Re: "Blackstone Could Sell Control Of Leica In €1 Billion Deal "
1bwana1 wrote: Knut. wrote: 1bwana1 wrote: Knut. wrote: 1bwana1 wrote: ottokbre wrote:
I could see a gulf state buying into it. Ownership for many of them is both prestige and a hedge.
Japanese companies seem to know how to run legacy brands that focus on quality with tight margins.
Technology acquisition is often a Chinese motivation but I think the politics would be hard to pull off if Leica is invested in chip fabrication.
Where do you get the idea that leica is invested in chip fabrication?
Perplexity:
Leica’s Chairman Dr. Andreas Kaufmann stated in late December 2025 that the company is actively developing its own image sensor again. This revelation came during an interview on the Leica Enthusiast Podcast hosted by Michel Birnbacher, celebrating Leica’s 100th anniversary, where he confirmed work had restarted around the time of the M11’s switch to Sony sensors in early 2022.[sonyalpharumors +3]
Statement Details
Kaufmann noted that sensor development typically takes about five years and that Leica had made significant progress, though specifics remain undisclosed. He referenced prior collaborations, like the European AMS sensor for the M10 (developed in the Netherlands, made in Austria and France), before moving to Sony for the M11. The podcast episode is dated December 24, 2025, on the official site, with news coverage emerging in early January 2026.[mirrorlessrumors +4]
Context and Timeline
Development reportedly began around the M11 launch (early 2022), aligning with a four-to-five-year cycle that could target upcoming models like the M12. Leica has historically customized or collaborated on sensors rather than fully fabricating them in-house, and this return emphasizes proprietary advancements. No exact prior mention of “next sensor chip” design involvement was found before this podcast.[notebookcheck +4]
Yes, I read those interviews. In fact it was one of the interviews that had me predicting that the company ownership was in play back then.
Developing is a way different thing than fabrication. The guy Leica hired at the VP level to lead the sensor development program has been working at Leica for less than a Month now. He will work with an actual sensor fabrication company to specify, engineer and develop a sensor. Leica will not have any part in the actual fabrication. Leica never has. The previous pre-Sony chips were also fabricated by another company, not Leica as clearly stated in the article.
What this means is that in the future Leica again wants input into the sensors used in its cameras instead of buying slightly tweaked off the shelf sensors from Sony as it is doing now. It is one way that Leica intends to differentiate itself in the industry and add value to company equity.
Fabrication of a sensor takes huge capital investment. That is beyond Leica's capability both technically and financially. Chip fabrication issues will play no role in the current investment process.
I guess it is at the level that Sigma made the foveon sensor. It could well go deep into the manufacturing intricacies and nevertheless be produced in cooperation by another company.
We have exactly zero information about the level of Leica's involvement in the design of a new sensor. How do you equate this to Sigma's work on the Faveon sensor? Do you know the details of either? What are the sources. That is pure speculation at this point.
.
Well, I clearly said „I guess“, which makes it transparent that I speculate. What are you getting worked up about?
btw: I don‘t mind you disagreeing. What are your views concerning Dr. Kaufmann‘s statement:
„ … As has already been partially reported, we’re also developing our own sensor again.“
What is your, obviously differing, speculation?
To me, hiring a person at the VP level for the imaging sensor suggests that Leica really wants to invest in this component of their camera. Since they state that they have already worked on this sensor for some years, introducing a VP now indicates that they want to put additional attention to this component.
(I‘m not aware that Sigma has a VP for the management of the Foveon sensor. Probably some group leader, but I‘m not aware of more distinct attention).
Jan 29, 2026 at 07:17 AM
Previous versions of Knut.'s message #16976358 « "Blackstone Could Sell Control Of Leica In €1 Billion Deal " »
