Last Updated on February 22, 2019 by cameraconsumer
If you’re a camera aficionado, you’ve probably heard all of the buzz about the new L-Mount Alliance. Towards the end of 2018, it was one of the most talked about camera and photography topics.
With rapid improvements and the recent emergence of mirrorless systems over the past two years, 2019 (and possibly 2020) could be a turning point in the battle between DSLR camera systems, and mirrorless. Enter the L-Mount Alliance…
What exactly is the L-Mount Alliance? And how will it affect the camera industry and photography market?
Let’s dive in and figure it all out…
What is the L-Mount Alliance?
To cut a long story short, participants in the L-Mount Alliance use a standardized lens mount system. Now, that opening statement is succinct and to the point, but it doesn’t tell the whole story, not quite. For starters, the idea of an alliance implies there are members. In fact, there are three. And then there’s the crux of the statement, the L-Mount label.
Instantly recognized by camera enthusiasts, the term only summons up a big question mark when it’s read out by a novice. Let’s smooth out that furrowed brow.
All About Lens Interfaces
On adopting a back to basics approach, let’s take a look at interchangeable camera lenses. While smartphones and compact cameras internalize their optical assemblies, larger models create independent optical mechanisms.
The lenses are cylindrical, loaded with sophisticated glass elements, which can move, and they’re fitted with tiny gears and electrical circuits. Crucially, to ensure this intricate assembly of optical elements can talk to a camera, a proprietary interface is required. With that electro-mechanical coupling made, the camera body takes charge of lens focus and aperture size.
Enter The L-Mount System
Developed by Leica, this lens interface format carries the torch for a camera manufacturer that has made a huge impact on the photography sector. Yes, their equipment is often expensive, but enthusiasts don’t mind spending large sums of money when they get legendary camera performance in return.
Having developed their own proprietary lens system, one that’s aimed specifically at mirrorless technology, new levels of creative independence are suddenly possible.
Enough with the praise, though, it’s time for the nitty-gritty, for the facts and numbers that’ll reinforce the praise. Before all else, L-Mount interchangeables are designed for mirrorless cameras, and they’re supported by three big-name manufacturers.
Next, the mix-and-match approach is compatible with the APS-C and full-frame sensors used in equipment made by those three manufacturers. Finally, from a by-the-numbers point of view, the 51.6-mm diameter bayonet mounting employs a skinny 20-mm flange, so mirrorless lens-to-sensor distances are minimized.
An Exclusive Three-Way Partnership
The L-Mount Alliance story began with Leica, the founding father, as it were. There are two other members of the alliance, both of whom bring their own brand strengths to the mount-standardizing fellowship. We’re tempted at this point to make a bad pun about “one ring coupling to rule them all,” but that would be an unforgivable play on words, right?
Anyway, back to the topic at hand, the other members of the alliance are Panasonic and Sigma. Just imagine, with those three major brands working together, the sheer wealth of experience that has flown into this proprietary lens interface. Bound to be one of the hottest developments around in 2019, the ramifications that will follow in the wake of the optics-unifying advancements are sure to be substantial.
Just for once, it’s wonderful to see such extraordinary strides being taken because different companies are pooling their resources, not battling each other. And, perhaps best of all, the trend will benefit mirrorless camera owners as much as it does the alliance members.
Breaking Down The L-Mount Benefits
With Sigma and Panasonic providing the extra brand muscle, camera-to-lens compatibility issues happily fade away. The dimensions, that 51.6-mm, and 20-mm pairing written in back and white a few paragraphs back, are naturally important, but then there’s the electronic communications linkage to consider. A 10-pin comms bridge hooks up any member’s mirrorless camera to any other alliance member’s lens.
Let’s put the features list on pause right here, though, for machine gun-like features lists can obscure basic truths. Think instead of the premium lenses that are currently being manufactured to fit those large camera openings. Paired with that 10-pin electronic communications interface, the mirrorless equipment sector is suddenly coming of age.
That’s the real take away from this article, the thought that a mature proprietary lens interface is really giving the mirror-free market its due. Long may this trend continue, with big tech and creativity gateways bursting above a purely professional mirrorless camera like an imaginary bottle of champagne. What a fine image that is, for sure.
The APS-C To Full-Frame Bridge
The APS-C sensor configuration is used on mid-range DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Dropping DSLRs, let’s focus on mirrorless APS-C. The cropped-image sensors are larger than micro four third image processors, but they’re just a little bit smaller than the full-frame electronics found in heavier professional models. And that’s one of the problems with full-frame cameras: they’re large and heavy.
Of course, if the equipment owner is a pro photographer, the extra weight won’t matter. Back to lens interfaces, there are two versions of L-Mount technology. For APS-C systems, TL is the better option. If a mirrorless camera uses an impressive full-frame digital sensor, the preferred lens type should come with an SL label.
Incidentally, there’s a reason “should” is typed instead of must. Remember, compatibility is everything when dealing with L-mount Alliance products. If a TL lens is mounted onto a full frame camera, one manufactured by an alliance member, it’ll fit snugly, mechanically AND electronically, but it’ll automatically switch itself to crop mode.
It’s beyond tempting to finish this post with a list of features and figures. The different lenses certainly show off their premium features, that’s for sure. Instead, we’ve chosen a slight perspective shift. Rather than highlight their mechanical speed and autofocusing capabilities, plus a whole page full of superfast aperture switching talents, think instead about the significance of this development.
Instead of a whole new army of top-tier, high-quality DSLRs, the best manufacturers in the industry are turning their full attention towards the mirrorless sector. Sure, these cameras have been impressing keen photography enthusiasts for years now, but this is different. This is a proprietary interface that’s been developed by Leica. And, now that that development phase is coming of age, Sigma and Panasonic products are fully embracing the format. If nothing else, the mirrorless VS DSLR battle is about to get very serious.
Final Thoughts
It’s still too early to tell where this is all going. Mirrorless systems have come a long way since their inception. The L-Mount Alliance is one step towards closing the gap between this system, and the more established DSLR platform.
Only time will tell, but I do think that by the end of 2020, mirrorless systems will at the very least, be even with DSLR cameras as far as overall capabilities are concerned. As far as market share though, that might take a few more years.
