Features and Specifications - All about L-Mount Alliance

The members of the L-Mount Alliance all utilize the L-Mount Standard developed by Lecia Camera AG for mirrorless camera systems. Currently, the members of the alliance are Leica Camera, SIGMA, Panasonic, Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH and DJI.

The partners in the alliance utilize the L-Mount Standard for cameras and lenses that are offered under their own brand names. They market their respective products as competitors, and each with their own product and marketing strategies. The alliance works together on advancing the technology of the L-Mount Standard.

The L-Mount is a lens mount for mirrorless autofocus system cameras. It was launched by Leica for an APS-C system in 2014 with the Leica T system. In 2015 the mount was added to the Leica SL full-frame system. It is suitable for both APS-C format and full frame cameras. It was later adopted for use with Panasonic’s LUMIX full frame cameras.

Panasonic and Leica have had a long-term collaborative partnership. Similarly, Panasonic and SIGMA have had regular communication beginning with the Micro 4/3 system. The three companies have their own established positions and strengths that help each of them to stand out from one another.

Panasonic’s technical expertise focuses on high levels of technologies in various fields of digital photography that include LSI/Sensor design, Battery production, autofocus and optical stabilization systems. Leica’s expertise is in optical design and premium manufacturing as well as brand value. SIGMA’s high level product development and mass production system capability allows them to offer high performance lenses at various price points. Together, this exceptionally balanced partnership became the L Mount Alliance. The goal was to utilize this versatile lens mount, thus providing the benefits to various types of customers. The aim of the L-Mount Alliance is to create a cohesive market which gives the customer many options offered by several companies to meet each customer’s needs.

While many assume that the “L” stands for Leica, but according to Leica the “L’ was intended to signify “Limitless”. For the first time in the history of digital photography, a cross-format lens mount standard established that allows lenses made by different manufactures to be used on each other’s system cameras.

Each individual alliance partner will be responsible for their own service and support.

At this time the specifications are not open source. The L-Mount specifications are only shared amongst members of the L Mount Alliance.

For clarity of this explanation, Meta data is the bi-directional communications that takes place between the camera and the lens.

• The meta data from products within the L Mount Alliance is compatible, providing the same level of content and communications capabilities as when a camera manufacturer’s lens is used on their own camera.
• From an optical standpoint, the resolution and visual acuity are determined by the optical lens specifications. The end result is equal to the lens optical specifications
• While all meta data is shared, the degree to which the meta data is implemented in each manufacturer’s product is up to each manufacturer. Furthermore, in situations where the performance of a certain aspect of one product exceeds the capabilities of the competitor’s product, the overall performance would exceed the lesser products specifications – and vice-versa.