SIGMA releases an official update about their Foveon X3 sensor project

SIGMA CEO Kazuto Yamaki has issued an official statement about the Foveon X3 1:1:1 sensor development which was scrapped last February due to a critical flaw in the sensor design that would make it impossible to mass-produce.

SIGMA has gone back to the drawing board and restarted the research and development from scratch. SIGMA cannot give a timetable as to when they can tell us more about the new image sensor.

Statement from SIGMA:

First of all, thank you very much for your continued support and interest in our products.

In February 2020, we announced our decision to restart our plans for a full-frame Foveon X3 sensor camera, beginning with the development of a new sensor technology. We have not been able to share any information regarding this project in the time since, and I would like to use this short message to provide an update about the situation.

As previously announced, we halted the development of the project after the sensor we were working with could not go into mass production due to a critical flaw. As a result, we also terminated our contract with the sensor manufacturer with whom we had been collaborating. Further, we determined that the original sensor specifications would make it difficult to develop a product that will meet our and our customers’ high standards, and accordingly, we decided to go back to the drawing board.

At present, we are fully engaged in the research and development of the project, led by our head office, and are reviewing specifications to ensure that we will be able to satisfy the expectations placed on this project. While we have not proceeded to the development of a camera body yet, we will continue to do our utmost to create a camera in which we have full confidence.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the strong and ongoing support you have shown us.

All of our employees, including me, continue to do their very best to develop new and outstanding photographic technologies. Thank you for your patience and for your understanding.

Kazuto Yamaki
Chief Executive Officer, SIGMA Corporation