Interview: Background and Future of “L-Mount Alliance”

DC.Watch has just interviewed the new “L-Mount Alliance”: Leica, Panasonic, Sigma. Below are highlights of this interview:

  • L-Mount was started on February 2017
  • There is a possibility of selling products of the other two companies at a Leica shop
  • There is a possibility of competing within the alliance as sales, but I think that the possibility is low compared with other alliances.
  • Other Lens manufacturers can use the L-mount specifications to make L-mount lenses
  • We will also discuss future extensibility. This includes changing the signal used for communication between the camera and the lens, and updating it.

Full Interview: (Translated by Google)

When did you start thinking about collaboration?

Yamane: January – February of 2017. Panasonic first talked to Leica for sharing a 35 mm full size L mount, then Sigma.

Our company and Leica camera company have a cooperative relationship for digital cameras for 17 years. For nearly four years I have also tied up with technology alliances, some of which concern L mounts. So, if you issue a full size machine, I thought about getting support from Leica camera company in collaboration. It is the period from January to February of last year that I inquired about it.

If you issue a full size machine, you must also enhance the lens lineup. Compared to Leica and Sigma, our company has a shallow history of brands and brand image is not strong, so in order to make a new full-size camera system with firms with strong brand power like the two companies in the front , I thought that it is a condition to strengthen the lens.

Mr. Yamaki (= Sigma) has a lot of wonderfully attractive high-quality, high-performance lenses, and philosophy firmly rooted in the company. I heard that it is such a wonderful company, so I thought if I do a full size aircraft, I think if I will work together, I inquired at the next month of Leica.

Stefan Schulz (Leica): I have a long collaborative relationship, technical collaboration is deeply done, and the reliability from Leica to Panasonic is high. I also thought that I could collaborate like this because there was also the base. Regarding Sigma, Panasonic also participated in the alliance with no problem as it was a trusted partner.

Mr. Stefan Schulz (right), who is responsible for the professional camera system of Leica Camera AG, also attended.

Kaufman: Although the three companies are in a friendly relationship, each will independently issue “strong products” independently as before. By sharing L mounts, they can provide customers with the benefit of expanding the common system.

Yamane: With this alliance, we can deliver products reflecting the characteristics of each company. If this is Panasonic’s own mount, I think that it will not be accepted in the market. In the system camera market, we are not endorsed that there is no foundation to support in the future. Although it is a competition, we believe that the unity of protecting the L mount with these three companies will lead to user trust.

Yamaki: We will talk firmly and exchange information to maintain compatibility with each company. There is a possibility of competing within the alliance as sales, but I think that the possibility is low compared with other alliances. For example Leica is a German company, each with a different character.

Kaufman: Leica is a unique business model company. I also have its own sales network like the Leica store. Although this is a completely personal idea, there is a possibility of selling products of the other two companies at a Leica shop, and I would like to do business that make good use of the characteristics of the alliance well.

Yamane: Although it is in a collaborative relationship, it is not permissible for compliance to share the contents of the business with the competing company, so even if it is an L mount product, you will know about the new products of other companies with its announcement.

Leica’s L mount lens (Leica SL lens) lineup and plans for the future.

Panasonic’s L mount lens (LUMIX S lens) announced the development of three.

Sigma will make 14 mounts already released for Mirror-less camera L mount. Other lenses will be developed in the future.

If it is a sigma lens corresponding to “mount replacement service”, you can make it L mount with a fee without repurchasing the lens of hand.

Sigma announced the mount adapter of EF-L, SA-L. Dreams swell in various body / lens combinations.

– For Leica, what are your expectations for L mount products to come out from other companies?

Schulz: The opportunity to choose what you really need is increased, so the user benefits are great. I think that there are no examples in the industry so far that you can choose brands, lenses, and cameras without limitation.

Panasonic’s L mount machine “LUMIX S1R” (prototype). It will be released in 2019.

Sigma releases a 35 mm full size Foveon sensor loaded machine in 2019. According to Mr. Yamaki, he seems to have been developing full-size mirrorless with its own new mount before L-mount collaboration was decided.

The origin of Leica L mount is APS – C machine “Leica T” which appeared in 2014. Initially it was named Leica T mount.

It was renamed as “Leica L Mount” at the same time as the full size aircraft “Leica SL” that appeared in 2015. The name on this alliance is “L mount” not attached with “Leica” at the head.

There was a voice in Japan that it will be confused with “L mount” from that time back in 2015 (which is a common name of Leica Screw Mount).

– Are there plans to join alliances other than these three companies?

Kaufman: First of all, we build firmly with three companies. And after that.

– Can lens manufacturers also participate in the L Mount Alliance?

Kaufman: Yes. Since this alliance only specifies the interface of the L mount, there is no need to handle both the lens and the body.

– How will you maintain compatibility when combining products from different manufacturers?

Schulz: Three companies will share the provisions of L mount. Technicians gather at the “format committee” meeting, and we exchange what we want these parameters and techniques without talking about product schedule. It is an image that provides only the necessary data without directly knowing the product that adopts it. I will do it enough time to format it.

Yamaki: We will also discuss future extensibility. This includes changing the signal used for communication between the camera and the lens, and updating it. Based on the information shared there, we will make products by each of the three companies.