Modern lenses tend to be made with plastic or magnesium alloy, but Light Lens Lab has just recreated a vintage lens complete with a brass body. The Light Lens Lab 50mm f/2 “Rigid” is a lens that pays homage to Leica’s 50mm F/2 Summicron V2 Rigid glass, but unlike Leica’s classic, the new optic from Lens Lab sits well under $1,000 / £798 / AU$1,603.
The Light Lens Lab 50mm f/2 is an M-mount lens designed with seven elements in six groups. The manual focus lens is capable of capturing subjects as close as .7 m in front of the lens. The company says the lens uses lanthanide-infused elements and updated lens coatings for added durability.
Those optics are housed in a full brass body, though some finishes of the lens are built with titanium instead. Along with a bare brass special edition, the lens is also available in black paint with brass details, black paint, or chrome.
The lens's list of specifications also includes a 10-blade aperture. The lens itself weighs 266g and ships with a hood, caps, and leather pouch.
Pre-orders of the lens are now live, with shipping expected to begin on February 14, 2025. The bare brass limited edition is the most expensive of the different finishes at $899 / £717 / AU$1,442, with the chrome version sitting at $100 / £80 / AU$160 less. The company says that an LTM mount version is in development.
Leica’s continued commitment to M-mount cameras means the brand’s M-mount cameras still accept vintage lenses. The new-in-box version of the Leica 50mm f/2 Summicron lens retails for $2,995.
Lens Lab is a company based in Shangrao, China that reproduces historic lenses. The company says that its optics are hand-made in small batches. The company’s current catalog now includes eight vintage-inspired optics.
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