Leica Acquires Swiss Large Format View Camera Manufacturer Sinar

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Leica began its takeover of Swiss view camera manufacturer Sinar all the way back in 2006, when the German company acquired a 51% stake in Sinar from Jenoptik. The real goal, however, was only truly achieved yesterday when both companies announced via press release that they had reached an acquisition deal.

The financial details of the deal are being kept under wraps, but the significance of this acquisition is reverberating through the photography industry today.

“Sinar Photography AG is [a] manufacturer of equipment for professional view camera photography and the only provider in this segment to offer complete digital solutions for view camera photographers,” reads the press statement. “With this takeover, Leica Camera AG completes the company’s portfolio in the high-end digital camera segment and further expands its position in the market for professional photographic equipment.”

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Sinar produces everything large format, from cameras and lenses to digital backs, shutter systems and workflow software. The largest sensor Leica offers can be found in its medium format S System cameras, but this acquisition seems to hint at Leica-branded large format options in the not-so-distant future.

As of right now, marketing, production, product management, support and development will continue at Sinar’s headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland, with Leica taking over “sales and distribution of the product portfolio” alongside Sinar’s current worldwide dealer network.

The statement wraps up by pointing out that, thanks to this acquisition, “Leica now possesses a complete product portfolio from a medium format digital camera system to digital view cameras and… is now the only full range provider of digital camera systems in formats larger than the 35mm Leica full-frame format.”

To find out more, check out the full translated press release here. But before you do that, let us know what you think of this move in the comments down below.

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