Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki has released an update on the Foveon X3 1: 1: 1 sensor and camera that was delayed in February last year after the sensor he was working with failed due to a mass error in mass production could not go.
Yamaki explains that the project had to be completely restarted after Sigma ended his contract with the sensor manufacturer he worked with to mass-produce the sensor. As a result, the Foveon camera was delayed “indefinitely” a year ago. In an effort to let fans know what the status of the project is, Yamaki provided a bit of an update to the situation.
The company found it necessary to restart the process completely, as it determined that the original sensor specifications would make it too difficult to develop a product that met its standards. He explains that the company is still in the research and development phase in the process and that Sigma has not yet proceeded with the actual development of a camera.
Yamaki seems determined to express that Sigma decided to start this process again because of his desire to produce an excellent product, and anything they could have produced up to this point would not have achieved it. Still, for those waiting for a Sigma Foveon camera, the device is most likely still far away.
Below is Yamaki’s full letter to Sigma fans:
Dear SIGMA customers,
First of all, thank you very much for your continued support and interest in our products.
In February 2020, we announced our decision to launch our plans for a full Foveon X3 sensor camera, starting with the development of a new sensor technology. We could not share any information about this project at the time, and I would like to use this short message to provide an update on the situation.
As previously announced, we stopped the development of the project after the sensor we were working with could not go into mass production due to a critical error. As a result, we also terminated our contract with the sensor manufacturer we worked with. Furthermore, we determined that the original sensor specifications would make it difficult to develop a product that meets our and our customers’ high standards, and so we decided to go back to the drawing board.
At the moment we are fully engaged in research and development of the project, led by our head office, and we are revising the specifications to ensure that we can meet the expectations set for this project. Although we have not yet embarked on the development of a camera body, we will still do our best to create a camera in which we have full confidence.
I would like to express my sincere thanks for the strong and continuous support you have shown us.
All our employees, myself included, do their best to develop new and outstanding photographic technologies. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Kazuto Yamaki
CEO, SIGMA Corporation
(via PhotoRumors)