Leica were showing pre-production versions their new M 0.8 Cine lenses at the IBC Show in Amsterdam. They had white gear rngs, but the final versions should be all black. The lenses bring the iconic look and character of Leica’s legendary M glass directly from still photography into the digital cinema world. Some cinematographers have already been using the stills versons of the M lenses on their RED and Sony cameras. The new versions are the same optics but with added focus and iris rings and a smooth, clickless iris.
The lenses will be available individually or as a set and include: 21mm f/1.4, 24mm f/1.4, 28mm f/1.4, 35mm f/1.4 and the 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux. The 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux is widely praised as being one the best superfast lenses ever created.
The M 0.8 lenses will not come in PL, but will retain their existing Leica M mount. This is necessary to maintain the lenses compact size. The 0.8 pitch lens gears are placed very closely together and you would probably need to have focus and iris motors on both sides of the lens for it to work.
RED have offered a Leica M mount for their cameras for quite some time, but adapters are also widely available for Sony E and FZ mount cameras from the Sony A7 series up to the F55.
The lenses are expected to start shipping in early 2017 and will be available through CW Sonderoptic’s global reseller network. Current estimated prices per lens range from €5300 ($5975 US) for the 35mm to €12,000 ($13550 US) for the 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux. While this does sound like a lot of money, they are considerably cheaper than their Leica Summilux-C cousins.
