Sigma issued a press release about the development of the Full Frame L-mount foveon camera. And it surely doesn’t sound like this camera is coming this year as they previously stated 🙁

Press text:

An update about our sensor development project

Dear SIGMA customers,

First of all, thank you very much for your continued support and interest in our products.

In February 2020, we announced our decision to restart our plans for a full frame Foveon X3 sensor camera, beginning with the development of a new sensor technology. We have not been able to share any information regarding this project in the time since, and I would like to use this short message to provide an update about the situation.

As previously announced, we halted development of the project after the sensor we were working with could not go into mass production due to a critical flaw. As a result, we also terminated our contract with the sensor manufacturer with whom we had been collaborating. Further, we determined that the original sensor specifications would make it difficult to develop a product that will meet our and our customers’ high standards, and accordingly we decided to go back to the drawing board.

At present, we are fully engaged in research and development of the project, led by our head office, and are reviewing specifications to ensure that we will be able to satisfy the expectations placed on this project. While we have not proceeded to the development of a camera body yet, we will continue to do our utmost to create a camera in which we have full confidence.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the strong and ongoing support you have shown us.

All of our employees, including me, continue to do their very best to develop new and outstanding photographic technologies. Thank you for your patience and for your understanding.

Kazuto Yamaki
Chief Executive Officer, SIGMA Corporation

Related video message:
“An update about our sensor development project” by Kazuto Yamaki (CEO, SIGMA)

You can preorder the new lens at BHphoto.

You can now preorder the lens at BHphoto and Adorama.

via Nokishita

Nokishita reports the Leica APO-SUMMICRON-SL f2 / 28mm ASPH lens will cost $5195

Anhui China, Feb 10, 2021 – Venus Optics, the camera lenses manufacturer who had previously launched series of one-of-a-kind Laowa camera lenses, are proud to introduce the L mount to 2 wide angle lenses (4mm f/2.8 Fisheye, 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D) and 2 macro lenses (24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe, Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro).

• LAOWA 4mm f/2.8 Fisheye
• LAOWA 9mm f/2.8 Zero-D
• 24mm f/14 2X Macro Probe
• Laowa 25mm f/2.8 2.5-5X Ultra Macro

The lenses are available at Venus Shop (worldwide shipment).

You can find the new Panasonic financial report here: panasonic.com/global/corporate/ir/release.html#2021. The company as a whole is doing great but in all their files there is not a single mention about their camera business. It’s therefore impossible to know if they are doing  good.