When the Leica L-mount was announced, people were skeptical of what this could mean for photographers. But over the years, the mount has now become the most-sought after option for many hybrid users. While L-mount is still not there yet when it comes to competing with brands like Canon, Sony or Nikon, they have managed to gain the trust of many photographers. It now appears they are ready to introduce the 11th member of the alliance, which will only help those who want a one-stop solution.
For the uninitiated, Freefly system creates cameras and drones, which have a wide range of options for photo and video use. The collaboration aims to provide “customers with a futureproof, flexible, robust and precise bayonet mount that would fulfill even the most demanding photographic needs.” In other words, with more partners, L-mount aims to end the monopoly of many other camera brands. The L-mount has over 20 cameras and 134 lenses, which provides one with an ample number of options to work with.
According to Leica, with Freefly becoming a part of the alliance, the company aims to helo with “camera movement systems and aerial cinematography.” While there is not much details how Freefly can help, the report states that they can help to build “professional film and high-end production workflows.”
Freefly is obsessed with building the world’s fastest cameras and toughest drones, and joining the L-Mount Alliance enable us to go faster than ever. The L-Mount allows us to interface with a wide range of beautiful lenses that are small, light, and feature advanced electronics that enable exciting electronic control options from the camera.
Tabb Firchau, CEO at Freefly Systems Inc
Freefly System creates professional drones, which can be between $28,000 to over $32,000. While expensive, such drones can only be used by professionals in the market. With the L-mount, there is a possibility that the company offers the same service, without the need to rely on adapters. In fact, Leica, being a luxury brand, can do so much by having a brand similar to it as well.
The other hand is that Freefly can work with DJI to create cost-effective drones for aerial photographers. This means you get much better options at the price point that DJI is already selling at.
Overall, the newest offering only proves Leica is thinking about various ways it can make one switch to its mount with ease. Canon, Nikon, and Sony do not offer drones, and with most third-party lenses being sold to their users, the decision has ruffled many feathers. This way, for those who juggle between photos and videos can easily invest in both expensive and cost-effective offerings without any challenge. The Panasonic S9, for instance, is already popular for many photographers, especially for the lenses. The same goes for Leica’s SL range.
With this announcement, L-mount is now has a range of cameras and lenses to work with. This includes founding members such as Sigma and Panasonic, as well as Leitz Wetzlar GmbH, DJI, Astrodesign, Samyang, Black Magic, Sirui and Viltrox. It remains to be seen what the newer members achieve in the near future.