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Development of new Panasonic L mount cameras can stop in 2021 already
  • Rumors from inside Japan - Panasonic management will have meeting between March 10 and April 1 and it can be decided to make big reforms to cameras subdivision (as it is no longer division for long time).

    Panasonic have huge trouble making new LSI for cameras (including video cameras), they are too expensive. And L mount still is worst sold mirrorless system in most countries. L mount fate can be also decided in 2021, new cameras will keep coming for a while, but all new development and design will be stopped, at least by Panasonic. Part responsible for L mount stuff is bleeding money comparable to Olympus, it is all just hidden inside larger structure now.

    New reforms can be similar to ones that Olympus and Nikon are doing - massive cuts among people outside Japan first, reducing expenses for service, next - optimization of everything that is still left in Japan. And this, unfortunately, can also include all leading engineers and software developers.

    In case of any significant new COVID wave we can even see cuts among offered lenses (usually it is last resort, as older proven lenses are very profitable).

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  • Small addition.

    Panasonic won't announce anything public and this also include situation with m43. Panasonic has around 5 lenses already designed and tested and manufacturing equipment either being ready or in the process of becoming such. They will try to make internals between announcements longer to hide lack of new development.

    In personal talks some Panasonic ambassadors had been asked to move to other stage of their life and not rely on Panasonic for new trips, products and such. Some hidden ambassadors-influences (who get Panasonic help but never told such in public or officially relate to Panasonic) also will stop getting stuff and money.

  • @Vitaliy_Kiselev Are those "5 lenses" supposed to be M43 or L-mount?