Compatibility of Zeiss ZE lenses and Canon RF cameras

[TEQUILA]

Please respond to those whose RF series camera does not detect the Zeiss ZE lens? I have two cameras. One is a Canon EOS 6D and the other is an EOS R8. The EOS 6D camera is equipped with a Carl Zeiss 50 1.4 ZE lens. But the R8 camera does not see the lens. There is a dash in EXIF.

I use the original Canon EF-R adapter. Zeiss lenses have electronic contacts. Canon R8 controls the lens aperture and allows the use of focus assistant. But the R8 camera does not write the name of the lens in Exif. The Canon 6D camera writes the name of the lens into the exif. I want RF system cameras to register the name of the Zeiss lens in Exif

[TEQUILA]

Sigma ART lenses work great with Canon R8. They are written in EXIF.

[Tronhard]

The fact that a lens works with a brand and model is down to the lens maker NOT the camera maker. If you want your lens to function, I suggest you consult with the lens maker.

[Waddizzle]

Since the question has not be asked, I’ll do it. What does Zeiss have to say about your issue?  There could be a firmware update for the lens. 

I’d expect them to tell you that the lens was designed for Canon DSLRs with EF mount, and it works as designed.  No firmware updates are available or planned.

[deebatman316]

It's not Canon's responsibility to make 3rd Party lenses work with their camera. That's the 3rd party manufacturer's job NOT Canon. 

[Tronhard]

It's a fair question, although both Demetrius and I were rather pushing the OP in that direction. {:-)

[normadel]

Everyone is telling you the same thing. You won't answer questions. You've been shut down twice prior to this thread. You are rude.  My day is fine. How's yours?

[Tronhard]

You keep referring to what is written in the EXIF file - what EXACTLY is the significance of that to you?  Does your lens function as it did with the EF mount?

The way that the design system with cameras works is this:  A camera maker designs a lens mount as part of designing a new camera platform.  It then designs various bodies and lenses for that new mount and those bodies, and releases its own lenses that it will support, and are rigorously tested to work with said mount.  It makes no warranty or implication that lenses from third parties will work with its new platform as they have not been involved in the process.

A third-party company either has lenses for an earlier mount, or wishes to build new lenses for the new system.  It will engage with the camera OEM for access to the certain information that may include firmware code, and will likely (especially these days) be covered by a licensing agreement between the OEM and lens maker.   The third-party lens maker will likely test their current lenses to see how they perform and, based on those results, may issue firmware updates to bring their existing lenses up to spec to work with the new mount.   This is exactly what Sigma did with their lenses and released a video to that point. 

Since the design of a lens is the property and under the control of the lens manufacturer, a camera make has no control over that, above enforcing any licensing limitations - in other words, the camera OEM has neither control over, nor responsibility for third-party lenses.

As we have all said, rather than beat your head against a brick wall with Canon (or Nikon, or any other camera OEM) the correct thing is to engage with the lens maker to see what they can do to resolve any compatibility issues.

[shadowsports]

Greetings, tequila ,

No one's trying to fuel any fires or close your thread. I had to reread your post and now (I think) I understand what you're inquiring about.  

Lens is not reporting in exif data.  This could affect your ability to apply lens optimizations distortion / geometry correction, etc.  Am I on the right track or completely off base?

[Waddizzle]

As I recall, many of Sigma’s DSLR lenses exhibited compatibility issues with Canon RF mount camera bodies.  Sigma quickly released lens firmware updates that users could download.  

Users could then update their lenses using the Sigma dock.  This option was only available on Sigma’s latest lens releases that were compatible with the Sigma Dock.

[Tronhard]

I think most of the compatibility issues reported were with the R7, which was a long, drawn-out process and in the end Canon apparently wrote to Duade Paton admitting that the focusing system was built to a price and was not up to the level of performance of the R3, R5, and R6 variants - which makes total sense given the price point of the body.  While I have reservations about Duade's testing methodologies, I have no reason to doubt his integrity, especially as he has been with the Oz police for many years, so I accept that the document exists.
As a matter of course, I keep my lens firmware up to date, but did not have any issues with my R5 and R6 units before I ran updates.  However, the fact that Sigma are issuing firmware updates reinforces our position that it is the purview and responsibility of 3rd party lens makers, not the camera OEM.