Leica and Panasonic announce 'L² Technology' collaboration

Leica and Panasonic have announced a new alliance, called L² Technology, which will focus on utilising their collective technologies and know-how to create new camera, lens and software products.

The collaboration is aimed at maximising the synergies of Leica’s optical and imaging technologies with Panasonic’s video and digital technologies.

The two companies have promised, ‘We will develop innovative L² Technology that will create a new imaging world.’

The L² Technology (L-squared Technology) is named after the two Ls of (L)EICA and Panasonic’s (L)UMIX imaging brand.

Leica Camera AG and Panasonic Corporation have cooperated since August 2000, when they signed an agreement for lenses of digital, audio-visual equipment.

In 2001 the decision was made to also cooperate in the digital camera sector.

Since then, the companies have expanded their technological cooperation.

At Photokina 2018 Leica joined forces with Panasonic and Sigma to form the ‘L-Mount Alliance’.

The ‘L-Mount Alliance’ was for the production of full-frame mirrorless cameras and lenses.

It saw Panasonic and Sigma formally licensing Leica’s existing L-mount, as used by Leica’s full-frame SL and APS-C T systems.

This gave Panasonic and Sigma a shortcut into an expanding sector of the market, without having to develop an entirely new mount.

As yet, it’s unclear as to what might be the first products to emerge from the new L² Technology collaboration, but AP will report it as soon as we know anything concrete.

Announcing the new L² Technology agreement are Matthias Harsch (left), CEO of Leica Camera AG and Yosuke Yamane (right), vice president of Panasonic Entertainment & Communication Co. Ltd

Please see below for the full Leica/Panasonic press release

Leica and Panasonic Signed Strategic Comprehensive Collaboration Agreement, and Develop „L² Technology“ as Symbol of the Collaboration

31^st May 2022– Today, Panasonic Entertainment & Communication Corporation, business unit responsible for LUMIX imaging, and Leica Camera AG announce a new agreement for a comprehensive and expanded business alliance. Both companies are committing to increase their collaboration of their core competencies and to develop new technologies and solutions under the new name of “L² Technology” (L squared Technology) which symbolically uses the two „L“ of “LEICA” and “LUMIX” in their marketing activities going forward.

L² Technology will unify the strengths of two brands, LEICA and LUMIX. It will be a symbol of the collaboration by combining the technologies and know-how of the two companies in the fields of new camera and lens products and next-generation software, and create technologies and solutions that deliver new value in the new era. Through this collaboration, both companies will be able to maximize the synergies by Leica’s optical and imaging technology and Panasonic’s video and digital technology that have been cultivated over many years and jointly explore new creativity and expressive power. We will develop innovative L² Technology that will create a new imaging world.

Both Leica and Panasonic will jointly invest in new technologies that can be incorporated into camera and lens products, and will incorporate mutually developed technologies into each other’s LEICA and LUMIX products to further enhance their product capabilities. Going forward, each brand will utilize L² Technology, which is designed to open up new possibilities for creative camera users, in their marketing activities in order to develop a collaborative system over the long term.

Commenting on the announcement today, Yuki Kusumi, CEO of Panasonic Holdings Corporations said, “I am very pleased to have a broad partnership with Leica Camera. Through joint development and marketing with Leica, we will be able to provide products that delight as many customers as possible. This is a major turning point that will undoubtedly lead to the development of the imaging business and especially exciting as Panasonic Holdings. I personally can’t wait to start using the new LUMIX with L² Technology.”

Furthermore, Akira Toyoshima, CEO of Panasonic Entertainment & Communication Co.,Ltd expressed, “With the arrival of an era in which photos and videos are shared globally in real time, cameras are required to have capability to create more impressive and breath-taking expression. I have always been impressed by the high picture quality and the picture-making philosophy that Leica has developed over its long history. I am very pleased and excited to continue working with Leica to develop technology that will enable people around the world to share their emotions.”

Matthias Harsch, CEO of Leica Camera AG adds, “We have been working with Panasonic for many years in a spirit of partnership and trust, and their extensive expertise is undisputed. The combination of our competencies in L² Technology is another milestone in the partnership and proves that the best way to meet today’s challenges in the camera market is not to segment and specialize, but to deepen capabilities in order to jointly create solutions for the future.”

History of collaboration

The cooperation between Leica Camera AG and Panasonic Corporation has existed since August 2000. Initially, the companies had signed a cooperation agreement for lenses of digital, audio-visual equipment, and in 2001 the decision was made to cooperate in the digital camera sector as well. Since then, the companies have steadily expanded their technological cooperation. In 2018, together with Sigma, the “L-Mount Alliance” was founded, an unprecedented type of cooperation that enables Panasonic, Sigma and, since 2021, Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH to use the L-mount standard developed by Leica for their own developments and thus also offer cameras as well as optics with this lens mount.

About the Panasonic Group

A global leader in developing innovative technologies and solutions for wide-ranging applications in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, industry, communications, and energy sectors worldwide, the Panasonic Group switched to an operating company system on April 1, 2022 with Panasonic Holdings Corporation serving as a holding company and eight companies positioned under its umbrella. Founded in 1918, the Group is committed to enhancing the well-being of people and society and conducts its businesses based on founding principles applied to generate new value and offer sustainable solutions for today’s world. The Group reported consolidated net sales of 7,388.8 billion yen for the year ended March 31, 2022. Devoted to improving the well-being of people, the Panasonic Group is united in providing superior products and services to help you Live Your Best. To learn more about the Panasonic Group, please visit: https://holdings.panasonic/global/

Leica Camera – A Partner for Photography

Leica Camera AG is an international, premium manufacturer of cameras and sports optics. The legendary reputation of the Leica brand is based on a long tradition of excellent quality, German craftsmanship and German industrial design, combined with innovative technologies. An integral part of the brand’s culture is the diversity of activities the company undertakes for the advancement of photography. In addition to the Leica Galleries and Leica Akademies spread around the world, there are the Leica Hall of Fame Award and, in particular, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award (LOBA), which is considered one of the most innovative sponsorship awards existing today. Furthermore, Leica Camera AG, with its headquarters in Wetzlar, Hessen, and a second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, has a worldwide network of its own national organisations and Leica Retail Stores.

Message from Top Management about Strategic Comprehensive Business Alliance…