Type | Bayonet, digital interface |
---|---|
Inner diameter | 51.6 mm |
Tabs | 4 |
Flange | 20 mm |
Connectors | 10 electrical pins |
The Leica L-Mount is a bayonet mount developed by Leica Camera AG for interchangeable-lens autofocus digital cameras.
The L-Mount has an inner diameter of 51.6 mm [1] and a flange depth of 20.0 mm. [2] The L-mount exists in two versions, an APS-C version (TL) and a full-frame version (SL). The two versions are mechanically and electronically compatible. TL lenses mounted on full-frame cameras will cause the camera to use a crop mode from the center of the sensor, corresponding to the APS-C coverage of the lens. SL lenses mounted on TL cameras function normally, providing a 1.5x crop field of view, as is typical with APS-C cameras.
In 2018 Leica formed the L-Mount Alliance, licensing Sigma, Panasonic in the same year, to use an upgraded version of the mount for their own products, opening the way for a more extensive system of fully compatible cameras and lenses. [3]
Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH, the cine lens business of Leica, joined the L-Mount Alliance in 2021, [4] DJI followed in 2022, [5] Samyang, Astrodesign [6] and Blackmagic Design in 2023. [7]
It was introduced in April 2014 with the Leica T (Typ 701) camera. At the time of introduction, it was called the "T-mount", but this was changed to "L-mount" with the release of the Leica SL, a full-frame sensor camera using the same mount. The Leica T was renamed to the Leica TL at this time, [8] to permit marketing clarity for the L-mount lens line: TL lenses would cover APS-C sensors, while SL lenses would cover full-frame sensors.
The mount is used by the Leica TL (discontinued), TL2, Leica CL (2017) and Leica SL systems. The L-Mount is a registered trademark of Leica Camera AG.
On 25 September 2018, the L-Mount Alliance between Leica, Panasonic and Sigma was announced, enabling the partners "to make use of the L-Mount standard developed by Leica for their own developments and to offer both cameras and lenses utilising this lens mount" with full compatibility between the three companies' products. [9]
According to Sigma CEO, Kazuto Yamaki, the "L-mount system is not exactly the same as the existing one. We updated it a little bit to work better with such lenses through lens adapters." [3]
On the same day, Panasonic announced its S1R and S1 full-frame L-Mount cameras and three L-Mount lenses, with seven more lenses to be launched by 2020. [10] [3]
Sigma announced that it will launch a full-frame camera in 2019, using the L-Mount and the company's Foveon sensor, as well as a range of L-mount lenses and adapters for Sigma SA and Canon EF lenses. [11]
Six cameras and 39 native lenses are confirmed for the L-Mount by 2020.
Leica T/TL cameras use APS-C sensors. The TL mount version is not dust- or splashproof.
Leica SL cameras use full-frame sensors. The SL version is dust- and splashproof.
Leica has an existing range of fifteen L-Mount lenses. [19]
Panasonic committed to releasing a total of ten lenses for the L-mount by the end of 2020, beginning with the 50mm F/1.4 prime and the two zooms listed below; stating that they would provide details at Photokina 2019. [20]
Sigma plans to release a wide range of lenses. 14 primes from Sigma's 'Global Vision' range, primarily designed for reflex cameras with short flange depths and currently available for the mirrorless Sony E-mount, will also be released in L-Mount from 2019. [3] [21] These will be followed by a range designed specifically for mirrorless parameters.
Manual third-party lenses are being produced in L-mount by Irix Cine, 7Artisans (Photoelectric series), Meyer-Optik (Görlitz series), and Kipon HandeVision (IBELUX and IBERIT series').[ citation needed ]
The Four Thirds System is a standard created by Olympus and Eastman Kodak for digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) design and development. Four Thirds refers to both the size of the image sensor (4/3") as well as the aspect ratio (4:3). The Olympus E-1 was the first Four Thirds DSLR, announced and released in 2003. In 2008, Olympus and Panasonic began publicizing the Micro Four Thirds system, a mirrorless camera system which used the same sensor size; by eliminating the reflex mirror, the Micro Four Thirds cameras were significantly smaller than the Four Thirds cameras. The first Micro Four Thirds cameras were released in 2009 and the final Four Thirds cameras were released in 2010; by that time, approximately 15 Four Thirds camera models had been released by Olympus and Panasonic in total. The Four Thirds system was quietly discontinued in 2017, six years after the final cameras were released.
Sigma Corporation is a Japanese company, manufacturing cameras, lenses, flashes and other photographic accessories. All Sigma products are produced in the company's own Aizu factory in Bandai, Fukushima, Japan. Although Sigma produces several camera models, the company is best known for producing high-quality lenses and other accessories that are compatible with the cameras produced by other companies.
The Leica Digilux 1 is a digital camera developed in partnership with Panasonic, which was released in 2002, roughly the same time as the Canon PowerShot G2 and the Nikon 2000. It is the second of Leica's digital offerings. Where the original Digilux was developed in partnership with Fuji Camera, the Digilux 1 was developed jointly with Panasonic; Leica is responsible for optics, while Panasonic designs the camera electronics. According to Leica, this allows both companies to design cameras that creates a harmonious matching of lens to sensor to produce color and contrast to Leica standards.
The Pentax K-mount, sometimes referred to as the "PK-mount", is a bayonet lens mount standard for mounting interchangeable photographic lenses to 35 mm single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras. It was created by Pentax in 1975, and has since been used by all Pentax 35 mm and digital SLRs and also the MILC Pentax K-01. A number of other manufacturers have also produced many K-mount lenses and K-mount cameras.
The name Elmarit is used by Leica to designate camera lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/2.8.
The Micro Four Thirds system is a standard released by Olympus Imaging Corporation and Panasonic in 2008, for the design and development of mirrorless interchangeable lens digital cameras, camcorders and lenses. Camera bodies are available from Blackmagic, DJI, JVC, Kodak, Olympus, OM System, Panasonic, Sharp, and Xiaomi. MFT lenses are produced by Cosina Voigtländer, Kowa, Kodak, Mitakon, Olympus, Panasonic, Samyang, Sharp, Sigma, SLR Magic, Tamron, Tokina, TTArtisan, Veydra, Xiaomi, Laowa, Yongnuo, Zonlai, Lensbaby, Venus Optics and 7artisans amongst others.
A mirrorless camera is a digital camera which, in contrast to DSLRs, does not use a mirror in order to ensure that the image presented to the photographer through the viewfinder is identical to that taken by the camera. They have come to replace DSLRs, which have historically dominated interchangeable lens cameras. Other terms include electronic viewfinder interchangeable lens (EVIL) cameras and compact system cameras (CSCs).
The name Summicron is used by Leica to designate camera lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/2 after 1953 and to present day.
The Leica SL is a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera announced by Leica Camera AG on 20 October 2015. The SL was promoted as a camera system for professional applications. Beside the Leica S-System, the Leica SL-System was the 2nd professional camera system in the company's product portfolio.
Nocticron is the brand name of Leica lenses with an extreme speed of f/1.2. Because of the large aperture size and its image stabilisation system it is possible to take images with relatively short exposure time especially in available light situations. Together with the high number of nine diaphragm blades the lens creates a strong and pleasant bokeh.
The Panasonic Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm F2.8-3.5 ASPH Mega OIS is an interchangeable camera lens announced by Panasonic on February 26, 2006. It was the first Leica lens with optical image stabilisation.
The Panasonic Leica D Summilux Asph 25mm F1.4 is an interchangeable camera lens announced by Panasonic on March 7, 2007.
The L-Mount Alliance is an alliance between Leica Camera AG, Panasonic and Sigma, launched on 25 September 2018, whereby Panasonic and Sigma will make use of the L-Mount standard initially developed by Leica and will offer cameras and lenses utilising this lens mount with improved firmware and full compatibility among these Alliance products.
The Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 8–18 mmf/2.8-f/4.0 lens is a digital compact ultra wide angle lens for Micro Four Thirds system cameras. It is a varifocal lens branded with the German label Leica, but manufactured by Panasonic in Japan.
The name Summilux is used by Leica and Panasonic Lumix to designate camera lenses that have a maximum aperture brighter than f/2, typically at f/1.4, but dimmer than f/1.0. The lens has been in production since 1959 and carries on to the present day.
The Leica S-System is a medium format digital single lens reflex camera system introduced by Leica Camera in 1996. Beginning with the Leica S1, a prototype top-end studio digital camera unveiled at Photokina 1996. It went into production at the end of 1997.
The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG lens is a super-telephoto zoom lens produced by Sigma Corporation since 2018. It succeeds an earlier 10× zoom lens (50–500mm) which was introduced by Sigma in 2000 and is commonly known as the "Bigma". It is aimed at advanced consumers. The 60–600mm lens is produced in two versions: one exclusively for single lens reflex cameras, with Canon EF mount, Nikon F mount, and Sigma SA mount versions, named the 60–600mm F4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S, and one exclusively for mirrorless cameras, in Leica L-Mount and Sony E-mount versions, named the 60–600mm F4.5-6.3 DG DN OS | S.