Lailens Announced Two New Lenses

credits: Lailens

Lailens, one of the newest names in the growing wave of Chinese lens makers, has announced two upcoming lenses for Leica shooters: a fast 50mm f/1.1 for M-mount and L39, and a compact 35mm f/1.8 for L39 screw-mount rangefinders. The company only formed last year and relies on DJ Optical for its glass, but they are already making moves with the 50mm f/1.1. lens.

Stylistically, the 50mm f/1.1 looks straight out of Leica’s catalog, though the price tag definitely doesn’t — it’s up for preorder at $800, that of course is still not ‘‘cheap’’ but it is a fraction of what Leica’s f/1.4 or Noctilux primes will cost you. For context, Leica’s 50mm f/1.4 ASPH. starts at over $5,000, and if you want the legendary Noctilux f/0.95, you’re looking at least $14,000. Specs-wise, the Lailens 50mm f/1.1 features a fast aperture range from f/1.1 to f/16, a 13-blade diaphragm for smoother bokeh, a minimum focusing distance of 0.7m, a 52mm filter thread, weighs just under 400 grams, and it’s fully manual.

That said, the official product page is pretty bare, no optical design info, no claims about sharpness or chromatic aberration, and only a handful of sample photos, which look decent but don’t offer much insight. Alongside the 50mm, Lailens is teasing a 35mm f/1.8 L39-mount lens, though details are even scarcer there. The company has shared a CAD rendering, but no specs, pricing, or release date yet, only that it’s expected later this year.

You can see full details and sample shots on Lailens’s website here