Final week, Canon clarified that whereas the aperture management rings on its 24-105mm f/2.8L Z and 35mm f/1.4L VCM don’t work in picture mode with its present cameras, that will change with any digicam introduced after June 2024. That’s actually bizarre.
There are two ranges of weirdness on this state of affairs. Firstly, it’s already unusual that Canon didn’t enable the aperture rings for use in picture modes to start with — in the event that they work in video modes, we will’t consider any technical purpose why they wouldn’t be enable-able in picture modes. Secondly, Canon’s selection to elucidate that the limitation will probably be lifted with any digicam launched after June 2024 is by far the strangest technique to say, “Simply purchase a brand new digicam.” Which may not be the intent, however that’s the way it comes off.
PetaPixel has requested Canon just a few occasions now precisely why there’s a limitation on when that aperture ring can be utilized and it has not been specified why this operate is just not potential utilizing present era cameras. All that has been communicated is that it’s not enabled.
We’ve had prolonged inner conversations about this limitation and even after we exit of our method to think about the reason why it may be, we will rapidly disprove them by stating the truth that the identical cameras do achieve the power to make use of that ring once they change to video mode. From that perspective, it doesn’t make sense that it’s hardware-limited — it should be a software program choice.
Do photographers want the handbook aperture ring? No, Canon shooters have probably not ever had them so many most likely aren’t even pondering it’s one thing they might miss. It definitely is just not a essential characteristic and lots of photographers are completely comfortable to disregard that ring. However trying on the broader digicam market, Canon’s selection right here is simply odd. Canon definitely has a historical past of ignoring what different corporations do and going their very own method however nonetheless, it’s important to admit it’s unusual.
The best way Canon defined this limitation could have truly achieved extra hurt than good. That stated, if a brand new digicam have been to be launched that does help the aperture management ring in picture mode, questions could be requested and we’d be proper again right here anyway.
“Please be aware that the power to vary the aperture worth with this iris ring when capturing nonetheless photographs will solely be out there on EOS collection cameras launched after June 2024. Please be aware that with the present EOS collection, it may well solely be used for video recording,” Canon defined to PetaPixel in an e-mail earlier this week.
When earlier than it felt like a choice Canon made to help video shooters now appears like one thing that’s being explicitly excluded from current-generation digicam help. What was earlier than attributable to firm tradition or imaginative and prescient now appears like a method Canon hopes to drive photographers to purchase a brand new digicam. It doesn’t matter if that’s the reality — it’s the reality of the way it feels to listen to it.
Earlier this yr, Canon defined to PetaPixel that the rationale RF-mount has been closed so lengthy (up till not too long ago when APS-C was finally opened to Tamron and Sigma) was a “enterprise choice.” Briefly, Canon is a enterprise, and it didn’t make monetary sense to undercut its personal lenses by permitting a competing firm into its system.
“So principally, the rationale why now we have not been collaborating or partnering with a 3rd get together is due to our enterprise technique. Our enterprise technique says that we aren’t going to companion with a 3rd get together. And the rationale why we got here up with that technique is due to the enterprise that we’re doing. So our enterprise is that if now we have some expertise, we attempt to lock them up inside our firm and attempt to make a revenue out of that. That’s the idea of our enterprise,” Go Tokura, Senior Managing Govt Officer and Deputy Head of the Imaging Group at Canon told PetaPixel in an interview on the CP+ present in Japan.
Seeing a quote like that after which trying on the language surrounding exterior aperture management, it’s onerous to not see this as one more profit-driven enterprise choice. And you then’re left to ask, is that this characteristic actually that incredible {that a} photographer would purchase each certainly one of these new lenses and a brand-new digicam simply to have it? That appears most unlikely so, once more, that is bizarre.
The onerous timeline can be uncommon — Canon by no means says something about unannounced merchandise, nevertheless it’s principally signaling {that a} new digicam is coming as quickly as subsequent month. Once more, that’s bizarre.
Say what you’ll about necessity, enterprise selections, and handbook aperture rings for nonetheless pictures, however I’m left scratching my head at this entire state of affairs. Solely Canon is aware of why Canon does the issues Canon does, and by no means has that been more true.
Picture credit: Features of header picture licensed through Depositphotos.
