Strange rumor: Panasonic to transfer all consumer imaging to be under Leica brand

Personal View reports this:

My source told that on latest meeting it had been revealed that grand plan can be to shift all of consumer imaging product to be under Leica brand within 2 next years, with departments still mostly residing in Japan. Pro will remain in Panasonic.
Panasonic want to reposition all product as being premium, elite focused ones. Same as new S1 and S1R cameras and lenses.
Choosing L mount had been part of this same strategy.
Shifting all to be under Leica brand can be necessary due to more price hikes planned ahead, especially this considers lenses.
Also sales and preorder number more correspond to niche brand like Leica already.
My source is not sure about GH lineup future, but it can even fall as victim of big management decisions or can be transferred to pro department.
Note – it is management talks, not final decision!

Your thoughts on this?

New Panasonic S1R Review by Photographyblog: “superb full-frame camera”

Photographyblog posted their full Panasonic S1R Review. The conclusion:

Panasonic’s first attempt at a 35mm full-frame mirrorless camera is an impressive one, offering a long list of mouth-watering features, superb image quality, and great handling. The S1R is definitely a serious contender to the Sony A7R III and Nikon Z7.

It’s undeniably a large and heavy camera, though, being much more akin to a pro DSLR than a traditionally smaller mirrorless camera, but then that’s exactly what Panasonic have stated that they set out to do – create a serious camera for professionals, regardless of whether it uses mirrorless or mirrored technology. Consequently the Panasonic S1R is both the largest/heaviest mirrorless camera that we’ve ever reviewed, but also one of the best in terms of its handling, thanks to a generously sized handgrip, class-leading EVF, intuitive touchscreen interface, handy top status LCD screen and logical control layout, not to mention the Dual Image Stabilisation system which provides up to a class-leading 6-stops of compensation.

Image quality is another area where the S1R really shines, with the combination of the 47 megapixel sensor and high quality lenses producing some stunning shots. And if 47 megapixels isn’t enough resolution for you, the High Resolution Mode produces an incredible 187 megapixel image with the minimum of fuss. It’s not quite as capable on the video front, though, largely thanks to the 4K output being limited to 4:2:0 8-bit quality – videographers should consider the lower-resolution S1 model instead, which is much better in this regard.

Along with video, auto-focus and burst shooting are two other areas where the S1R lags behind the competition a little. The contrast AF system with Panasonic’s unique DFD technology isn’t quite on par with the S1R’s main rivals in terms of focusing speed, while the 6fps burst shooting rate with continuous AF is surpassed by the Sony A7R III (10fps). Other complaints are much more minor – the On/Off switch is rather inconveniently positioned, the LCD screen only tilts up/down, rather than out to the side as on the Lumix G9, the crosshair used to denote lock-on for Eye AF is much more subtle than on other cameras, and there’s no separate AE/AL lock button. Overall, though, the first-generation Lumix S1R gets most things right, and very little wrong.

In terms of price, £3,399.99 / $3,699.99 body only puts the Panasonic S1R right in the same ballpark as the Sony A7R III and the Nikon Z7, although the former model has fallen signficantly in recent weeks, presumably as a reaction to the launches by Nikon and Panasonic. The adoption of the L-mount standard by Panasonic is also a clever one in our view, greatly accelerating the number of lenses that will be available for the new system, allowing Panasonic to quickly challenge the market leader Sony in this regard.

Overall, the Panasonic S1R is a superb full-frame camera that has broad appeal for every kind of photography, except perhaps for serious sports and videography.

Two more tests:
Panasonic S1 & S1R Hands-On, Part II: New full-frame mirrorless cameras impress in Texa by Imaging Resource.
Hands-on with the 24-105mm f/4, 50mm f/1.4 and 70-200mm f/4 lenses by Imaging Resource.

Preorders:
Panasonic S1R at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. In Europe at Calumet DE, ParkCameras, Jessops.
Panasonic S1 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. In Europe at Calumet DE, ParkCameras, Jessops.
Panasonic 50mm f/1.4 S at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. In Europe at Calumet DE, ParkCameras, Jessops.
Panasonic 24-105mm f/4.0 S at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. In Europe at Calumet DE, ParkCameras, Jessops.
Panasonic 70-200mm f/4.0 S at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. In Europe at Calumet DE, ParkCameras, Jessops.

Here is the english translated Sigma CP+ press conference

Dan from Dpreview Forum translated the Sigma CP+ press conference:

Here’s a quick translation of KY’s speech at cp+. I did not translate his speech word for word, but hopefully this will be helpful or interesting to you.

2:26 the screen reads as follows:

1) Sell a camera with a Foveon sensor in 2019 (later revised to 2020, of course).

2) Cease selling cameras with the SA mount

3) Continue selling lenses with the SA mount

4)SA/EF-L mount adapter in 2019

5)Sell L mount lenses in 2019

6) Add L mount to the list of choices to the mount conversion service

5:15 a picture of the new sensor is shown.

Mr. Yamaki then apologizes for the delay, saying that they are trying to make a great camera and that creating a full frame sensor for the first time comes with difficulties.

5:50 Mr. Yamaki talks about Foveon sensors stating:

“Our current cameras, the Quattros, use a 1:1:4 RGB sensor, but we are returning to our traditional, or rather, original 1:1:1 sensor.”

He then talks about pixel pitch. He said that he wanted to create a camera where the pixel pitch was large enough that the images could be recorded well. (paraphrased). Shortly thereafter, he talks about spectral response.

~10:00 “Our sensors have the reputation of being able to capture images in a unique way in regards to pixel sharpness, etc. Our cameras have a broader spectral response compared to cameras with a Bayer filter. In cameras with a Bayer sensor, the RGB have more distinct peaks comparatively. It is said that Foveon sensors are have worse color separation due to this. It is true that Foveon sensors are indeed a little weaker when it comes to color separation, but this also allows for a smooth gradation of colors.”

~11:00 He talks about the switch to TSI semiconductors. He notes that the close proximity of the two companies will allow for better communication between Foveon and the foundry.

12:36 Bruce Gray from TSI Semiconductors and Shri Ramaswami from Foveon speak.

33:12 Mr. Yamaki returns and states, ” We expect to be selling the MC-21 this spring. Although we sell the MC-11 for about 37,500 yen, we are tentatively planning to release the MC-21 for SA-L at around 10,000 yen.” (currently $89.30 although, it is likely to be closer to $100)

~35:08 Release dates for the L mount lenses

35:17 Mount conversion service for SA-L mount is tentatively planned for about 10,000 yen.

New L-mount news roundup….

The Leica L mount and why we need new lens mounts (Redshark).

Preorders:
Panasonic S1R at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. In Europe at Calumet DE, ParkCameras, Jessops.
Panasonic S1 at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. In Europe at Calumet DE, ParkCameras, Jessops.
Panasonic 50mm f/1.4 S at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. In Europe at Calumet DE, ParkCameras, Jessops.
Panasonic 24-105mm f/4.0 S at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. In Europe at Calumet DE, ParkCameras, Jessops.
Panasonic 70-200mm f/4.0 S at Amazon, Adorama and BHphoto. In Europe at Calumet DE, ParkCameras, Jessops.