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Leica buys Sinar

vintola

By vintola
in Customer Forum

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naturephoto1

naturephoto1

Posted
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On Monday Leica Camera AG took over Sinar Photography AG, maker of professional large format cameras.

 

The post Leica Takes Over Sinar appeared first on Leica Forum Blog.

 

 

 

Read more...

 

Wow. That was supposed to have taken place years ago and then nixed.

 

To the best of my knowledge then, this would create the only camera company in the world offering both film cameras in 35mm and large format as well as digital cameras in 35mm, medium format, and large format.

 

Rich

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ynp

ynp

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I am a Sinar user and I have the Sinar-M system. It is a great news for the Swiss company.Great asset for Leica. Sinar have one of the best Color Management SW in their portfolio and a lot of Know-How in Digital Photography.

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luigi bertolotti

luigi bertolotti

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They weren't so lucky in baptizing a camera as M .... :o ... but was a fine (and daring/risky/costly) idea... I am not, of course, a Sinar user... but the Sinar M touched my heart because it sported a modern implementation of the Visoflex concept... (what is the 2nd component from right, in this picture? :))

Btw... of course they are still on the CCD side... do someone know where they source the sensors/digibacks ?

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Angora

Angora

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So, remind me... didn't Leica had its eyes over Hasselblad for some time, back then? Or was it Phase one?

 

Anyway, I recall Leica wanted to beef up its 35mm+ offering (and reduce competition).

And it seems they never really gave up the idea. Good thing, I guess?

 

Now, if someone familiar with large format cameras could enlighten us about Sinar vs other companies, its potential synergies with Leica, etc. that could be interesting.

With my non-existent knowledge of this market segment, I wonder how Leica could pivot its current business model.

 

 

Edit: oh wait, I came across this info on 2006 Pnet post:

 

there is news about Sinar this week; a.) they launched a new medium format camera [...]

b.) Simultaneously announced that Jenoptik which bought Sinar last year has sold a 51% stake in Sinar to Leica.

 

So we're running full circles here. Leica actually already owned half of Sinar and just completed the acquisition of the company (why now?), and they're still close to Jenoptik as ever (these guys will move in Leica's new HQ, won't they?).

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MarkP

MarkP

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I am a Sinar user and I have the Sinar-M system. It is a great news for the Swiss company.Great asset for Leica. Sinar have one of the best Color Management SW in their portfolio and a lot of Know-How in Digital Photography.

 

So it may help improve the M360 or M480 or M 600 or whatever ;)

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earleygallery

earleygallery

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Will they try to turn Sinar into another 'luxury' brand? Wealthy amateurs owning the McLaren of cameras, just because they can?!

 

Limited editions with Audi or Apple design, and exclusive leather accessories. A clutch bag for you digital back Sir?

 

I jest. Maybe Leica's strategy is panning out to supply products for the high end pro market (S and now Sinar) and premium priced 'luxury' consumer products (compact Digitals and M range).

 

Interesting certainly.

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rpsawin

rpsawin

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I am a Sinar user and I have the Sinar-M system. It is a great news for the Swiss company.Great asset for Leica. Sinar have one of the best Color Management SW in their portfolio and a lot of Know-How in Digital Photography.

 

I think this is a major aspect of the purchase.

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AlanG

AlanG

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Now, if someone familiar with large format cameras could enlighten us about Sinar vs other companies, its potential synergies with Leica, etc. that could be interesting.

With my non-existent knowledge of this market segment, I wonder how Leica could pivot its current business model.

 

 

It should be interesting to see if this gear shows up in the Leica stores.

 

I am familiar with LF cameras having used them extensively for more than 30 years. Including the original Sinar and the F and P in 4x5 and 8x10. I can't say I get why Leica bought them as I see this as a small and probably shrinking market. There are tons of low priced used Sinar and other view cameras on the market that compete with any new ones. So I can't see them selling many 4x5s or 8x10s.

 

What is left of this market are the smaller sized monorail and technical cameras that work with MF backs. I assume that the Sinar small monorail P3DF camera is quite good. But the Linhof M679cs is popular in this ultra niche segment. Possibly some others too. These are used for high end tabletop, food, and product photography... such as perfume bottles, cosmetics, jewelry and watches.

 

Fixed body technical cameras (primarily wide angle) for architecture and landscape that have lens movements are fairly popular for high end shooters in these fields. But I doubt this is a growing market. Most that I know use Alpa, Arca Swiss, or Cambo for these. I don't know if the Sinar Artec camera has caught on with many for this work. There also is the Linhof Techno.

 

Additionally, I haven't used a recent Sinar MF back, but looking at the photos and specs, they look kind of primitive compared to Phase One and Leaf backs. (Leaf is owned by Phase One.) I am no expert on MF backs but I think Sinar's best MF back is 36mm x 48mm and 49MP and has no LCD. The Phase One IQ280 is 40.4mm x 53.7mm and 80MP with a 1.15 megapixel LCD touch screen. Some Sinar backs have a multishot feature that you'll have to read about on your own. I know Phase One's software (Capture One) and really like it but can't say I know anything about Sinar's software. Maybe the Sinar digital stuff works real well but I don't know anyone using it.

 

To answer Luigi's question, I think all Sinar backs use Dalsa sensors.

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rosuna

rosuna

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I can't understand what is going on...

 

I think Leica has bought Sinar for peanuts... but, even considering that... what is the purpose?

 

The large formats market is... null.

 

Machinery, engineers, a factory in Swizerland, patents?

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luigi bertolotti

luigi bertolotti

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This is all supposing Leica bought Sinar for its 'retail' camera business, and not the industry work it does which we see little of.

 

Steve

 

Indeed... there is surely a niche market made by customers that one cannot expect... everyone knows that there are big studios equipped with MF sets for fashion/ads etc... but some months ago I was surprised, visiting the factory of a customer of mine (primary Italian Jewelry manufacturer) and discovering that they have a studio of their own, within the factory, well equipped with top gear (noticed a Linhof monorail and a digital back I didn't recognize, and various illuminators) : they told me that they prefer to make in house, for security reasons, many pictures for catalogs and similar (they do pictures also of many prototypes for discussing them with dealers worldwide) : the photog is not an employee of the firm, but an external pro that comes in "on call" (typically 1-2 days a week)

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