Leica lenses designed by Sigma??

4 years 9 months ago #646187 by KenMan
All those Leica fan boys and girls sold on the Leica koolaid really must love that brand if this is factual.   https://www.43rumors.com/the-leica-50-200mm-f-2-8-4-0-was-likely-desined-by-sigma/?fbclid=IwAR1yLqFzn0J34S0diTQlJbn-BgmxBVwomWCRf8fMA1PyDO6VclSwUfs8x9M

This being the case, Leica lens, or at least this one mentioned isn't better than Sigma or similar alternatives just because it has the Leica badge.  Seeing this kind of makes you think.  I have a close friend who owns a couple Leica cameras and has always boosted about how superior their lenses were.  Yeah., about that.   


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4 years 9 months ago #646230 by Fess Walker
Well there's a surprise for you!

That doesn't seem 100%.  But if it is, then that is pretty amazing for Sigma!  


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4 years 9 months ago #646240 by icepics
Leica partnered with Sigma and Panasonic to manufacture lenses for their new L mount cameras. So Sigma probably has a patent of the design for a lens they're manufacturing in partnership with Leica.

The L mount is intended to be more universal or usable with other brands. Which is not a new idea; I have a Voigtlander rangefinder and digital Ricoh that use Leica Thread Mount (LTM) known as M mount. I have one vintage Leica lens from the 1940's and while it may be a little brassed and well used it's a nice sharp lens (I'm happy with it, to each his own).

The 43rumors site didn't seem to do their homework or they'd know about the new L mount and the partnership between those manufacturers. They link to a site that's mostly in Japanese...

Sharon
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4 years 9 months ago #646258 by icepics
Forgot to post the link to the Leica L mount site.
l-mount.com/?utm_source=corposite&utm_me...nt&utm_content=leica

Got curious about 43rumors and it shows they're in Belgium; mentions the UK, US, Canada, and Japan. Didn't see any names so couldn't tell who owns it, runs it, provides links and/or the rumors.

Sharon
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4 years 9 months ago #646281 by Pettigrew
Regardless, this looks very favorable for Sigma and I’m sure relationships like this please the shareholders.  As I see it, this raises perceived value and quality of their lenses.   

Canon EOS 7D SLR | XT W/18-55 Kit Lens | Canon 50mm 1.8 | Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 | Canon 28-105mm | Canon 75-300mm | Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro | Canon 100-400
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4 years 9 months ago #646363 by KenMan
Yep, I was thinking the same thing.  Surprised to learn this.  But IMHO, this looks really good for Sigma.  Heck raises my opinion of their lenses! 


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4 years 9 months ago - 4 years 9 months ago #646406 by Ozzie_Traveller
G'day all

Without putting down Ken for the O.P. - one needs to realise several basic facts regarding manufacturing ... as the design could be done by any of 1/2-dozen sources.

In any manufacturing process, every individual component has a manufacturing tolerance ... some come out 'a bit less' - some are 'a bit oversize' - and some are 'damn-near-perfect' ... but ALL are within the designated tolerance

If the inspection process puts aside all the 'damn-near-perfect' components, then when assembled into a final product, its performance WILL be superior to the regular product that you and I can afford. This is already done by Canon & Nikon for many of their 'pro' versions of regular lenses, so presuming it is also done in this case, it certainly means that the Leica branded lens, as well as costing heaps more than the commercial version, will also be better at everything else too.

A version of the above has also been done for many decades now by lens makers who at final assembly inspection may find a batch that has slightly worse performance than they would like for their 'brand name' lens - so they are sold off to other sellers, leading to inexpensive lenses being branded 'K-Mart' or 'Wal-Mart' and suchlike

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

Phil from the great land Downunder
www.flickr.com/photos/ozzie_traveller/sets/

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4 years 9 months ago #646411 by Tristan R
+1 good point


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4 years 9 months ago #646607 by Chris Briggs
Does Sigma make lenses for anyone else? 


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4 years 9 months ago #646632 by fmw
Nothing new here.  Leica put their brand on some Minolta lenses for its SLR back in the 1980's.  Leica lenses were superior to most others back in the days prior to computer generated lens designs.  Computers equalized things.  That's why Leica can outsource lenses to Sigma and Zeiss can have Cosina execute their designs.


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4 years 9 months ago #646793 by Ian Stone
Not surprised at all.  If you have shot with recent Sigma glass, their lenses are really nice stuff. 


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4 years 9 months ago #647014 by Jason Stevens
Agree, Sigma has continued to raise the bar with their lenses.  I bought a 10-20mm from them back in 2009.  It just felt cheap.  Their new lenses feel of much higher quality and optics are world class.


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