The Leica Summilux-C lenses
have only been available for about three years, yet they have been awarded with
an Academy Scientific and Engineering Award.
It was presented to Iain Neil for the optical design and André de Winter
for the mechanical design of the lenses.
The Summilux-C lenses have
received accolades for being some of the best, if not the best motion picture
lenses currently available. They are
made by a special division of Leica Camera, CW Sonderoptic at Leitz Park in
Wetzlar.
Current motion picture films
that were made with Summilux-C lenses include Birdman, which was shot entirely
with the 18mm Leica Summilux-C. Summilux-C
lenses were also used for the production of Gone Girl, the Theory of Everything
and more.
Photo: Andreas Kaufmann
The Leica press release reads
as follows:
The development team at CW
Sonderoptic GmbH has been honored with the Scientific and Engineering Award®
from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the prestigious film
industry accolade for technical products and innovations, for the Leica
Summilux-C (Cine) lenses. Yesterday the Academy presented the Academy Plaque®
to Iain Neil (optical design) and André de Winter (mechanical design) in Los
Angeles in the course of a gala evening at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. With the
Science and Technology Awards, the Academy honors individuals and companies
whose inventions and innovations make a significant and lasting contribution to
the further development of the motion picture industry. Every year the Academy
presents the awards two weeks before the Oscars® are awarded for the best
movies, best actors and actresses, best directors, and best camera.
The development of the Leica
Summilux-C lenses fulfills a long-standing dream of numerous camera operators
and creative cinematographers around the globe: the transfer of the
extraordinary image qualities of Leica photography to the medium of motion pictures,
enabling cinematographers to open up new creative dimensions. The Leica
Summilux-C lenses are designed and constructed by CW Sonderoptic GmbH in
Wetzlar, Germany, an affiliate of Leica Camera AG. The long-standing
partnership between the two companies enables intensive exchange of experience,
technical expertise, and manufacturing methods that guarantee the imaging
performance and characteristics for which Leica lenses are renowned.
The Leica Cine lenses set
entirely new standards and have since become invaluable assets in the movie
industry. Leica lenses were used in the filming of numerous major feature film
productions over the last three years, including movies like Birdman, The
Theory of Everything, X-Men: Days of Future Past, Gone Girl, and Dawn of the
Planet of the Apes. Prominent cameramen around the globe appreciate the
technical and creative properties of the Leica Cine lenses – for instance, the
consistently high illumination across the frame for all focal lengths and the
linear focusing scales that make camera work on the set much easier. Their
superior imaging qualities, compact dimensions, and low weight make them
particularly versatile and mobile. This picture is supplemented by dazzling
contrast rendition, extremely low chromatic aberration, and smooth transitions
between planes of focus.
Dr. Andreas Kaufmann,
chairman of the supervisory board at Leica Camera AG and owner of CW
Sonderoptic GmbH: “We have succeeded in transferring the virtually iconic
reputation of the Leica brand from photography to cinematography. This accolade
awarded to us by the Academy proves once again that lenses from Wetzlar are
among the best in the world when it comes to high quality, optical and
mechanical excellence, and superior imaging performance.”
Gerhard Baier and Erik
Feichtinger, co-managing directors at CW Sonderoptic GmbH, agree: “For
moviemakers, Leica lenses for cinematography have been an unfulfilled dream for
many years. But now we have succeeded in making this dream come true thanks to
the enormous efforts, unique achievements, and the sheer passion of the
globally active team from Leica Camera AG and CW Sonderoptic GmbH. The emotive
and technical brilliance of our lenses has stood the test in numerous motion
picture productions. For us, it is a great honor that the Academy has rewarded
our efforts with this award.”
Jeff Cronenweth, ASC,
Cinematographer on Gone Girl:
“We chose the Leica
Summilux-C lenses for Gone Girl because, unlike other choices, the Summilux-C’s
have this amazing ability to maintain extreme resolution while still
understanding and considering the complexity of the human face. The fact that
they are able to maintain the same small profile throughout the range of focal
lengths further removes the filmmaker from any complications created by
invasive footprints.”
Michael Seresin, BSC,
Cinematographer on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes:
“The Leica Summilux-C lenses
that I used on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes are the most rigorous and true
lenses I have worked with. In the world of digital cinematography they retain a
unique cinematic and emotional quality, similar to the Leica photography lenses
I use, which is essential for me and the films I work on.”
About Leica Camera
Leica Camera AG is an
internationally operating premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport
optics products. The Leica legend is founded on a long tradition of optical
excellence and precision engineering. Combined with innovative technologies,
Leica products continue to guarantee better pictures in all situations in the
worlds of visualization and perception to this day. Leica Camera AG has its
headquarters in Wetzlar, in the state of Hesse, with a second production site
in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. The company operates branch offices in
England, France, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, South Korea, Italy, Australia,
and the USA. New and innovative products have been the driving force behind the
company’s positive development in recent years.
About CW Sonderoptic
CW Sonderoptic GmbH is an
internationally active manufacturer of premium lenses for movie and television
productions and operates under the Leica brand name. The company currently
manufactures two product lines for global distribution, the Summilux-C (T1.4)
und Summicron-C (T2.0) lenses. CW Sonderoptic GmbH is positioned in the premium
segment of the respective markets and delivers innovations that set new
standards in creative imaging. The headquarters of CW Sonderoptic GmbH are
located in the city of Wetzlar, in the state of Hesse, GermanY.
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Wow. Congratulations
ReplyDeleteWell deserved
ReplyDeleteLeica once again shows their leading position in this world.
ReplyDeleteThey should have received an Oscar long ago
ReplyDelete