Is Konica Minolta going to join the M43 system?

[bakubo]

I saw this posted elsewhere. Interesting if it comes to pass.

http://www.sonyalpharumors.com/weird-is-konica-minolta-going-to-join-the-m43-system/

[pakodominguez]

Konica Minolta had been producing lenses for JVC camcorders all this time.

Just keep in mind that many Minolta engineers went to Sony when they took over the KM photo division. Many Sony Alpha lenses were designed during the KM era (bought as part of the package). I guess Konica Minolta still have the knowledge for design this kind of optics, and probably the m4/3 is a better market for them now.

[bakubo]

I have a vague memory of reading somewhere at the time Sony took over part of KM that KM had agreed to not produce any lenses for Sony mount. I don't know if it is true and if it was for any Sony or only A-mount. Maybe someone else knows.

[bakubo]

Similar info with a bit more.

http://www.43rumors.com/patent-surprise-is-konica-minolta-going-to-release-the-first-m43-lens-soon-a-43mm-f1-4/

Konica and Minolta have a long history of lens design for rangefinder cameras. Konica designed the Hexanon M-mount Lens series. That includes the superb Hexanon 50mm f/1.2. Minolta made the famous Rokkor M-mount lens series. That includes for example the 40mm f/2.0 pancake.

[Greg Beetham]

I’m sure I’ve posted this link http://www.konicaminolta.com/opt/products/reflex/index.html before which shows clearly that KM retain the ability to produce camera lenses and did so all along.
I get the impression that they don’t currently have any aspirations in a retail sense, their efforts seem to be confined towards offering lens production capacity to other camera-lens makers, including Sony.
With the photographic industry in more turmoil than ever I doubt KM would be in any great hurry to join the rest in getting their fingers burnt by entering the market directly, but you never know what’s going to happen next these days in cameras.
Greg

[classiccameras]

I believe in the 35mm days Minolta made a few lenses for Leica, namely the zooms.

[bakubo]

I believe in the 35mm days Minolta made a few lenses for Leica, namely the zooms.

I recall that David has explained the relationship between Minolta and Leica and what hand Minolta had in Leica lenses and vice versa. I don't recall the details, but you can probably search and find what he has written.