Clint Milby & Jake Fruia
CW Sonderoptic is known for crafting their quality Leica PL-mount lenses, made specific for digital cinema production. We stopped to talk with CW Sonderoptic’s Rainer Hercher about their two sets of prime lenses, the Summilux-C and the Summicron-C.
Summilux-C Prime Lenses
Design process
The Leica Summilux-C prime lenses present classical, faithfully humanistic images through design and manufacturing that push the envelope of modern capabilities.
Their clarity of resolution and high contrast present the world as seen by human eyes, both clear and soft at the same time.
Aperture
At T 1.4 the Leica Summilux-C prime lenses are among the fastest modern lens sets available, but unlike traditional lenses they are designed to perform at their best when wide open.
Focusing
The biggest complaint about 35mm cinema lenses has always been their large size intended to accommodate a focus ring with more witness marks. The Summilux-C lenses feature a patented focusing mechanism that eschews the logarithmic focusing of the past by expanding the focus scale in the most critical range.
Size
Their unique design allows these cine lenses to be far smaller than any existing lenses below T2.0. At just 5.6” (142mm) long and weighing between 3.5 and 4 pounds (1.6-1.8kg), lens changes are easier and safer than ever, which is welcome news for camera assistants and hurried productions. Smaller lenses also result in smaller, lighter camera packages and cases as well as significantly smaller rigs.
Summicron-C Prime Lenses
Design process
The Leica Summicron-C prime lenses put the most modern design and manufacturing techniques into the service of creating a timeless set of lenses which manage to capture the creamy texture of the world without sacrificing sharpness and contrast.
Aperture
The T2.0 Leica Summicron-C prime lenses are built with high ASA/ISO digital cameras in mind, offering plenty of depth of field and performance while maintaining a compact size.
Focusing
The classic linear focus scale of the Summicron-C lenses is familiar to camera assistants around the world. Focus rolls in gently allowing for smooth pulls without the unpleasant sudden snap of sharpness.
Size
Advances in cine lens design allow the Summicron-C lenses to be smaller and more compact than other lenses with comparable performance. Only 4” (101mm) long and weighing between 2.9 and 3.4 pounds (1.3-1.6kg), these lenses are perfect for stabilized rigs, aerial cinematography, underwater cinematography, and stereoscopic 3D.
The Leica Summilux-C and Leica Summicron-C lenses are available to rent and buy from dealers around the world, including Band Pro here in Burbank, California.
For more on CW Sonderoptic and Leica lenses, visit CW-Sonderoptic.com
