Third Party
Off Brand Lenses
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Third Party Off Brand Lenses |
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Third Party/Off Brand lenses are those made by a company other than that which made your camera but has been designed to work mounted on your camera. They manufacture lenses that have the same mount as that of your camera and/or have an adaptor that fits between the camera and lens in order for it to function.
The BIG THREE Third Party lens manufactures today are Sigma, Tamron and Tokina, with Samyang/Phoenix making a dedicated effort to join this top group. Other Third Party brands over the years have included Asanuma, Vivitar, Soligor, Cosina, Kiron, Sun, Quantary, Zykkor, Haminex, Spiratone, Cambron, and Accura, to name but a few.
Third Party lenses can be acceptable, equal, or, in some cases, better than your camera's brand lenses. I know people who say, "I will only use Nikkor lenses on my Nikon camera," or "on my Canon." That's fine, but they may be missing out on lenses just as good for less money or even lenses of better quality.
In the six categories listed below, I have listed Third Party lenses which I own, have had experience with, have exceptional reputations or I find interesting.