Sigma has announced that it is developing its own full-frame mirrorless camera, which will go on sale in 2019. It will use the L-mount, which it is working with Panasonic and Leica to promote.
In a speech last night, Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki said that he was not showing any L-mount product at this year's Photokina – but wanted to announce the following six point plan in how Sigma was going to develop the L-mount system:
1) Full-frame Foveon mount
Sigma's own full-frame mirrorless camera will use their own sensor – using the Foveon technology that it has used in its existing range of cameras. The L-mount camera would go on sale in 2019.
Sigma SA-mount cameras will not longer be made
2) Sigma SA-mount cameras are dead
Sigma will not be developing any new SA-mount cameras – which will allow them to concentrate on the development and production of their full-frame L-mount mirroless camera at its own plant in Aizu, Japan.
3) Sigma SA mount lenses will continue
Even if production of Sigma SA mount cameras is finishing, Sigma is committed to supporting its existing camera users. So the Sigma-mount lenses in its range will continue to be produced and sold, for at least the time being.
4) Sigma to L-mount adaptor PLUS
Canon EF to L-mount adaptor
Sigma are to make it easy for people to convert to its new L-mount camera (or Panasonic or Leica's for that matter). It will produce a converter for Canon EF lenses to be used on the L-mount. And it will also produce an adaptor to enable use of Sigma SA mount lenses on L-mount full-frame cameras.
5) 14 Sigma L-mount lenses in 2019
Sigma will have more lenses for the L-mount cameras than any other manufacturer next year. It is committed to offering no fewer that 14 L-mount lenses next year. These will be the lenses that are currently produced for Sony's E-mount. Other L-mounts will follow.
Get the Digital Camera World Newsletter
The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox!
6) Mount conversion service
Sigma will be offering a mount conversion service next year – so if you have a compatible Sigma lens, they will adapt it for you at their service centres for use on the new family of L-mount cameras that will go on sale in 2019.
Sigma already runs a mount conversion service for a wide range of its lenses, the cost in the UK is £240 or £390 depending on the focal length.
Chris George has worked on Digital Camera World since its launch in 2017. He has been writing about photography, mobile phones, video making and technology for over 30 years – and has edited numerous magazines including PhotoPlus, N-Photo, Digital Camera, Video Camera, and Professional Photography.
His first serious camera was the iconic Olympus OM10, with which he won the title of Young Photographer of the Year - long before the advent of autofocus and memory cards. Today he uses a Nikon D800, a Fujifilm X-T1, a Sony A7, and his iPhone 15 Pro Max.
He has written about technology for countless publications and websites including The Sunday Times Magazine, The Daily Telegraph, Dorling Kindersley, What Cellphone, T3 and Techradar.
