Cine Gear 2025
Leitz Cine exhibited at Cine Gear 2025 last month. At their Cine Gear 2025 booth, Leitz Cine, a high-end brand that continuously supplies a wide variety of cinema lenses, showcased their most extensive lineup in the industry. Currently, there are six lenses that cover full frame or larger, plus two types of lenses, “SUMMILUX-C” and “SUMMICRON-C”, that are compatible with Super 35mm, for a total of eight lenses.
Performance, Legacy, and Character Series Open Up New Possibilities for Visual Expression
The categorization of the eight lenses offered by Leitz Cine is noteworthy for its differentiation: according to the company, these lenses are divided into three categories: “Performance Series”, “Legacy Series” and “Character Series”, a division that was introduced about three years ago.
Introducing the three categories “Performance Series”, “Legacy Series” and “Character Series”
Leitz Cine’s Legacy series consists of lenses that were all developed based on Leica’s steel lenses. The THALIA 65 is designed based on the Leica S system (medium format lenses). The M 0.8 and HUGO are based on Leica’s M lenses. The M 0.8 is an M lens with an additional gear, and the HUGO has changed the aperture blades to create a circular bokeh and halved the close-up shooting distance. Furthermore, the HUGO is housed in a robust cinema lens housing with an LPL mount.
These Legacy series lenses are based on Leica still lenses, and as such are characterized by breathing when focusing, which causes changes in image quality from the center to the edges of the screen.
The Character series has a gradual change in rendering performance toward the edge of the frame, and the emphasis on flare characteristics creates a sense of depth and warm skin tones. This series is a place where manufacturers can pursue a wider range of optical expression. The full-frame compatible ELSIE series is relatively new among full-frame lenses, but it maintains high quality while achieving distinctive flare and bokeh. Lenses from this series tend to be highly rated, especially by cinematographers.
Introducing the THALIA 20mm, HUGO 40mm, and LPL Mount for the VENICE Extension System Mini
The following new developments were confirmed at the Leitz booth at Cine Gear 2025:
A 20mm lens is expected to be added to the THALIA series. Currently, the THALIA series is available in sizes up to 24mm, but the newly developed 20mm lens will have the ability to cover the 65mm format and is scheduled to be shipped in July.
The HUGO line will also be expanded: currently offered from 18mm to 135mm, a 40mm HUGO lens will be added, which is not available in the M-lenses, as 40mm is a focal length favoured in the cinema industry.
LPL for the VENICE Extension System Mini
The third is a dedicated LPL mount made by Leitz that will be available for Sony’s new camera, the VENICE Extension System Mini. This mount also has a PL conversion function and is scheduled to be released as a product soon. Sony does not provide its own LPL mount adapters, and the camera body is shipped with an E mount and a PL mount. This is because, like the VENICE series, Sony has a policy of leaving the LPL mount to third-party adapters, taking into consideration compatibility with ARRI. This LPL mount made by Leitz is provided in line with this policy, and users are encouraged to use it.
GFX and Leitz Cine
Finally, we checked compatibility with the 44mm sensor of the Fujifilm GFX. Among the Leitz Cine lenses, the THALIA series is recommended for the GFX, but the ELSIE series can also cover a wide range. Although the ELSIE is said to be full-frame compatible, it actually has an image circle larger than that, and can cover the entire range of sensor sizes from 15mm in the GFX’s video mode. Therefore, the ELSIE will also be a viable option when shooting with the GFX.
