German cinema lens manufacturer Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH is the first company to join the lens mount alliance since the original three founding members. Imagine if Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland added a fourth member to The Police. The famous trio of Leica, Panasonic and SIGMA is now a four-piece band. What will this mean for the industry moving forward? Let’s take a closer look to find out! What is the L-Mount Alliance? In 2018, Leica Camera AG, Panasonic and SIGMA banded together to support the L-mount standard, designed by Leica for mirrorless cameras, like their SL line. Panasonic already had a thriving business relationship with Leica at the time, manufacturing Leica-branded micro four thirds mount lenses for their extremely successful Lumix GH series. Leica SL Image Credit: Leica Camera Previously known primarily as a budget lens manufacturer, SIGMA’s membership rounded out the alliance, capitalizing on the company’s photography heritage and the increasing popularity of its Art and Cine zooms and primes among indie filmmakers. What makes the L-mount special is its wide diameter (51.6mm) and its shallow flange depth (20mm). These features meant the L-Mount Alliance could hop on the full-frame tidal wave picking up steam in cinematography circles, while also remaining highly adaptable, so as not to alienate the indie crowd partial to vintage lenses such as Leica R and Contax Zeiss. Lumix first introduced the S1 and S1H, then later the S5 and more recently the BS1H L-mount cameras. Well-received among indie filmmakers, who abandoned Sony...
Published By: CineD - Friday, 15 October, 2021