Lots of news the past couple of days from various manufacturers aimed more towards cinema/video shooters and Leitz Cine announced their version of hybrid cine/stills lens (as indicated by some reviewers) in L,RF, Z and E mounts. Interesting that they are designed size wise like Canon did with their VCM series of primes.
The Leitz HEKTOR lenses prioritize two things: image character and build quality.
In approaching this new format we decided not to adapt or copy any contemporary lenses from Leitz or Leica. Instead, we looked backward, exploring Leica’s 100-year history of photography optics and finding a great deal of inspiration, especially in some lenses from the 1930s, 50s and 70s. We looked at old lenses from other manufacturers and found wonderful attributes as well. But these old lenses have compromises that can make them challenging for modern production.
In order to create something that speaks directly to the needs and desires of modern artists, we spent the past couple years blending together the best combination of attributes to look gorgeous on digital sensors, fulfill the physical and technical needs of filmmakers today, and balance the character elements to be playfully interesting without shouting over the subject matter.
The HEKTOR lenses are built in the style of the 1980s and 90s, using only spherical elements to create some of the older feeling characteristics. Inspired by classic M lenses from the 1930s and 1950s, as well as Petzval lenses, the look blends together dynamic flares, field curvature, fall off and spherical aberration into something that is wholly unique while feeling familiar. Modern touches include coatings that control veiling glare better than older lenses as well as significantly reduced chromatic aberration.
The Leitz HEKTOR lenses are a series of six full frame prime lenses that support multiple formats through user-interchangeable mirrorless mounts (E, L, RF, Z). The focal lengths are 18, 25, 35, 50, 73 and 100mm, all at T2.1. Each lens is fully manual with matched focus and iris ring spacing for quick lens changes. The 120° focus rotation makes them easy to work with by hand as well.
The lenses are compact and lightweight with an 80mm diameter (all) and a 77mm screw-in filter thread (except the 18mm). The 9-blade iris remains circular through all stops to create a consistency in the out-of-focus areas.
The lens mounts are passive and do not pass metadata or lens information to the camera. Due to the design of the lenses, they will not be available in PL, LPL or Leica M mount.
nehemiahphoto wrote:
Interesting they chose the focal length as 73mm— have they made a 73 mm in the past in any iteration?
I like the FL spacing quite a bit, and well. Those lenses render beautifully I bet.
Yes. The original Hektor 73/1.9 LTM.
We just finished testing a couple of sets at work. Or I did, anyway. The video team lost interest before completion. They are distinct and unique, but, personally, I'd rather use any of their other cine lines. There's flawed and then there's grossly overpriced nostalgia.
