More Chinese Brands Prepare AF Zoom Lenses

credits: Thypoch/Venus Optics

There is a lot happening in the Chinese lens market right now, and it is not just about recent announcements. New reports suggest that, alongside Thypoch and Laowa (Venus Optics), two more Chinese manufacturers are preparing to release autofocus zoom lenses. There are no confirmed details yet, neither the brands nor the specs have been revealed, but the expectation is that these lenses could arrive later this year.

To put that into context, this follows some recent moves in the same direction. Thypoch has already stepped into the space with its 24–50mm f/2.8 AF zoom, marking a shift away from its usual manual-focus primes. At the same time, Laowa is rumoured to be working on a 14–24mm f/2.8 AF, which would be a first for the brand in terms of autofocus zooms.

More broadly, this fits into a pattern that has been building over the past few years. Chinese brands started with affordable manual primes, then moved into autofocus primes, with companies like Viltrox and TTArtisan becoming more competitive on both price and performance. Moving into autofocus zoom lenses is the next logical step, but also a more technically demanding one, especially when it comes to optical design and autofocus systems. If more manufacturers follow through, it could increase competition in a segment that is still dominated by a few established players, particularly in terms of pricing.