Leica, Sigma and Panasonic

[Larry H-L]

The rumor sites are buzzing with news of a new consortium comprised of Leica, Sigma and Panasonic to produce a new FF mirrorless camera using the Leica SL mount.

If true this is huge news.

 

[xayraa33]

it would be more gloriously exciting if they used the M mount.

 

[Larry H-L]

I think M lenses can be adapted to the SL?

 

[DougFord]

Very exciting news indeed.

 

[Archiver]

I think M lenses can be adapted to the SL?

They sure can. Leica offer a M-SL adapter and a lot of people use the SL with M lenses.

If these rumours are true, the camera world is about to get a lot more spicy. The video demographic on YouTube and in blogs are going nuts about these rumours as they envision it as a full frame Panasonic GH5. But if it's a SL mount camera with Sigma lenses, it's going to be a boon for stills shooters, too.

Only a few more days and we will see!

 

[Archlich]

Envision this: Leica rebadged Sigma lenses to be sold for the Panasonic system...

 

[jarski]

The rumor sites are buzzing with news of a new consortium comprised of Leica, Sigma and Panasonic to produce a new FF mirrorless camera using the Leica SL mount.

If true this is huge news.

I also read Panasonic might be using Leica SL mount, but not that Sigma would have anything todo with that.

Sigma has been said to be re-working their Art lenses for mirrorless. Maybe they have changed (from Sony) the mount as well 🙄

 

[al1966]

Seems like a good move from Panasonics part, availability of very good aspirational lenses off the bat, sales to those who already own an SL but want a second body. If they are a bit more sensible than CaNikon and introduce it with a reasonable pair of normal and tele zooms along with a decent but not hyper expensive 35/50 prime it will seem a good option for many. If the Sigma rumour is also true lets hope they also are releasing a few nice Art lenses and both companies put out a good lens road map with some not too long away releases. That being said Panasonic seems to be quite good with their lens releases and providing a good load of choice at standard focal lengths. Alas FF is too heavy for me now so I wont be going for it.

 

[Archiver]

Come to think of it, if Sigma start making SL mount lenses, they will likely be slightly reworked existing models like the Sony E-mount versions they have just released. The Sony E-mount Sigma lenses are essentially the same as their Art line, but with an E-mount. This means big, chunky DSLR size lenses for a mirrorless camera, if this happens. Not a win, in my book.

 

[Michalm]

Next generation organic foveon like sensor in Leica M body would be hard to resist.

 

[santino]

Panasonic should stick with m4/3 and thats it. I don't like the fact that everybody tries to do everything, but nothing is perfect.
Camera world is so boring nowadays...

 

[gnuyork]

it would be more gloriously exciting if they used the M mount.

And a Foveon sensor.

Next generation organic foveon like sensor in Leica M body would be hard to resist.

Indeed!

 

[xayraa33]

I still think that they should utilise the M mount instead of the SL mount.

Why pay an extra 200 to 500 dollars for a quality adapter, plus Sigma will get into making lenses in M mount, plenty fine for many film M Leicas too.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/co...YYASABEgJT-vD_BwE&is=REG&pcur=CAD&sku=1046772

 

[Ko.Fe.]

The only thing they need from S is sensors. If they need AF problems they could add Sigma lenses as well.

 

[Mcary]

I still think that they should utilise the M mount instead of the SL mount.

Why pay an extra 200 to 500 dollars for a quality adapter, plus Sigma will get into making lenses in M mount, plenty fine for many film M Leicas too.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/co...YYASABEgJT-vD_BwE&is=REG&pcur=CAD&sku=1046772

Using the M mount would work great as long as you can develop and produce M mount AF lenses. Being as this a partnership the lens mount needs to be able to support a wide range of lenses and photographers not just what we as like M-shooters want.

 

[Larry H-L]

We will know more on the 25th, but until then, this raises so many questions and possibilities.

Is this a “one-off” project, or the start of a longer-term collaboration?

Panasonic is well known for video capabilities, this could give Leica SL owners an option to use their current lenses on a higher end video-capable body, maybe with 6K or 8K.

Will Leica later market a new SL with 30-40 megapixels using this new sensor? Did this cause the SL price drop?

Could this full-frame Panasonic body eventually lead to a full-frame CL body?
Was the Q a test bed for all of this?

Will Sigma offer their APS-c lenses, the 16mm f1.4, 30mm f1.4 and the new 56mm f1.4 in L-mount for current CL and TL owners?

Will the new body have micro lenses and a thin sensor cover glass to allow M lenses to work well?

Will they market full-frame Pan-Leica branded lenses, such as they do with m4/3, or will they be Sigma-Leica branded?

My head spins.

 

[ptpdprinter]

None of this makes any business sense to me.

 

[xayraa33]

Using the M mount would work great as long as you can develop and produce M mount AF lenses. Being as this a partnership the lens mount needs to be able to support a wide range of lenses and photographers not just what we as like M-shooters want.

I would personally prefer a stripped to the bone FF camera with a high quality EVF, incorporating magnified focus peaking, all the while using manual focusing lenses .

 

[oldwino]

I’ve always had a sneaking suspicion, after using some of the TL lenses and a couple of Sigma lenses in the past, that Sigma manufactures those TL lenses for Leica. I find the build and look very similar. That may be the case for the FF SL lenses, too, but I’m not rich enough to have used those.
Of course, I have no evidence to back this up, but this is the Internet, so it’s ok.

 

[Larry H-L]

This is moving quickly. Rumor sites, such as L-rumors and Mirrorless Rumors, are now suggesting that Panasonic will announce TWO L-mount FF bodies and three new L lenses. Two zooms(Sigma?) and a fast prime.

What if one new body is rangefinder styled similar to the GX-8 / CL?