• Blog
  • Calculators
    • DoF Calculator | Lens Equivalent
    • Camera Bitrate Converter | Record Time Calculator
    • Diffraction Calculator
  • Memory Cards
    • SD Memory Cards Guide
    • CFexpress Type-A Memory Card Guide
    • Memory Cards For Canon Cameras
    • Memory Cards For Fujifilm Cameras
    • Memory Cards For Nikon Cameras
    • SD Cards For GoPro
  • Accessories
    • Canon
      • Canon R5 Accessories
      • Canon R6 Accessories
      • Canon EOS R
      • Canon RP
      • Canon M50 Accessories
      • Canon T7i / T6 / T6i / T6s
      • Canon SL3 / 250D
      • Canon M6 II
      • Canon M5
      • Canon G1X III
      • Canon G7X III
    • Nikon
      • Nikon Z6 II / Z7 II
      • Nikon Z6 / Z7
      • Nikon Z50
    • Fujifilm
      • Fujifilm X-T4
      • Fujifilm X-S10
      • Fujifilm X-Pro3
      • Fujifilm X-T3
      • Fujifilm X-H1
      • Fujifilm X-T200
      • Fujifilm X100V Accessories
      • Fujifilm X100F Accessories
      • Fujifilm X-E4
      • Fujifilm XT30 & XT20
    • Leica
      • Leica Q2 Accessories
    • Panasonic
      • Panasonic GH5 / GH5s
      • Panasonic LX100 II
    • Ricoh
      • Ricoh GR III
    • Sigma
      • Sigma fp
    • Sony
      • Sony A1 Accessories
      • Sony A7IV Accessories
      • Sony A7c Accessories
      • Sony A7sIII
      • Sony A7rIV / A9II
      • Sony A9
      • Sony A7 III, A7r III Accessories
      • Sony A6600 Accessories
      • Sony A6100 Accessories
      • Sony A6000 Accessories
      • Sony RX1R II
      • Sony RX10 IV / RX10 III
      • Sony RX100 IV / RX100 V
    • Drones
      • Mavic 2 Pro
    • Camera Cleaning Gear
  • Lenses
    • Canon RF Lens List
    • Fujifilm XF Lens List
    • Fujifilm G Lens List
    • Leica M Lens List
    • Micro Four Thirds Lens List
    • Nikon Z Lens List
    • Sony FF E Lens List
    • Sony APS-C E Lens List
  • Store
Alik Griffin
Alik Griffin
  • Blog
  • Calculators
    • DoF Calculator | Lens Equivalent
    • Camera Bitrate Converter | Record Time Calculator
    • Diffraction Calculator
  • Memory Cards
    • SD Memory Cards Guide
    • CFexpress Type-A Memory Card Guide
    • Memory Cards For Canon Cameras
    • Memory Cards For Fujifilm Cameras
    • Memory Cards For Nikon Cameras
    • SD Cards For GoPro
  • Accessories
    • Canon
      • Canon R5 Accessories
      • Canon R6 Accessories
      • Canon EOS R
      • Canon RP
      • Canon M50 Accessories
      • Canon T7i / T6 / T6i / T6s
      • Canon SL3 / 250D
      • Canon M6 II
      • Canon M5
      • Canon G1X III
      • Canon G7X III
    • Nikon
      • Nikon Z6 II / Z7 II
      • Nikon Z6 / Z7
      • Nikon Z50
    • Fujifilm
      • Fujifilm X-T4
      • Fujifilm X-S10
      • Fujifilm X-Pro3
      • Fujifilm X-T3
      • Fujifilm X-H1
      • Fujifilm X-T200
      • Fujifilm X100V Accessories
      • Fujifilm X100F Accessories
      • Fujifilm X-E4
      • Fujifilm XT30 & XT20
    • Leica
      • Leica Q2 Accessories
    • Panasonic
      • Panasonic GH5 / GH5s
      • Panasonic LX100 II
    • Ricoh
      • Ricoh GR III
    • Sigma
      • Sigma fp
    • Sony
      • Sony A1 Accessories
      • Sony A7IV Accessories
      • Sony A7c Accessories
      • Sony A7sIII
      • Sony A7rIV / A9II
      • Sony A9
      • Sony A7 III, A7r III Accessories
      • Sony A6600 Accessories
      • Sony A6100 Accessories
      • Sony A6000 Accessories
      • Sony RX1R II
      • Sony RX10 IV / RX10 III
      • Sony RX100 IV / RX100 V
    • Drones
      • Mavic 2 Pro
    • Camera Cleaning Gear
  • Lenses
    • Canon RF Lens List
    • Fujifilm XF Lens List
    • Fujifilm G Lens List
    • Leica M Lens List
    • Micro Four Thirds Lens List
    • Nikon Z Lens List
    • Sony FF E Lens List
    • Sony APS-C E Lens List
  • Store
  • Blog

Should Nikon Allow Sigma To Make Lenses For Them?

  • August 9, 2020
  • Alik

While we consumers all want Sigma, Tamron or Rokinon to come to Canon, Nikon or Fujifilm with electronic support and autofocus, it might not be best for the actual camera brands.

Right now a big selling point of the Sony mirrorless cameras is all the great third-party lenses that are available for the system. Mainly Tamron and Sigma. Just look at the massive list of third-party Sony lenses.

When people email me and we talk about different camera brands, this is usually their #1 reason for choosing Sony over Nikon or Canon, and it’s a very good reason. Can’t blame them either since you should always prioritize lenses over camera bodies.

This is a big reason why I’m sticking with the Nikon Z system for now. I love those sub $1k Z f1.8 S lenses that are weather-sealed and perfectly tuned for video as well as photography and as of last year, nobody offered anything even remotely close. They still don’t.

We can also see from the latest CIPA report that camera companies sell more lenses than they do bodies, with a ratio of about 1.8 lenses to every camera body sold. So lens sales are big money makers for these camera companies.

Having a somewhat closed system like Nikon, Canon, and Fujifilm will assure that they maintain a good cash flow from native lens sales, which allows them to lower the margins of their camera bodies when needed. This is maybe why you often see the Nikon Z 6 selling for less than the Sony A7 III, even though the Z 6 is a vastly superior camera.

Sony sells a lot of third-party lenses and will be in less of a position to make money off lenses since so many Sony shooters are now buying Tamron and Sigma lenses.

 

The Problem With Allowing Third-Party Lens Companies

What happens when third-party lens companies start making lenses that are better and cheaper than native lenses?

With Sony, that seems to be what’s happening and it could put them in a dangerous position.

Fewer and fewer Sony shooters are actually using Sony lenses. It seems more and more shooters keep gravitating towards those Tamron and Sigma lenses.

Sigma just released a new 85mm f1.4 lens for the Sony E mount. Based on Jarod Polins latest review, it looks like it pretty much blows the Sony GM 85mm f1.4 out of the water in terms of overall performance and in terms of sharpness. Not to mention the price.

The new Sigma 85mm f1.4 essentially renders the 85mm f1.4 Sony GM dead. Nobody will buy the Sony over the GM unless they need weather sealing. At least I wouldn’t and I was seriously considering that GM at one point, glad I waited.

Now Sigma is making camera bodies while still profiting off lenses being sold for Sony bodies.

 

Check out the new Sigma here

Sigma 85mm f1.4 – BHphoto

Check out Mr. Polin’s comparison here. It’s pretty interesting.

 

Here is a comparison between the Sigma 85mm f1.4 and the older DLSR version.

One big problem is these lenses have a lot of focus breathing and distortion. A problem Nikon has solved with their S line of lenses.

**This website contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you click them to make a purchase.
Alik

Professional editor, blogger and photographer from Los Angeles California.

Related Topics
  • Camera News
  • Nikon Z Lenses
You May Also Like
Moment Cinebloom Diffusion Review
View Post
  • Accessory Reviews
  • Blog
  • Reviews

Moment CineBloom Filter Review & Sample Photos

  • Alik
  • April 28, 2022
Voigtlander Lenses
View Post
  • Blog

Understanding Voigtlander Lens Naming

  • Alik
  • March 8, 2022
View Post
  • Blog

Kipon Ibelux 40mm f0.85 III Review & Sample Photos

  • Alik
  • May 18, 2022
Best CFexpress B Memory Cards
View Post
  • Blog
  • Memory Cards

Best CFExpress Type-B Memory Cards For Your Camera

  • Alik
  • December 10, 2021
Popular Articles
  • Moment Cinebloom Diffusion Review 1
    Moment CineBloom Filter Review & Sample Photos
  • Voigtlander Lenses 2
    Understanding Voigtlander Lens Naming
  • 3
    Kipon Ibelux 40mm f0.85 III Review & Sample Photos
  • Best CFexpress B Memory Cards 4
    Best CFExpress Type-B Memory Cards For Your Camera
  • 5
    Best CFexpress Type-A Memory Cards For Your Camera
Join The Fun! Sign Up To The Newsletter!


*You will need to confirm your email. Check your spam folder after hitting subscribe.

About Me

A professional freelance trailer editor. I've been blogging for a decade and this site focuses on benchmarking memory cards, camera accessories, and lens reviews. There will be a shift towards more education with color and editing so be sure to hit the bell in the bottom right to subscribe for updates. Read About to learn more.

Popular Lens Reviews
  • 1
    A Complete List Of Fujifilm Lenses | X-Mount
  • Nikon Z 50mm f1.8 S Lens Review 2
    Nikon Z 50mm f1.8 S Lens Review & Sample Photos
  • 3
    Kamlan 50mm f1.1 II Review & Sample Photos
  • 4
    Meike 35mm f1.7 Review & Sample Photos
  • 5
    Meike 35mm f1.4 Review & Sample Photos
Memory Card Guides | Benchmarks

Memory Cards For Canon R5

Memory Cards For Canon R6

Memory Cards For Nikon Z6II / Z7II

Memory Cards For Nikon Z5

Memory Cards For Fujifilm X-T4

Memory Cards For GoPro Hero 9

Memory Cards For GoPro Hero 8

Privacy Policy | Ethics Statement | Licensing

Copyright © Alik Griffin Inc. 2021

Input your search keywords and press Enter.