Samyang and Astrodesign Have Joined the L Mount Alliance
The L Mount Alliance has acquired two new members: Samyang and Astrodesign. While the latter is likely less known to photography enthusiasts, Samyang is quite a well-known brand that has become relatively respected over the last few years.
“Exciting news! Astrodesign and Samyang Optics have joined the L-Mount Alliance, bringing the total number of companies to seven. This collaboration will lead to innovative products benefiting a wide range of photo and video applications,” Leica Camera AG says on Twitter.
Astrodesign likely needs some introduction as it is not a household name. Founded in 1977, Astrodesign specializes in real-time high-speed digital signal processing technology and says that it has developed multiple “world’s first” or “first in Japan” products, including many 8K cameras.
Samyang is a far more recognizable name to photography enthusiasts since it has been making lenses for consumer cameras since about 2009 — although the company has existed for far longer and was founded in 1972. It started out much like Laowa, AstrHori, TTartisan, or the other well-known brands out of China did by making affordable, wholly manual lenses. But the Korean-based company has advanced rapidly and now offers some highly respected lenses that include full electronic connection with an attached camera and even support autofocus.
Up until now, Samyang has focused on bringing these types of lenses to Sony E-mount, Fujifilm X-Mount, and DSLR mounts like Canon EF, but in joining the L Mount Alliance, photographers can fully expect these lenses to be ported over to support Sigma, Leica, and Panasonic full-frame cameras.
The L Mount Alliance was originally announced at Photokina in 2018 and included Leica, Sigma, and Panasonic. It later added Leitz Cine and last year DJI joined the group. Any company is welcome to submit to join the Alliance, but not everyone who asks will be admitted.
“The L-Mount Alliance is not a completely open alliance,” the group says on its website. “It came about by the granting of licences by Leica Camera AG to Panasonic and Sigma. Nevertheless, other partners could be taken on board if certain conditions are met.”
The official L Mount Alliance website now proudly displays seven logos and shows how much the group has grown over the last five years.
Image credits: Leica
