The successful cooperation between Leica and Panasonic will continue for at least another five years according to a joint release from the two companies. On Friday, Leica’s CEO Dr. Alfred Schopf and Panasonic’s Yoshiyuki Miyabe renewed the agreement which commenced in 2000 with digital audiovisual equipment lenses and was extended to the digital camera sector the following year.
In a week which has seen two landmark announcements from Leica as a result of the partnership — the D-Lux and V-Lux — the commitment to cooperation is a significant vote of confidence in the future by the two companies. In addition to Leica’s reliance on Panasonic for digital compacts, Panasonic benefits by the ability to use Leica’s unrivalled name and lens technology in the development of Leica-branded lenses for their cameras and, in the case of micro four thirds, by the ability to sell these lenses for use on other brands of camera.
Dr. Schopf said: “The signing of this agreement is significant for Leica as we seek further growth in the digital imagine sector. Strengthening our cooperative relationship with Panasonic is essential to Leica’s continued growth.”
Don’t understand why Leica never rebadged some of Panasonic’s excellent MFT cameras such as the GX7 and GM1/GM5. It’s logical and the only thing against it is if Leica doesn’t want to adopt a new system camera. Now they’ve got the D-Lux based on the Panny LX100 there is less reaosn to resist.