Is Vistilen Quietly Launching Autofocus Lenses for Canon RF Mount?

If you are heavily invested in Canon's mirrorless system, you are surely aware of the company's stance when it comes to third-party autofocus lenses for the RF mount. While the likes of Sigma and Tamron have been expanding the native AF lens selection for the  APS-C RF system, the situation is still mostly limited. In a lot of cases, outside of the major third-party vendors, the only option is manual focus.

So when rumors of a new manufacturer announcing autofocus lenses for the RF mount start to emerge, it certainly catches my attention. Vistilen is a brand I've never heard of in the past, and the company is now claiming to offer autofocus lenses compatible with the Canon RF mount.

At first glance, the company's products seem to share a common classic DSLR-style look. The chunky build of the glass is certainly reminiscent of Meike. It also appears the company is offering an exact copy of Meike's lens lineup.

But is Vistilen the same company as Meike, or a rebrand? In the photography industry, it is common for manufacturers to offer the same products under a different brand name in a particular region. Take Samyang's Rokinon brand, for example. Could Vistilen be the same company as Meike?

What has been shared so far indicates that Vistilen has already launched these AF lenses in the RF mount that Meike has launched in other mounts.  It is worth noting that Meike has earned a good reputation for providing relatively affordable and functional AF lenses in various mounts, including Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X, Leica L, and Canon EF, among others.

Therefore, an extension of their product line in Canon RF format would not be a huge surprise, especially if there is some form of licensing and collaboration involved with Canon.  At the moment, there has been a lack of official announcements regarding these Canon RF AF lenses by Vistilen. However, if Vistilen is indeed launching Canon RF AF lenses and they are just Meike under a different brand, then they might become an option for Canon EOS R users without having to break the bank on premium prices for Canon glass.  Assuming of course, Canon doesn't slap them with a lawsuit and they go away.

• asobinet