tzhang4284 wrote: serhan_ wrote:
Partnership goes back to 2000: https://leica-camera.com/en-US/press/leica-camera-ag-and-panasonic-signed-strategic-comprehensive-collaboration-agreement?srsltid=AfmBOoq41Xe_0fskvMClurH8QfRm57Y8YYHhRj925a05fyD7heJG2Eua
"The cooperation between Leica Camera AG and Panasonic Corporation has existed since August 2000. Initially, the companies had signed a cooperation agreement for lenses of digital, audio-visual equipment, and in 2001 the decision was made to cooperate in the digital camera sector as well. Since then, the companies have steadily expanded their technological cooperation. In 2018, together with Sigma, the "L-Mount Alliance" was founded, an unprecedented type of cooperation that enables Panasonic, Sigma and, since 2021, Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH to use the L-mount standard developed by Leica for their own developments and thus also offer cameras as well as optics with this lens mount."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leica_Digilux_1
"The Leica Digilux 1 is a digital camera developed in partnership with Panasonic, which was released in 2002. Billed as "the digital reportage camera", the Leica Digilux 1 shares much of its design with the Panasonic-badged equivalent DMC-LC5."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leica_Digilux_2
"The Digilux 2 is a digital camera model sold by Leica Camera, with the body manufactured in Japan by Matsushita, which sold a variant as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LC1." Announced Dec 1, 2003.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leica_Digilux_3
"The Digilux 3 is a digital single-lens reflex camera introduced by Leica on 14 September 2006. The Digilux 3 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 are similar specification cameras, using the Four Thirds standard lens mount and featuring a 7.5 Megapixels live view N-MOS sensor, but the Digilux 3 has modified firmware including DNG output. Both the Panasonic and Digilux 3 cameras come standard with the same interchangeable Leica Vario-Elmarit 14–50 mm f/2.8–3.5 optically image-stabilized zoom lens. The Leica D system includes also the Leica Summilux 25 mm f/1.4 lens."
Rest is history...
tzhang4284 wrote:
Isn't the SL3-S basically a re-housed Pansonic S5II? Not sure what the uproar is unless they're going to go even lazier.
yeah I'm aware - I own a SL3-S - I do think it's a much nicer camera than the S5II and I'm happy with it. What I don't understand is Leica going to at least re-house the S1RII in the Leica chassis (which is quite nice) as the SL3-P or are they going to be even lazier and just rebadge the Panasonic chassis.
It doesn't take this long to change a logo on a camera. I think Leica will continue to follow the existing pattern when bringing similar products into the Leica brand.
They will re-house and use materials to make sure the camera has the same weather rating and durability as the rest of the SL line. They will do custom firmware and controls to give the camera the same look, feel, and workflow as all the other Leica branded bodies. Leica is very focused on this.
Considering that in all of Leica's bodies they are buying the same Sony sensors and Fujitsu processors as everone else anyway. The cover glass and filter stack on the L mount sensors is similar accross brands, this port makes a lot of sense if Leica continues past practice. The big question in my mind is how light, agile, and higher performance Leica can make the SL3-P as this will be the primary differentiator for the camera.
I will be dissapointed if Leica handles this one differently.
May 28, 2026 at 02:14 AM
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