Leica L-mount

Not to be confused with Canon L lens.
Leica L-Mount
Logo of the L-mount alliance
TypeBayonet, digital interface
Inner diameter51.6 mm
Tabs4
Flange20 mm
Connectors10 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]

T-Mount to L-Mount

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.

Leica T (701), the first L-Mount camera
Kazuto Yamaki (Sigma), Andreas Kaufmann (Leica Camera) and Junichiro Kitagawa (Panasonic) after the announcement of the L-Mount Alliance on 25 September 2018 at photokina in Cologne
Panasonic Lumix S1R with prime lens 50 mm f/1.4 at photokina in September 2018

L-Mount Alliance

Main article: L-Mount Alliance

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.

Cameras

APS-C

Leica T/TL cameras use APS-C sensors. The TL mount version is not dust- or splashproof.

Superseded

Current

Full-frame

Leica SL cameras use full-frame sensors. The SL version is dust- and splashproof.

Current

Withdrawn

  • Unspecified Foveon-based full-frame Sigma[17]

Lenses

Leica has an existing range of fifteen L-Mount lenses.[18]

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. [19]

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][20] These will be followed by a range designed specifically for mirrorless parameters.

APS-C

Prime

  • Leica APO-Macro-Elmarit-TL 1:2.8 / 60 ASPH
  • Leica Summilux-TL 1:1.4 / 35 ASPH
  • Leica Summicron-TL 1:2 / 23 ASPH
  • Leica Elmarit-TL 1:2.8 / 18 ASPH
  • Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary[3]
  • Sigma 30mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary[3]
  • Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary[3]

Zoom

  • Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-TL 1:3.5-4.5 / 11-23 ASPH
  • Leica Vario-Elmar-TL 1:3.5-5.6 / 18-56 ASPH
  • Leica APO-Vario-Elmar-TL 1:3.5-4.5 / 55-135 ASPH
  • Sigma 18-50 f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary
  • Sigma 10-18 f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary

Full-frame

Panasonic Lumix S full-frame L-mount lenses: 50 mm f/1,4, 70-200 mm and 24-105 mm

Prime

  • Leica Summilux-SL 1:1.4 / 50 ASPH
  • Leica APO-Summicron-SL 1:2 / 75 ASPH
  • Leica APO-Summicron-SL 1:2 / 90 ASPH
  • Leica APO-Summicron-SL 1:2 / 35 ASPH
  • Leica APO-Summicron-SL 1:2 / 50 ASPH
  • Leica APO-Summicron-SL 1:2 / 28 ASPH[21]
  • Panasonic Lumix S 24mm f/1.8
  • Panasonic Lumix S PRO 50mm f/1.4[22][23]
  • Panasonic Lumix S 50mm f/1.8
  • Panasonic Lumix S 85mm f/1.8
  • Sigma 20mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary
  • Sigma 24mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary
  • Sigma 24mm f/3.5 DG DN Contemporary
  • Sigma 35mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary
  • Sigma 45mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary
  • Sigma 50mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary
  • Sigma 65mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary
  • Sigma 90mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary
  • Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
  • Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
  • Sigma 35mm f/1.2 DG DN Art
  • Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
  • Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
  • Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art
  • Sigma 105mm f/2.8 DG DN MACRO Art
  • Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art[3]
  • Sigma 20mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art[3]
  • Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art[3]
  • Sigma 28mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art[3]
  • Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art[3]
  • Sigma 40mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art[3]
  • Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art[3]
  • Sigma 70mm f/2.8 DG MACRO Art
  • Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art[3]
  • Sigma 105mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art[3]
  • Sigma 135mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art[3]

Zoom

  • Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24–70 mm 2,8 ASPH
  • Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 1:2.8-4 / 24-90 ASPH
  • Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 1:2.8-4 / 90-280
  • Leica Super-Vario-Elmar-SL 1:3.5-4.5 / 16-35 ASPH
  • Panasonic LUMIX S PRO 16-35mm f/4
  • Panasonic LUMIX S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6
  • Panasonic LUMIX S PRO 24-70mm f/2.8
  • Panasonic LUMIX S 24-105mm f/4 MACRO O.I.S.
  • Panasonic LUMIX S PRO 70-200mm f/4 O.I.S.
  • Panasonic LUMIX S PRO 70-200mm f/2.8 O.I.S.
  • Panasonic LUMIX S 70–300 mm 4,5-5,6 Macro OIS
  • Panasonic Lumix S 14-28mm F4-5.6 Macro
  • Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
  • Sigma 16-28mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary
  • Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Art
  • Sigma 28-70mm f2.8 DG DN Contemporary
  • Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 DG DN Sports
  • Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG DN OS Contemporary
  • Sigma 150-600mm F/5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports
  • Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG DN OS Sports

Third-party

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]

Lens adapters

  • Leica R-Adapter L
  • Leica S-Adapter L
  • Leica M-Adapter L
  • Leica PL-Adapter L
  • Novoflex SL-EOS Adapter [24]
  • Novoflex SL/NIK Adapter
  • Sigma MC-21 SA-L
  • Sigma MC-21 EF-L Sigma-manufactured 'Global Vision' EF-mount lenses are fully supported and compatible; although non-Sigma EF-mount lenses remain unguaranteed.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ "L-Mount | Questions and Answers".
  2. ^ Leica SL Details. Manufacturer's website. Visited 2 June 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Etchells, Dave (2 October 2018). "Sigma interview at Photokina 2018: CEO Kazuto Yamaki gives us a peek inside the L-mount alliance". Imaging Resource. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  4. ^ "ERNST LEITZ WETZLAR JOINS THE L-MOUNT ALLIANCE".
  5. ^ "DJI joins the L-Mount Alliance | Leica Camera CH".
  6. ^ "L-mount expansion: Samyang and Astrodesign join the L-Mount Alliance".
  7. ^ "Blackmagic Design Joins the L-Mount Alliance". 15 September 2023.
  8. ^ "New Leica TL System announced". Leica Forum Blog. 2016-11-08. Retrieved 2018-07-24.
  9. ^ Goldstein, Mark. "L-Mount Alliance Between Leica, Panasonic and Sigma Officially Announced". Photography Blog. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  10. ^ Goldstein, Mark. "Panasonic S1R and Panasonic S1 35mm Full-frame Mirrorless Cameras". Photography Blog. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  11. ^ Butler, Richard. "Sigma to take Foveon full frame and adopt L mount". DPReview. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Media | Blackmagic Design". www.blackmagicdesign.com. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  13. ^ Han, Jakub (2023-09-14). "Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K Announced - Full-Frame, L-Mount, 3:2 Open Gate for $2,595". CineD. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  14. ^ a b c "LUMIX S series". Panasonic. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  15. ^ "LUMIX S5 - Panasonic".
  16. ^ "Sigma announces ultra-compact 'fp' L-mount camera, teases full-frame Foveon sensor". DPReview.
  17. ^ シグマ、開発中のフルサイズFoveonセンサーを白紙に
  18. ^ "Leica SL lenses". Leica Company Website. Leica Camera AG. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  19. ^ PanasonicLumixVideo channel
  20. ^ "Sigma Photokina 2018 Press Event (live streaming) by pttl.gr" on YouTube
  21. ^ "The APO-Summicron-SL 28 f/2 ASPH.: A wide-angle lens with state-of-the-art technology for the Leica SL-System // 2021 // Press Releases // Press Centre // Company - Leica Camera AG".
  22. ^ Keller, Jeff (September 25, 2018). "Panasonic developing two full-frame mirrorless cameras with Leica L-mount". DPReview. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  23. ^ "Panasonic Launches Three L-Mount Interchangeable Lensesfor the LUMIX SSeries Full-frame Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera" (PDF). Panasonic Global Website. Panasonic Corporation. February 1, 2019. Retrieved March 2, 2019.
  24. ^ "Adapter-Finder of Novoflex". Novoflex Company Website. Novoflex. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2017.