Leitz has introduced its new HUGO cinema lens, enhancing its growing lineup.
The Leitz HUGO 40mm T1.5 prime lens, designed for modern digital sensors, offers a cinematic quality defined by gentle field curvature and fall-off.
This lens adds to the existing HUGO offerings, which include focal lengths ranging from 18mm to 135mm.
Image Credit – Leitz
Rainer Hercher, the Managing Director of Leitz, mentioned that filmmakers have frequently requested the 40mm prime for the HUGO lineup.
He believes the 40mm T1.5 will quickly become a classic due to its rich colors, artistic flares, and rounded image field.
This lens delivers low contrast and sharp resolution without harshness, maintaining a smooth and natural fall-off that highlights details.
Although specifics about the lens element organization are limited, Leitz bases the optical design on its iconic M-series, developed by the esteemed engineer Hugo Wehrenfennig, after whom the lens line is named.
The 40mm T1.5 features a rear element that extends beyond the LPL body into the camera cavity, which may lead to compatibility issues with certain camera systems and third-party LPL camera designs.
Image Credit – Leitz
With an 11-blade circular aperture, this lens produces beautiful and smooth cinematic bokeh.
It offers a full-frame image circle of 43.3mm, providing a horizontal angle of view of 49.6° in full-frame format and 35.5° in Super35 format.
The lens also includes a standard 0.8 MOD cine gear.
The close focus capability reaches 14 inches (0.36 meters), and it offers 270 degrees of focus rotation.
Users can easily switch the focusing measurement between imperial and metric units, and the iris rotation measures 70.5°.
Like all Leitz HUGO designs, the lens includes a front filter thread of 92mm, featuring matched focus and iris rings at every focus position.
It measures 2.7 inches (68mm) in length and weighs approximately 1.8 pounds (0.87 kg).
Compatibility
The Leitz 40mm T1.5 HUGO Cine lens is compatible with LPL mounts for various cinema cameras, including Sony VENICE and BURANO models that use a Venice LPL mount, ARRI ALEXA 35, LF, and Mini LF, as well as RED Raptor and Komodo with an approved Wooden Camera RF to LPL adapter.
It also works with all Leitz SL cameras using a Leitz L to LPL adapter, as well as selected Sony E-mount cameras with third-party LPL mounts.
However, Leitz advises that some third-party adapters may not be compatible.
The lens cannot be used on the ARRI ALEXA Mini and Amira without a custom-machined adapter.
It is also incompatible with the Blackmagic URSA Cine 12K, RED DSMC2, and Raptor XL; however, the XL can utilize the 90mm T1.5 and 50mm T1.0 from the HUGO series.
Additionally, the 40mm T1.5 does not work with any analog film cameras.
Pricing and Availability
Currently, Leitz has not published a price for the Cine HUGO 40mm T1.5.
As a result, B&H categorizes it as a special order item, requiring voice, written, or in-person confirmation and offering no refunds.
Preorders are being accepted, with the lens expected to ship in the fourth quarter of 2025.
[source: Leitz]
Links:
- Leitz Cine HUGO 40mm T1.5 LPL Mount Lens (B&H)
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate partner and participant in B&H and Adorama Affiliate programmes, we earn a small comission from each purchase made through the affiliate links listed above at no additional cost to you.
