April 23rd, 2024, was a significant day for Canon RF shooters. SIGMA and TAMRON announced licensing deals with Canon, accompanied by announcing some beautiful RF-compatible lenses from each company.
Tamron, known for creating compact lenses that are easy to carry anywhere yet deliver top optical performance, has a versatile APS-C Zoom slated for the 2024 release. The Tamron 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD is a fast wide-angle zoom designed for APS-C mirrorless cameras. Sigma has announced several lenses. The SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary is the first to be released. Followed by the SIGMA 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary. Rounding out the announcement are four more lenses for the Contemporary line. The 16mm, 23mm, 30mm, and 56mm are all f/1.4 DC (APS-C) primes. An amazing quartet for Canon RF shooters.
Any photographer who has been around for a while knows that Sigma and Tamron have been two of the top manufacturers of third-party lenses for decades. This announcement is not just about some admittedly great-looking new lenses. Rather, it shows an investment in the RF line from some industry heavy hitters; RF shooters should be excited, as this could mean even more lens options.
Let’s briefly examine these lenses and what they can offer a Canon RF shooter.
TAMRON
The TAMRON 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD
Featuring an ideal range wide zoom range, the TAMRON 11-20mm F/2.8 Di III-A RXD covers a full-frame equivalent of 17.6mm-32mm. The size and weight of this 11-20mm zoom are perfectly balanced for use on the smaller, lighter APS-C camera bodies. With a fast 2.8 aperture throughout the zoom range, the TAMRON 11-20mm allows for clean low-light shooting and more options when choosing the depth of field. Combine all that with Fluorine Coating and moisture-resistant construction, and you’ve got a lens that serious shooters will take everywhere. Great for both photo and video, the TAMRON Zoom uses an RXD stepping motor for fast and silent auto-focus. Beyond that, at 11mm, the lens has a minimum object distance of 5.9 inches, allowing for a magnification of 1:4.
SIGMA
SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary
If you want a versatile zoom lens to capture various subjects and scenes, the SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary is likely the lens for you. With a “never leave the camera” zoom range of 18-50mm (the full-frame equivalent of 27-75mm), this lens will spend more time on your camera than any other; the super light weight of 300g doesn’t hurt either. A take-everywhere lens must work in all lighting conditions, and the fast 2.8 aperture ensures that. The stepping motor is ideal for quick and silent autofocus when capturing video. The minimum focus distance of 12.1cm delivers a magnification of 1:2.8.
SIGMA 10-18mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary
With an effective full-frame focal length of 15-27mm, the SIGMA 18-50mm F2.8 DC DN | Contemporary is a tiny powerhouse. The SIGMA 10-18mm, with its speedy auto-focus stepping motor, minimal breathing, and lightweight build, is an excellent option for gimbal use. With a unique aspherical element, the 10-18mm weight is significantly reduced, and sharpness is improved. A fast 2.8 maximum f-stop throughout the zoom range makes this zoom an excellent option for low-light work. To help create depth and capture close-up detail, the 10-18mm can focus as close as 11.6cm, giving a 1:4 magnification.
SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary
Offering a wide field of view (24mm equivalent in full frame), the SIGMA 16mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary is designed to produce images filled with tack-sharp detail. With 16 elements in 13 groups, the 16mm effectively minimizes optical aberrations. At the super fast f/1.4 aperture, this lens produces a beautiful bokeh effect. Resolution throughout the range of apertures is magnificent. A stepping motor allows for quick and silent auto-focus, which is great for both stills and video. The 16mm is dust and splash-resistant, perfect for landscape and street photography.
SIGMA 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary
When building a kit of prime lenses, there are two focal lengths most experienced shooters will recommend. Whether you are shooting street scenes, landscapes, or even portraits, a 35mm (in full frame) is what many professionals will recommend. The SIGMA 23mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary features that sweet 35mm equivalent. It adds a super fast 1.4 aperture to the mix to ensure low light shooting is a breeze. With outstanding resolution at all F-stops, the SIGMA 23mm will deliver all the detail you want in your images.
SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary
Often called a “normal” focal length, the SIGMA 30mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary (45mm full frame equivalent) is far from just another lens. With a super-fast F1.4 aperture, the 30mm can deliver creamy bokeh, allowing creators to work in very low light without sacrificing detail by raising their ISO. The “normal” field of view is ideal for portraits, landscapes, and interviews. Whether capturing your adventures or creating a social media portrait, the 9 elements in 6 groups that comprise this lens will guarantee maximum detail and beautiful color rendition.
SIGMA 56mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary
If you want to create beautiful headshots and portraits with silky smooth bokeh, the SIGMA 56mm F1.4 DC DN | Contemporary is your lens. With a full-frame equivalent of about 84mm, this lens fills the gap between normal and long telephoto lenses, allowing you to stand close enough to feel connected to your subject but far enough back to gain flattering compression in the image. 10 elements in 6 groups make up this 285g mid-telephoto lens. Nine aperture blades ensure the bokeh is smooth, giving a three-dimensional pop to your portraits. At the same time, this focal length is fantastic for portraits. Mid-tele lenses are also great for street and landscape shots when you want to pull out details in the scene.
Who should use these lenses?
With TAMRON and SIGMA announcing RF-compatible lenses, Canon mirrorless shooters should be thrilled. Either of the initial offerings, the wide zoom from TAMRON or the standard zoom from SIGMA could be the go-to lens for many serious photographers. Both lenses shine with fast apertures throughout the range, close focus, and versatility. The SIGMA 18-50 is a perfect match for the all-around shooter, while the TAMRON 11-20mm is ideal for landscape, street, and video shooters who want to use a gimbal. Add the remaining SIGMA-announced lenses to these, and we have almost every lens a creator might need, save a telephoto.
Conclusion
We have a lot to unpack here. With SIGMA and TAMRON licensing the RF mount, Canon shooters will now have an even more extensive selection of lenses for their mirrorless systems. SIGMA seems to have announced the beginnings of an entire line. I hope TAMRON will follow up on this first beauty with more great RF-compatible lenses. Whether you are looking for fast and versatile zooms or primes with killer bokeh, the newly announced RF-compatible lenses from SIGMA and TAMRON are well worth checking out.
