Dpreview published their interview with Sigma's CEO Kazuto Yamaki, on the new L-mount:
https://www.dpreview.com/interviews/1588388811/photokina-2018-sigma-interview
Sigma will release their first L-mount lenses in mid-2019. They will also release L-mount versions of their current ART FF lenses:
https://bhpho.to/2Aan0pu
A few more quotes from dpreview:
How did the L-mount alliance come about?
I don’t remember exactly when but I think it was two or three years ago. At that time we’d already decided to make a full frame mirrorless camera featuring Foveon technology. We were planning to develop our own short flange back mirrorless system. Actually we already had a design. I don’t remember the exact spec but I think the flange back was about the same [as the L mount], about 20mm, and a similar mount diameter.
And around that time, Panasonic approached us and proposed that we work on it jointly. At around that same time, Panasonic approached Leica, and finally the three companies came together – I think it was about two years ago. And then we agreed to join the L mount system and we discontinued the development of our own original mount system.
Was there anything about the L mount from a technical point of view that made it particularly attractive?
I would say it’s a well-balanced mount. The flange back is short enough without being too short, and the diameter isn’t too big. It’s a good balance. If the diameter is too big, sometimes it’s difficult to make the camera bodies compact. And if we make a slow lens, like an F2.8 prime or an F3.4-5.6 zoom lens, with a wide diameter mount the shape of the lens will be like this [indicates a funnel shape, tapering from a wide mount to a narrow front element] where the front is slimmer than the back. That doesn’t look great, in my opinion. So the L mount is a well-balanced mount size. 20mm is not too short.
Do you have a timeframe for your own L mount lenses?
I need to check with our engineers, but probably we’ll start shipping our first L mount lenses sometime in the middle of next year.
Will they be L mount versions of your existing designs, or will they be entirely new designs?
Both. We already have the 14 lenses for Sony E-mount, so we’ll make L mount versions of those lenses, and they’ll start shipping next year. We’ll also start shipping brand new L mount lenses.
https://www.dpreview.com/interviews/1588388811/photokina-2018-sigma-interview
Sigma will release their first L-mount lenses in mid-2019. They will also release L-mount versions of their current ART FF lenses:
https://bhpho.to/2Aan0pu
A few more quotes from dpreview:
How did the L-mount alliance come about?
I don’t remember exactly when but I think it was two or three years ago. At that time we’d already decided to make a full frame mirrorless camera featuring Foveon technology. We were planning to develop our own short flange back mirrorless system. Actually we already had a design. I don’t remember the exact spec but I think the flange back was about the same [as the L mount], about 20mm, and a similar mount diameter.
And around that time, Panasonic approached us and proposed that we work on it jointly. At around that same time, Panasonic approached Leica, and finally the three companies came together – I think it was about two years ago. And then we agreed to join the L mount system and we discontinued the development of our own original mount system.
Was there anything about the L mount from a technical point of view that made it particularly attractive?
I would say it’s a well-balanced mount. The flange back is short enough without being too short, and the diameter isn’t too big. It’s a good balance. If the diameter is too big, sometimes it’s difficult to make the camera bodies compact. And if we make a slow lens, like an F2.8 prime or an F3.4-5.6 zoom lens, with a wide diameter mount the shape of the lens will be like this [indicates a funnel shape, tapering from a wide mount to a narrow front element] where the front is slimmer than the back. That doesn’t look great, in my opinion. So the L mount is a well-balanced mount size. 20mm is not too short.
Do you have a timeframe for your own L mount lenses?
I need to check with our engineers, but probably we’ll start shipping our first L mount lenses sometime in the middle of next year.
Will they be L mount versions of your existing designs, or will they be entirely new designs?
Both. We already have the 14 lenses for Sony E-mount, so we’ll make L mount versions of those lenses, and they’ll start shipping next year. We’ll also start shipping brand new L mount lenses.
