Interview with CEO Kazuto Yamaki-san on SIGMA's new Headquarters & Lenses

[@CineD]

Music by Epidemic Sound - Royalty-free music and sound effects. Get your plan here: cined.co/epidemicsound

[@mr_cramberry]

Wholeheartedly respect the philosophy and culture of SIGMA. Please continue this passion to camera / lens making and ill continue my support as a loyal customer

[@andrewjones-productions]

I am a 31 year Japan resident amongst other things I can list on my resume. Working and living in Japan, I have learnt a lot about the country and have many, many kinds of experiences. One of the things that I have discovered is rather disappointing and that is that the image that Japanese and non-Japanese alike have of current Japanese quality and general 'wonderfulness' is grossly exaggerated and in many cases a mere myth. However, Sigma under the leadership of Kazuto Yamaki is a company that I feel REALLY fulfills what we expect Japanese quality and spirit to be. I have a huge amount of respect for Kazuto Yamaki and hope that other manufacturers in our field learn from him and revert to what they used to stand for. There are other great Japanese companies in other industries also who deserve credit and please understand that it is not my intent to speak ill of the country that I chose to be my home.

[@ChristopherDobey]

Thank you for your thoughts Andrew. I too appreciate how sincere Yamaki san is.

[@innstikk]

Kazuto Yamaki is my photo industry legend! So open, thoughtful, honest and respectful that one can only follow his example in life.

[@0katmandude0]

you really feel that Yamaki-san is invested in his company, here's a CEO who lives and thrives with his company. He is a legend in the photographical world. I hope he continues to have a long and prosperous career! hats off !!

[@bondgabebond4907]

When I see a Japanese lens with the words printed on the lens: Made in Japan, I cheer. When I see: Made in China, I cringe and demand the lens sell at 1/2 price. It's not made in Japan, it is of lower quality so why the premium price? Sigma is making great lens, I have a few and they are superb. Not buying Sony lens anymore, buying Sigma. As good if not better at a much more reasonable price.

[@CineD]

Thank you all for taking the time to watch this interview and leave a comment. Appreciated!

[@imagenatura]

Sigma's CEO is such joy to listen to- understandable English and a pleasant personality. He makes me want to buy a sigma system- family owned, humble, and decent products... almost the completely opposite of Nikon and various others.

[@jessejayphotography]

I got to say, after watching many interviews with Kazoo Yamaki-san, he is an admirable leader of a company valuing its people as well as its craftsmanship. He seems to get that prioritizing the health and happiness of his employees actually is beneficial for the company in more ways than one. We need more leaders like this.

[@chronokoks]

japanese work culture is very depressing and negative overall. Yamaki-san seems to understand it and does changes so workers feel better.

[@rafaelkoga5762]

these interviews with Yamakisan are always great! I admire him for the way he conducts his business, so ethically, always thinking about his employees and customers and the impacts his business has on people's lives. Thank you Yamakisan for your example, and for all the great and innovative products you are sharing with us with such affordable price!! Thank you!!

[@Behnam_Moghaddam]

yet another calming and respectful interview. thanks!

[@srichinmoyoneness-homepeac3675]

I appreciate the deepness in the way he looks at the tasks. I think he embodies at the same time the inner quality of a monk (such as simplicity and humility) and the quality of a manager (such as prioritizing and focusing on tasks) and the company reverberates his vibes.

[@LuisGGomezPhoto]

Excellent interview. Yamaki-san, is a wonderful human being and very humble. Thanks.

[@HornbillStudios]

This is the most beautiful interview I have seen recently. I am proud to be a Sigma KOL.

[@Vamp898]

Thank you for asking about the Foveon Status, highly appreciated and of course thanks to Kazuto Yamaki for the update

[@stevenrobinsonpictures]

I have so much time for Kazuto. What a true leader looks like. Love the company.

[@JZWANSHEYING]

hiring more staff due to developing and supporting more camera systems! good sign, rf and z!!!!

[@Vamp898]

"Our own camera" ;) just buy that one

[@nosecondlost]

I love Sigma! Next week I will buy three lenses on which my future work will be based on: The new 20mm/1.4, the 105/2.8 Macro and the 150-600/5.0 - 6.3 Sport ! I can't wait to start with these new incredible lenses! Thank you very much, Sigma!

[@ScottJWaldron]

Fantastic interview! Yamaki-san consistently has a great perspective on Sigma, photography, videography, and the industry in general.

[@theSUBVERSIVE]

Considering the spacial constrains of Japan when building any office, such a spacious and well designed headquarter for a company like Sigma is really admirable - even more considering all 3 points Yamaki-san made about the architecture requirements.

[@dlyon9673]

Thank you for this video. I'm a big fan of Sigma equipment and its nice they seem to have such a great culture and CEO! (Not to mention a beautiful new headquarters!)

[@mr_helm]

Great interview Johnny! Kazuto is the best.

[@alejandrovargas1171]

i love the Sigma products. The lens are great. line ART it's so beautiful and clean. The culture of the company are search the perfection.

[@foveonyc]

Thank you! Waiting New FF Foveon!

[@sigmaphoto]

👏 Such a great interview!

[@mannfamilyMI]

Mr Yamaki-san is a very good spokesperson for the Sigma company. I really enjoyed listening to him discuss Sigma and it’s products 🙏

[@royprasad]

Always a pleasure to hear Yamaki-san speak, thank you for the interview. One question for Yamaki-san, or anyone else from Sigma: will the L mount Sigma lenses work equally well on the Panasonic S1 and Leica SL2 cameras? These cameras have different thickness for the glass plate covering the image sensor. How does that affect the optical performance of a Sigma lens like the new 20mm f/1.4?

[@fellowcitizen]

Excellent interview & congratulations to Sigma on the new HQ, Foveon and these WAs 🥂

[@terranborn56]

Hope they come out with RF mount versions.

[@JWALADHINDU]

Very soon, RF mount is in their pipeline

[@randfee]

@@JWALADHINDU says who?

[@DanielMardjuadi]

Sigma is one of best company for lens! i love using sigma art for L mount! it's fantastic!

[@dano6786]

Very curious about the new camera he mentioned at the end. He seemed excited about it.

[@mannfamilyMI]

Huge fan of Kazuto Yamaki 👋

[@matthewbenjamincanada]

Great interview. Sigma if you're listening, please make a 65mm Cine T1.5 in PL !

[@greenidgelewis8347]

Would love to see a Monochrome camera or a Global shutter Cine camera from Sigma (In the body of the Sigma FP) Love the Sigma FP and their contemporary lens series, their Cinema lenses are superb too.

[@_rhapsodist]

what about the 50mm 1.4 and the 70-200mm 2.8? these two seem to take forever..

[@stevensuum]

That 50mm 1.4 and 70-200 f2.8 the most long awaited lens are not coming this year?

[@Slipsch]

Sigma is primarily a lens company versus Sony who only started mass producing interchangeable camera lens, not sure if any of the Minolta technology got passed over to the Sony cameras. One thing I don't understand, why does a company like Sony can produce a much better lens or better-performing lens compared to Sigma. Yes. the price of Sigma is cheaper but I do hope for companies like Sigma to release a Zeiss Otus equivalent lens.

[@mnm5529]

Thank you CineD for asking Mr. Kazuto Yamaki about Sigma lenses to the other mounts, but seems it is still far from to be released for example for Z and RF. 🙁

[@innstikk]

They need a license from Canon and Nikon as I understand.

[@randfee]

@@innstikk not true... they didn't have a license for EF mount either, they reverse engineered the protocol!

[@jeremiasdrumond7457]

I'm hoping they make a niche lens like a 50 1.8 Macro.

[@innstikk]

Just excellent as always! The industry standard for interviews and reviews! Love the thoughts of the CEO about the new office. So interesting with a new camera teaser! I'll get my 3rd fp as it is a perfect camera, and hope that the new camera will be something I have in hand next year (calculating Sigma's announcement/release history). Also really hope the Foveon sensor is a success so I can buy such a camera as I have enjoyed all Sigma cameras since dp1.

[@aviationodyssey1892]

Very nice interview. (Just take more time to clean/edit your dialogue track please)

[@srichinmoyoneness-homepeac3675]

Beside my appreciation for Katsuto San I hope Sigma will come out with the missing lens for Sony: 28 mm pancake for street photography. I an shocked how this focal length is missed in Sony line. Only the old 28 mm 2.0 not a great lens...for Leica you have several option from Leica but also Voightlander

[@personal4528]

Sigma has always been amazing in terms of image quality. They really need to reduce weight on their lenses though.

[@IDOLCAM1]

Hi Johnny, been a follower of your channel. Would it be possible that you can can help us pass the word over the Kazuto? We would like to explore a collaboration with Sigma on a project.

[@CineD]

Hi IdoCam. Please e-mail me directly with more general details about you and your project (office(at)cined.com). Thank you! Johnnie

[@Dane_Casperson]

More sigma everything please! :-D

[@airdailyx]

still waiting on that 24-70 f2.8…

[@SD_Alias]

Waiting for the foveon!!! What kind of camera is it on the table at right? I hope they build a nice camera around the new sensor without the quirks of the FP Series. Should have tilt screen or tilt EVF or both ;) And bigger batteries, mechanical shutter and IBIS to compensate the not so good low light abilities… Cant wait… ;)

[@innstikk]

The fp is not a quirky camera I have 2 and one fpL and love them. The fpL competes with my Foveon cameras, and the fp is just excellent for video. Selling my BMPCC4k as it just can't keep up

[@SD_Alias]

@@innstikk ok for video is the fp good. But for photography i miss a bigger grip with batteries, mechanical shutter, tilt display and the foveon will like an IBIS because of its 100 iso.

[@cannottrickme7239]

70-200 f2.8 for sony???! Comooon

[@dylandigby1776]

Will they ever make a pancake lens for the smallest full frame camera or lenses with a shutter built in? Nope, just rehashes of the same focal lengths at different apertures. Kuso! Sad!