By Heinz Richter
The Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH is one of the world’s leading premium cine lens manufacturers with their headquarters at Leitz Park in Wetzlar. The company distributes their lenses under the brand name 'Leitz'. With the development and production of these high-end quality, complex optical elements, the company has become one of the industry leaders in premium cinematographic optics within the last decade. The lenses are used in a large number of award-winning films and blockbusters, series and commercials worldwide. This achievement and the 'Science and Engineering Award' (Oscar) from the 'Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' are both validation and challenge to the people at Leitz, to continue with the development of high-end future film camera lenses, with the very same traditional technical precision, exceptional quality awareness and the deep passion for moving images to inspire filmmakers and enable them to realize their unique visions.
The latest development are the LEITZ ELSIE line of prime lenses.
The Leitz ELSIE lenses are designed for full frame performance with a consistency in size and speed to serve a broad range of productions. The 13 lens set ranges from 15 mm to 150 mm, all at T2.1.
The ELSIE lenses are available in LPL mount. Designing for the shallower flange depth of the LPL standard allows for more design flexibility and higher performance without pushing the mechanical or optical characteristics to the extreme.
The Leitz ELSIE lenses were designed from the ground up as premium cine lenses with full frame performance and a consistency in size and speed to serve a broad range of productions. Designed and produced in Germany, the ELSIE lenses incorporate the warmth and resolution that Leitz lenses are known for.
The lenses feature a noticeable but gradual falloff of resolution and illumination as the image approaches the corners to create a dimensional pop that gently draws the viewer‘s eye toward the center of the frame. The LEITZ ZOOMs make an excellent companion for the ELSIE primes in both image look and feel.
The name ELSIE is inspired by lifelong humanitarian Elsie Kühn-Leitz, daughter of Ernst Leitz II, who championed the oppressed and suffering and risked her own life to help them.
For more information on Dr. Elsie Kühn-Leitz go here and here.
For other articles on this blog please click on Blog Archive in the column to the right
For other articles on this blog please click on Blog Archive in the column to the right
Is there any significance to these cine lenses for Leica M users?
ReplyDeleteYes, there is. Starting with the Leica M240 and all M models thereafter, all Leica cameras that can be equipped with an electronic viewfinder, these lenses can be used without restriction on those cameras, allowing those Leica M users to take advantage of the extremely high performance levels of these lenses.
Delete