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 p.1 #1 · Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21 Review | |
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Review Quick Links:
- Initial Impressions
- Infinity Resolution and Contrast compared to Light Lens Lab 75mm f/2 SPII
- Field Curvature
- Distortion
- Sunstar Rendering
- Minimal Focus Distance performance and Focus Shift
- Flare Resistance
- Rendering compared to Light Lens Lab 75mm f/2 SPII
- Optical Vignetting and Specular Highlights shape
- Chromatic Aberration (CA)
- Final Thoughts
- Samples
Leica M3 paired with the Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21
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Initial impressions of the Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21 lens:
The Light Lens Lab M Z21 75mm f/1.5 has just arrived and extends the Z21 series into a longer focal length that a lot of people were expecting. It continues the same design direction as the 50mm f/1.5 Z21 (reviewed here), but with a tighter field of view and a stronger emphasis on subject separation and portrait use.
Like the rest of the Z21 family, the 75mm is not designed around modern aberration correction. Instead, it draws heavily from the rendering style associated with the rare 1950s Angenieux lenses, especially the 50mm f/1.5 Type S21, which became known for a very distinctive French rendering style.
That look is characterized by a gentle glow wide open, structured rendering from highlight outlining, and moderate optical vignetting that can lead to a swirl effect in the background. It is an imperfect rendering, but one that gives images a painterly quality and a distinctive character. It feels uncorrected in a way that is clearly intentional and central to this lens design.
Leica M10-R with Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21
Angenieux lenses from this period became well known because they combined fast apertures and a distinctive rendering style at a time when optical design was still limited by the materials, coatings, and correction methods available. Instead of being a purely stylistic choice, much of their character also came from the technical constraints of the era, where designers worked with what was achievable at the time while still optimizing for real world use. They were widely used in mid century European and Hollywood productions, particularly when faster lenses and a more expressive look was preferred.
Today, they remain popular because they produce an image character that feels organic and imperfect, with optical aberrations remaining intentionally less corrected in contrast to many modern lenses. It offers a combination of softness, gentle glow, and structured rendering that is difficult to replicate with today's computerized optical designs.
Leica M10-P Safari with Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21
As part of the same Z21 family, the 75mm carries the same optical signature as the 50mm version, but it also stands more on its own as a short telephoto lens. Unlike some earlier Light Lens Lab projects based more directly on historical optical formulas, the 75mm f/1.5 Z21 is the company's first completely original optical design within the Z21 series, developed specifically around achieving the "Z21" rendering signature. There was never an original Angenieux "S21" 75mm f/1.5 equivalent, so this lens is less of a direct recreation and more of an original continuation of the same rendering philosophy.
It is also encouraging to know that Light Lens Lab plans to expand the Z21 lineup further, suggesting that more lenses sharing this unique rendering character may be on the horizon.
Nikon Zf with the Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21 and a close focus adapter for improved close focusing.
The goal is still to preserve that classic character while making it native to Leica M cameras. This includes slightly more resistant coatings, improved mechanical tolerance for rangefinder usage, improved corner sharpness compared to the 50mm f/1.5 Z21, and expanded sensor coverage while still preserving the rendering signature that defines the Z21 series. According to Light Lens Lab, coverage extends comfortably even across the full 44Χ33mm GFX sensor area.
The optical design is based around a classic double Gauss design reinterpreted specifically for this series. The lens uses 6 elements in 4 groups and incorporates lanthanide infused glass elements similar to those used in the 50mm Z21. Wide open at f/1.5, the lens produces unique flare aesthetics, avoiding the overly corrected look and overly smooth transitions common in many modern optics.
The Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21 delivers more even MTF performance across the frame than the 50mm f/1.5 Z21
My initial impressions suggest the 75mm Z21 continues the same rendering signature established by the 50mm Z21.
It features native Leica M mount with rangefinder coupling, making it a good match for Leica M bodies as well as adaptable to other mirrorless systems. The focusing experience is smooth with well applied resistance for fine adjustments. The lens focuses down to 1 meter, remaining consistent with traditional lenses from that era, but I do wish it focused down to 0.7m for higher flexibility in composition. According to a LLL representative, the longer minimum focusing distance helps ensure tighter rangefinder calibration tolerances during production.
It features a 10 straight blade aperture mechanism ranging from f/1.5 to f/22 with full increment lock settings. The spacing is wider at larger apertures and becomes progressively tighter toward the smaller stops, in a way that feels inspired by cine lens behavior. The aperture ring feels smooth and full aperture clicks lock firmly in place.
Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21, fully extended at its 1m minimum focusing distance
Build quality and barrel aesthetics follow the same standard as the 50mm f/1.5 Z21. The lightweight aluminum alloy construction helps balance well on M bodies while still maintaining a solid, reassuring feel. The lens measures 71mm in length, 63.5mm in diameter, and weighs 454g exactly measured. The lens does not come with a hood in the box. It uses an E55 filter thread.
Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21, Light Lens Lab 75mm f/2 SPII and MS Optics 73mm f/1.5 Sonnetar
Unlike the 50mm f/1.5 Z21, which uses a recessed front element to help shield against stray light, the telephoto design of the new 75mm f/1.5 Z21 required a different optical layout. To achieve the longer focal length, the entire 6 element, 4 group optical block has been pushed forward, placing the front element nearly flush with the filter thread rather than recessed within the barrel.
Leica M10-R paired with the Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21
The increased focal length also needed larger front optics. The 3 front elements are noticeably larger in diameter, resulting in an increase in filter size from 52mm to 55mm. Since there was never a historical 75mm f/1.5 S21 lens to reference, these design changes were developed entirely by LLL's engineering team. Despite adapting the original concept to a longer focal length, they were able to reduce astigmatism and distortion while improving off-axis resolution compared to the 50mm f/1.5 Z21.
The lens will be offered exclusively in a matte black finish with chrome accent rings, with no glossy black version planned. Personally, I much prefer this matte black finish to the glossy black 50mm f/1.5 Z21 that I reviewed previously.
Leica M10-P Safari paired with the Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21<
One thing that stands out for portrait work is that this lens is not trying to behave like a modern ultra high resolution optic. By design, it leans into character first. Wide open is where the personality shows most clearly, with softness, a subtle glow, and strong separation without turning the background into something overly smooth or sterile. Stopping down increases definition, but it never fully abandons its signature rendering style.
The 75mm Z21 feels like a natural extension of the series, but also a more focused tool in its own right. It takes the same Angenieux inspired rendering signature and applies it to a FL that is especially well suited for portraits, environmental portraiture, and low light work where compression and mood play a bigger role. It should sit naturally alongside the 50mm Z21 lineup, sharing a familiar barrel aesthetic, but with a more immersive look due to the longer focal length.
Leica M10-R paired with the Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21<
Features:
Format Coverage: Full Frame, with reported extended image circle reaching medium format coverage (up to 44Χ33mm GFX range)
Optical Construction: 6 elements in 4 groups
Focus Range: 1.0m to infinity
Aperture Range: f/1.5 to f/22
Diaphragm Type: 10 straight blade aperture with full click stops
Aperture Ring: Wider spacing at large apertures, progressively tighter toward smaller stops (cine inspired response)
Lens Mount: M-Mount with rangefinder coupling
Filter Size: E55
Lens Hood: Not included in box
Length: Approximately 71mm
Diameter: Approximately 63.5mm
Weight: 454g (measured, without accessories)
Finish: Matte black with chrome rings (no glossy black version)
Leica M3 paired with the Light Lens Lab 75mm f/1.5 Z21 lens
Would Pierre Angenieux be proud of this release? We will never know, but its fair to say he would probably recognize the intent behind it more than the execution details. And if anything, I think he would likely appreciate seeing his work and legacy still being discussed decades later, even if it's filtered through modern interpretations of optical character.
Either way, I'll do my best to lay out the strengths and weaknesses of this lens as clearly and meticulously as possible, keeping in mind that this is an artistic tool first rather than something designed around maximum technical correction. Now I'm just hoping for a Light Lens Lab 35mm f/1.5 Z21 to complete the set. 
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