thing that real people want to use? Canon has released one mirrorless camera in the US years after it became a thing and has since released two cameras (better cameras) but not in the US.
HDMI-out. How many agonizing years did Canon shooters wait for clean HDMI-output from a DSLR? It continues to be hit or miss with new models, while Nikon and Sony drop it into nearly all of their cameras. Sure, not everyone needs it, but there are plenty of folks who will buy a different camera because Canon doesn’t offer it on lower-end models. Oh yeah, that new $3700 Canon 5Ds? No clean HDMI-output.
Big-sensor, small form-factor. Sony blew everyone’s doors off in the compact camera market when it introduced the RX100. While other manufacturers scrambled to keep up – and many gained ground – again, it took Canon three-generations of Sony RX100 models to introduce a competing product – albeit one with a Sony sensor inside.
These are just three examples in a long list of slow-playing that Canon seems to love. I’ll leave it to you guys to add to this section in the comments below.
8. Mild Upgrades in the Canon Rebel Line
The camera model line that affects more users than any other is the Rebel line. It is the bread and butter of the EOS system and one of the most popular cameras in the world each and every year.
Canon introduced the Rebel T2i in 2010 as marginal upgrade from the Rebel T1i. The biggest improvements were adding 1080p video at 30fps and bumping the resolution from 15.1MP to 18MP. While there were nominal features and improvements, the Rebel T2i was reborn as the T3i, T4i and T5i with the same core features – 1080/30p video and 18MP still images.
Only this month have we finally seen any major differences in the Rebel line since 2010 – when Canon introduced the Rebel T6i and T6s, both of which feature 24.2MP sensors and wireless connectivity but are still not that big of a jump in other aspects to the T5i.
9. Abandonment of the Serious HDSLR Shooter
Canon started the HDSLR revolution. Everyone expected Canon to lead the charge with the democratization of filmmaking. Unfortunately, the happy accident that was the 5D Mark II would never have happened if Canon knew what it had in the first place.
Once Canon figured out the secret sauce of the 5D Mark II, it set out to put the features for filmmaking into cameras priced for filmmakers and Canon Cinema EOS was born. The way Canon has been trending with its DSLR and Cinema EOS markets, it looks like they will only get further and further apart.
If you think you will find a serious HDSLR from Canon in the $3000 pricepoint, keep dreaming. It sure looks like Canon will keep delivering a neutered DSLR with highly-compressed footage and may even dole out the clean-HDMI here and there, but you aren’t going to get the pro features without stepping up to the Cinema EOS line.
Sure, Canon HDSLR shooters can make it work with external recorders, scratch audio capture for later sync and moire from hell, but that amazing HDSLR mostly likely isn’t in the pipeline from Canon.
10. Market Segmentation
Canon’s precise market segmentation strategy is the monkey behind everything Canon shooters hate.
It’s just business, but man does it frustrate customers to have equipment that is intentionally neutered from its full capability just so it won’t hurt sales of the next product up the stream.
For examples, look at what Magic Lantern has done with the video capabilities of Canon DSLRs. How many raging forum rants and comment threads are out there cursing Canon for not allowing shooters to use the full power of HDSLRs?
And then there are cameras like the 1D X and 1D C, which are mostly the same camera – except for a few thousand dollars on the sticker price, a heat sink and the ability to record 4K video.
Still image shooters are in the same boat. Just look at the new Rebel T6i and T6s. The cameras are basically the same cameras inside; however, the T6s unlocks some of the features that the T6i could otherwise offer if not for Canon’s strict segmentation of expected users and price points. The T6s becomes the easy upsell because “it’s just $100 more” and it delivers the features you really want/need. The T6i even takes a step back from the T5i in some respects, specifically in video shooting (e.g., no mic input, manual exposure, etc.).
There is a whole lot of hurt from Canon users looking at their lenses and then watching Sony throw everything but the kitchen sink into some of its very affordable models. Sometimes, it just feels like Canon is giving the finger to its customers when they see what other companies are doing across their lines to get a bigger piece of the market share.
Conclusion
As a Canon shooter myself, this was somewhat therapeutic. I feel better already. I still love Canon cameras and the images that I get to make with them.
I would be lying, however, if I didn’t admit to flirting with other systems over the past couple years but I just can’t bring myself to cut the cord. So for now, I will continue to be both a fan and critic of Canon.
Now it’s your turn.
These are just 10 things that Canon shooters hate. I am sure I missed some big and obvious points here, so I will leave it to you in the comments below to finish off the list with your biggest gripes about Canon.
Finally, this is just the first in a series of 10 Things I Hate… articles, so I need some input from Nikon, Sony and other camera users. If you have some well-reasoned complaints, drop me a line via the contact form to help me put together the rest of these articles.
theo antoniou says
I agree totally with the point made about RAW video. I think Canon had a real chance to not only, endear itself to the video/film community, but to also gain a bunch of new sales. All they had to do was “reach out” to Magic Lantern. With their resources and Magic Lantern’s “chutzpah” a wonderful piece of gear could’ve been finessed to produce amazing images. However, ego and money will, it seems, always win the day.
Chris martin says
I fully agree with everything said. I don’t think Canon care a hoot about us photographers. It’s just a business ! Have you ever tried to talk to Canon ? I’ve worked up from the 5D to the 5D3. Plus a load of lenses. Now I’m going to the GH4 for the 4K option plus the Panasonic optics. Sorry Canon. You’ve missed the boat I’m afraid.
Peter Cannon says
Totally agree
Álvaro Serpa says
Just one more single approach to this sad reality. I’m a full time professional since middle Seventies. My (serious) first camera was an historical “build-like-a-tank” Canon F-1, about 1975, that goes on 100% Ready-to-Shoot and I still use… sometimes! Since then (apart many large format works with Toyo and Sinar) I have never used any other than Canon, with truly excellent, even fabulous results for long, long years.
But now, IS REALLY OVER.
Nowadays, I’m working about 30% stills and 70% video.
And, in terms of market positions, over priced products (with a very few exceptions), lack of respect for faithful long time pro users and anachronic, backward and decrepit technical specs, there are not 10 – but 20 or 30 things I hate about Canon.
End of Story: with the sale of (almost) Canon gear accumulated over all these years, I’m now an happy owner of 2 Lumix GH4, 1 Lumix FZ 1000 and several superb lens (among Lumix, Samyang, Zeiss (and some special Canon glass, saved from this radical turnaround…)
Produces right Quality I WANT and it´s a REALLY NEW WORLD!
Ok, Canon and Canonists, ok! you can laugh at ease! Bye bye, Goodfellows!
Welcome PANASONIC World!
Sorry, forgot. I’m waiting your (if possible) very next article: “10 Things Panasonic Shooters Hate About Panasonic”. Serious.
Thanks.
Eric Reagan says
Given that you are a Panasonic shooter now, I’d love to hear your complaints if you really want that 10 Things about Panasonic article to be published…
I could use some help assembling that list.
Álvaro Serpa says
Hi, Eric!
As I said, I’m a recent Panasonic shooter. And less than 4/5 months of use, still allow to be in “state-of-grace” with new brand and gear. But first impressions are outstanding. My approach with Panasonic cameras was, 2 or 3 years ago, a several days of test with an AF-100. Excellent specs, very good image quality and good form factor. I really don´t like (HATE, that´s our word!) small cameras. Period.
Being these days marketing flag of (some) industry, “miniaturization” means for me need of maiden fingers and an awful sensation of eminent fall – besides other technical issues. So, no problem with AF-100. But, yes! first “problem” with GH4! It´s not easy suddenly turn on from a 1Ds Mk II to such a “toy” like that, even for working most of time in tripod! What saves situation? A good handgrip and the fact that I am not, never was, an handheld or sports shooter. Maybe 90 % of my work, as I said, is made on sturdy tripods, with all necessary time – without pressure.
Apart that form factor question, I’ve none complaints about this recent acquisition. Excellent build quality (even FZ 1000), very good Lumix optics, lots of useful features and an outstanding Image Quality, notoriously better than any Canon below 10.000 €.
But although this is not a camera review, I remember now, if you are looking for negative items, that crop of field in 4K recording (both models), is not welcome in wide angle situations. Have heard too talking about some “hesitations” in autofocus (specialy in 4K), but never noticed it, perhaps because only use most of the time manual focusing with all lens.
But can assure you if I discover some “hatefull” problem with Panasonic, will let you know for your article. And that is not a remote possibility, because PVC -”Perfect Video Camera” (except, maybe, Arri ALEXA and Panasonic VARICAM 35(!), has not yet been invented…
Eric Reagan says
Thanks for the follow-up. I agree. “Hate” is a strong word but it reads quicker and grabs attention better than “things that are mildly disappointing.”
If anything, it has spurred some conversation and has shed light on some things that I hadn’t thought about with Canon or Nikon. I don’t know if there is a Panasonic post down the line but there is always the possibility…
Jared says
Don’t forget lack of NFC. So many things are easy to include, but Canon is the last to do it.
#1 – Price of Lenses and Accessories – I completely agree, the lenses are overpriced. Not to mention, unless you’re buying an ‘L’ lens, you need to pay extra for a ‘Canon’ lens hood.
#6 – Next generation storage formats – Completely agree. The first CFast cards reached the market in late 2009, and we still wait for Canon. But I’m not too surprised, because the cheap SD reader in the 5D Mk3 is too slow to take advantage of the card speeds. I quit using SD cards in my 5D Mk3, and only use CF cards, and now it’s much faster. Hopefully Canon budgeted for better SD card readers since the Mk3.
#7 – Slow to Adopt New Technologies and Trends. – I guess I should have put lack of NFC in here. Also, remember when Olympus had sensor-cleaning technology years before Canon did?
#10 – Market segmentation – Remember when the Rebel series had model numbers that actually made sense? Back in those days, you’d have the Canon 20D, 30D, 40D, etc. And the Canon Rebel series started out as the: 300D, 350D, but then the numbers (at least in USA) were thrown out, and we’re now left to decipher a conglomeration of numbers and letters. Wouldn’t 550D make more sense than T2i? Wouldn’t 760D be easier to understand than T6s? Maybe Canon decided that confusing model numbers are better for consumer-grade customers, and logical numbers are better for professional-grade customers?
Yes, I’m a Canon shooter. But if I were starting all over right now, with no gear at all, I’d likely go with Sony.
Richard says
#1 – canon has the most affordable line of consumer lenses that are optically good and cheap and light. they also were the firs to have constant F/4 aperture lenses to provide cheaper alternatives. they also continued to ship IS and non IS versions of the 70-200mm line so consumers have choice. they’ve also kept around smaller / cheaper alternatives such as the 300/4 and the 400/5.6.
#7 .. actually Olympus beat out everyone and sony, canon and Nikon all launched their own 3 years later.
#10 is amusing – everyone does it. heck Nikon doesn’t even offer MLU or AEB for their lower end models, and until recently didn’t even offer a vertical grip.
Trike says
Pretty spot on. I bought a 60D because it fit all of my DSLR needs at the time… and it was on sale.
I was recently about to purchase some of the higher quality prime lenses when the rumors of the new 50mp and whatnot started hitting, so I decided to wait to see what was going to happen. I’m glad I did. Once I saw the specs of the new 7D and 5Ds, I was underwhelmed.
I shoot a lot of video, so I’m stunned at Canon’s lack of adopting the faster cards and 4k. Especially the lack of 4k. Unless they’re going to jump straight into 8k with the next upgrade and that upgrade is coming next year, their minute iterations on features is inexplicable. 50mp is great, but not pairing it with 4k? Weird.
Jared says
Considering 4k resolution is only 3840 x 2160, or even 4096 x 2160 by movie industry standards; the sensor resolution has been available for quite some time to allow 4k video.
I think the 5Ds seems to be marketed more for stills than video (50.3 MP: 8688 x 5792), which is why I’m interested in it.
Although I don’t do video, I can completely understand the complaints. We already have Sony, Panasonic, etc. that are all producing 4k products. With 8K resolution at 7680 × 4320 (33.2 megapixels), it would have been awesome to see the 5Ds do this (or even downsample to a very high quality 4k). But I think it might be another 5-6 years before Canon catches up on that as well.
Harvay says
What a load of bullcrap. Canon should just stop making cameras altogether because clearly they can’t do anything right. Everyone else knows how to build cameras and lenses better and cheaper, and cares more about photographers. Right! Could the whiny babies please buy one of those “better” brands already and stop speaking for all “Canon shooters”?
Tom says
By far the best contribution to this thread!
Tim L says
This post is SPOT ON. Canon makes some great products but they see their customers as nothing more than ATMs from which they seek to extract the maximum amount of money for the least amount of value. It’s the latter part of that equation that I find particularly offensive. I’ve used Canon cameras since my dad first said, “son, this is a camera,” but after 3 decades I’m in the process of selling off $40,000 of Canon gear and moving to a different system from a company that really seems to want to fight for my business. Truth be told, I’d rather be buying a comparable product from Canon but they refuse to offer it and if they ever do I have no doubt it will be twice as expensive and hamstrung in some needlessly obnoxious way.
If you were to add an 11th point, it would have to be related to Canon’s refusal and/or inability to keep pace with modern sensor technology. Or their arrogance in insisting on using their own sensor tech instead of turning to Sony like everyone else. You pick.
Richard says
Please change your title to something other than “canon shooters”.
most photographers dont’ give a crap about most of the elements you mentioned in your top 10.
Tron says
The one pattern that seems obvious here – Canon shooters fear change. It’s the only thing that can explain how a list of gripes is followed by the mentality “it would be great to have these features, but for now I’ll just stick with my gear and hope they offer what I want down the road.” This is exactly the mentality that has emboldened Canon not to change.
Phil says
I beg to disagree. For all their faults, Canon still has a lot to offer which is why they remain the leader in sales of photographic equipment. This list merely highlights what other companies offer which the writer hopes Canon would include in their offerings. For all the talk of how slow they are to technological change and how incremental their changes are, they are still the leaders in where it counts the most: OPTICS. No other company can match the versatility of their selection and only a few can match or beat the quality of their optics. Bodies come and go but lenses last. The tech that drives you to switch to another system will be outdated in a few years but the lack of lenses in that new system you switch to may end up frustrating you more in that time. I’m a Canon shooter who just adopted the mirrorless solution of Sony for reasons of weight and I couldn’t be happier but I do miss the variety available to me. Sure, I could just use adapters but it’s just not the same. Focus is slower and less accurate. I would love it if Sony could match the selection of Canon’s lenses and offer a more practical 4k solution but this is a Canon rant thread so I’ll leave my Sony rant for later. As far as Canon goes, they’re not the leader because their users fear change. They’re the leaders because they offer something that most photographers value quite highly – options.
Eric Reagan says
Very well stated Phil. Thanks for chiming in.
Francesco says
I only have 1 big complain: dynamic range.
Shadow recovering, even at ISO 100, always bring a lot of noise (and sometimes even banding). The nikon d800 is far far far far more superior in this..
chris says
stop crying and go to nikon …
Muthanna Heefawy says
Totally agree, it is depressing. I would add that I always buy Canon (camera, lenses, or accessories) from a Gray Market. Because the authorized store is much more expensive!
Peter Cannon says
My biggest gripe here in Australia is why we here and in New Zealand pay such inflated prices for Canon and Nikon equipment. I can buy cheaper from B&H in New York then I can in my own country. Here we seem to be expected to pay around 20% to 30% more and this is outside of the exchange rate. Therefore of course many of us buy from the USA or from grey sites. It’s a bit rich.
D SADLER says
I am sure glad I started out with Sony, sorry Canon.
Eugene Powers says
Because of these complaints and others specific to my style of shooting I switched to Nikon D800e and D810 3 years ago and never looked back. I have 2 D800es and D810 now and absolutely in love with them. I have also notice that very familiar names from Canon forums immigrated to Nikon forums.
OLD_CURMUDGEON says
I’ve been a CANON owner & user for over 45 years. In fact, I still have several of their film cameras, which I use on occasion just for fun. Turning to the digital cameras. I’ve owned the 5D, 10D, 30D, 40D, 50D, 5D II & 7D. All of these bodies have had the optional BG accessory, and they’ve all been CANON branded items. YES!, maybe it is true that these accessories ARE more costly than third-party items, but are those units just as reliable? Recently, CANON has run advertisements showing the internal circuitry of their Battery Charger vs. a 3rd party knockoff. The difference in component count is staggering. Could that be a reason why the CANON charger is twice the price of the knock-off?
The article in this edition of the newsletter highlights the new 7D Mk II camera. As part of this review, Eric Regan also showcased the SIGMA 30/1.4 lens. on the 7D Mk II. While he give this lens a good rating, he also mentions the severe chromatic aberration @ wide open, and compares it to the CANON lens closest to it, which has much less aberration @ the equivalent f-stop. Again, maybe that’s one reason why the CANON lens is more $$ than the SIGMA lens.
Personally, I have the both the CANON 28-300/ L IS and the TAMRON 28-300 “VC” lens. Besides the massive weight difference, there is also a massive price difference. The CANON lens is far superior optically compared to the TAMRON. The one good feature of the TAMRON is that when coupled to either the 1N, 1V, 5D Mk II or 7D, it presents much less weight load when roving about on an all-day photo field trip.
Is there justification for the new EF 100-400 L IS lens to be over $500 more than its predecessor? From the preliminary reports I’ve seen, I don’t think so. Is the EF 200-400 L IS w/ 1.4x adaptor worth $12K? Not sure about that either…… seems a bit of gouging going on there too.
I don’t do video; NEVER have done it, even in the old 8mm days, so I really don’t care about all the hoopla of the built-in video of these modern dSLRs. For my money, I’d just as soon be totally satisfied IF CANON sold a high quality (ala 5D, 1Ds, etc.) body WITHOUT all the video extras.
Finally, I attended a weekend photo seminar given by a nationally recognized nature photographer several years ago, who stood at the podium and answered an attendee’s question why he switched from being a lifelong NIKON user to become a CANON user. In his candid answer, he stated that NIKON had become famous for announcing a new product, ONLY to NOT have it on the dealers’ shelves for periods up to & including ONE year! As a professional photographer, who earned his living creating great images & selling them, he could not afford this delay. On the other hand, when CANON announced a new product, it was available in a short time. One month or so after announcement is NOT an unreasonable amount of time to wait! Neither is the June delivery date for the 5Ds, 5Dr models. This is the end of February already. And, remember one more thing in this regard…… CANON was on their 3rd iteration of the 1Ds w/ it’s full-frame CMOS sensor BEFORE NIKON had released their first model. That speaks volumes to me to all those bashing CANON for being too stodgy!
Harlene Mehr says
I am not a Canon user but what I fail to understand, no matter what manufacturer, is why they can’t produce a camera that doesn’t have as many downsides as those in the current market. Most of it, I’m sure, has to do with profits and trying to encourage people to buy new models or upgrades that don’t offer many additional features that make it worth your while. Not only that, cameras tend to be obsolete in a year. By now, mfrs. should know what people want and if you are paying thousands of dollars, they should provide cameras that aren’t flawed. Actually, cameras should not be flawed at any price point!
Secondly, I don’t think a camera that shoots stills should offer video because something has to be forfeited in the process. If you want to do video, buy a video camera!
Thorn says
As a Nikon-guy, I can say almost everything is applicable to Nikon too! Canon and Nikon is like a two brothers-money-suckers – I won’t be surprised if they have hidden agreement to make models “nose-to-nose” – this way (and making too wide market segmentation) they milk us every year for decades! F*** ’em!
If Sigma can make lens for $500, there is no any reason why Nikon/Canon lens should be $1000+!
Prices of these companies should be investigated, because they are enormous.
Santhosh C J says
I totally agree with all the 10 points.
I have been a canon shooter since the late eighties, I basically do event work, and I don’t know how many of you out there have had this problem, but I find it a pain when you have to swap cards in a dark shooting situation. could we have a light that goes on when the card door is open? so we can see the card slots…
My two bit.
Comment if you agree.
Tom says
I can change cards in my Canon cameras with my eyes closed.
Tom says
And yet, Canon still sells more cameras and lenses than anyone else! How can we explain this great mystery?
Perhaps the “10 things” you mention cannot matter very much to most Canon users? Eight of them don’t bother me at all. And a 9th (late adoption of CFast) does not bother me much. As for price, of course I would like to pay less for Canon’s best lenses, but Canon has no reason to reduce prices.
If a third party manufacturer could compete with Canon’s offerings at lower prices then perhaps Canon would be forced to charge less, but as soon as a different company challenges them Canon responds. Sigma tried with their 35mm f/1.4 and 85mm f/1.4 Art lenses, and for a short while they tempted many photographers away from Canon’s own. But Canon responded with an even better 35mm f/1.4 and a wonderful 85mm f/1.4. Both the Canon lenses are water and dust resistant. Sigma’s are not. Canon’s 85mm f/1.4 has IS (about time too). Sigma’s does not.
Tom says
I have been using Canon equipment for the last ten years and I am not the tiniest bit bothered by anything i your click-bait article. How arrogant to think you speak for “Canon shooters”.. And if all you whingiung cry-babies think Canon is so bad then shut the f up and buy whatever youthink is better.