One of my sources believes that Sigma might announce a new Sigma 200mm f/1.8 Full Frame lens for Sony E and Leica L cameras! This would be the first time we get a modern version of the almost 40 year old Canon 200mm f/1.8 EF lens that became famous under the name ‘Eye of Sauron’.
The lens appears to be part of the ‘Sports’ series, and I have no further details yet on specs, release date or pricing. What I do know is that Sigma patented the optical design of the same lens five years ago (read the article here). This lens would be 24cm long, just like the current Sigma 500mm f/5.6. But the patent is quite old and it could be that the new 200mm lens is shorter and more compact, thanks to recent technical improvements Sigma has made to lenses like the 50mm f/1.4 and the soon-to-be-released 300-600mm f/4.0.
I still need more sources to confirm or deny this rumor before I can bring it to 99% certainty. So if you know more about this lens, feel free to use this anonymous contact form or contact me via eMail, Signal, Telegram.

Why do I think this lens would be an EPIC addition?
I will give you three reasons:

1. Stunning Bokeh Let’s compare a portrait taken with a 200mm f/1.8 and a 200mm f/2.8 lens (such as the Sigma 70-200). At the widest aperture, the 200mm f/1.8 would achieve a depth of field of 6cm at a subject distance of 5m. With the Sigma zoom, you would achieve a depth of field of 10 cm. The shallower the depth of field, the more pronounced the bokeh.
2. Great for landscapes On my alpine tours,I do use often the 200mm focal length of my Tamron 28-200mm. But the Tamron has f/5.6, while the Sigma is more than three f-stops faster! This results in visibly cleaner images.
3. Made for sports and wildlife photographers Sports photographers would enjoy an advantage of more than 1 f-stop, especially when shooting indoors. Wildlife photographers (although limited by the shorter telephoto focal length) would get cleaner images and more flexibility in low light conditions.

My speculation is that this lens might be price around $2,500 which would be $3500 less than the only similar lens you can buy at BHphoto today.

Wrap up: Like I said, I still need full confirmation on this rumor. But I really hope that this rumor about the Sigma 200mm f/1.8 lens will come true. It would give us a new, unique lens that we don’t yet have in our line-up. There is an exciting time ahead with many new rumors!!!

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According to my trusted sources, Panasonic will announce a new L-mount full-frame camera with ‘video focus’ in April. And it sounds very likely that it will NOT be an S1H successor , but something else. The trusted sources have NOT yet shared any specs, camera names or other information. Ao now I’ll share information I’ve received from other new sources I’m working with. I’m still not sure, but I hope that after this article is published, trusted sources can confirm or deny the information I’m sharing now.

The new sources claim that it could be a Sony FX3 competitor, a very compact L-mount camera without an EVF with a fast 24MP stacked sensor. One of the sources claims he has heard that it could use the partially stacked sensor of this Nikon camera. However, I doubt this is true as I believe this sensor is used exclusively by Nikon as they developed it (and Sony manufactured it).

So to sum this up:

90% reliable info from trusted sources:

• New Lumix FF video oriented camera is coming in April
• It’s not a direct S1H successor

Rumors from new sources (unclear how reliable this can be):

• compact L-mount camera without an EVF with a fast 24MP stacked sensor (Sony FX3 competitor)

What about the S1HII?

I have no idea if Panasonic still plans to announce a proper S1H successor. Basically, it should be an S1rII body with lower resolution, stacked sensor or better image quality and less rolling shutter issues, for example. All I know is that Panasonic has registered three new camera codes in Asia. So there are still many new cameras to be announced between April and probably late summer. One of them could be a compact camera with a fixed lens, which has been directly ‘teased’ by Panasonic managers in an interview.

Anyway, now is the time to comment on this post and let Panasonic know if you like the idea of a new compact cine camera… or if you still think a larger body with EVF, an S1HII, is needed!

How to share rumors:

If you happen to know more about Panasonic next camera contact through this contact box, Signal, Telegram, or contact me via lrumorscameras@gmail.com. Thanks!

On 28 February, Panasonic registered another new camera in China. We have now registered a total of three cameras in Asia that have not yet been announced. The next camera will be announced in April, and it’s a ‘niche’ L-mount camera that is NOT the S1HII. I don’t know yet what the other two cameras might be. Yesterday Panasonic said they are working on new fixed lens cameras, maybe one of them is some kind of LX100II successor. What would you like to see?

Note: The table above shows four camera codes for ‘unknown’ cameras. One of the codes is certainly for the Lumix S1rII, leaving three cameras that have yet to be announced.

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Lumix S1rII preorder links:
In USA at BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama.
In Europe at Fotoerhardt, Fotokoch, Calumet, WexUK. Clifton. ParkUK.
Lumix S1rII battery grip links:
BHphoto, Amazon, Adorama, Fotoerhardt, Fotokoch, Calumet, WexUK.

Sigma CEO Yamaki had a talk at the CP+ show. And there he teased the launch of a new updated version of the current 35mm f/1.2 L lens. The new version will be:

• Released soon
• Be way more compact (similar design to the Sigma 50mm f/1.2)
• Be lighter
• Be optically superior despite the smaller size
• Made for Sony E and Leica L mount cameras

Sigma CEO Yamaki also said there will be many ART lenses released this year!