I’ve run across an interesting dilemma: Whether to use lenses that are not of the same brand as my DSLR camera body.   I was recently told by a Canon rep that if I use a non-Canon lens (such as a Tamron, Sigma, etc.) on a Canon body, this voids my warranty.   In my asking around, it appears that some folks know about that, but it’s a subject that is just not talked about a lot.  

Granted, I do all of my pro photography with all Canon lenses (almost always L-series stuff), but this little “dark secret” about other brand lenses is a little bothersome.   When I go shopping for lenses, I never see bold disclaimers warning that if I buy another brand lens, my camera body’s warranty will be voided.   We’re all warned to never buy “grey market” cameras (cameras that are not warranted in the U.S.), but  I’ve ever seen a warning that if I buy a Tamron, Tokina, Sigma, or Carl Zeiss  lens with my US Warranty DSLR, that I’ve just chosen to void that warranty.

Now as a counter-point, I do see the issues that DSLR makers face.  What if that “other” brand lens somehow damages the DSLR?  Is it their responsibility to fix the DSLR when it’s not clear what equipment caused the problem?  So I do see their side of the issue.  

What bothers me a little is that this is not always (ever?) made clear to consumers at the time of purchase.   Also there’s just the issue that this can become an easy way to get around providing warranty service by the camera manufacturer simply saying “oops, you used THAT brand of lens, sorry your warranty is void” even if that was NOT the cause of the problem.     

In some ways, I am even hesitant to bring this whole subject up, because it appears it is just not a subject that is talked about (especially since for other lens makers, it’s really bad for business).    Some people say the thing to do is just not mention what brand lens you are using.   But that has its problems also, because that might actually BE the source of the issue you’re having with your camera.  So not disclosing that information can also be detrimental.

Since the Canon rep said that this voiding of the warranty if I were to chose to use a non-Canon lens was printed in the warranty, I dug it out and read it completely.  I didn’t really see anything about this.   So now that actually leaves me a little more baffled.  (Anyone who knows where that is written, please let me know!)

The word on the street seems to be that camera manufacturers will still cover their equipment under warranty, but it’s at their discretion.    This all seems a bit ambiguous to me.   I guess to avoid problems, just buy lenses made by the DSLR manufacturer.  But there ARE some other great lenses out there.   Sigh… what’s a photographer to do?