Leitz has announced the development of a new line of cinema lenses to be known as the Leitz HUGO prime lenses.  The HUGO line of lenses are designed to be small, fast, lightweight, and as close-focusing as possible without giving up on the character and personality of the Leica M lens glass. The initial set of seven full frame lenses ranges from 21 mm to 90 mm, all T1.5, with 18 mm and 135 mm focal lengths to follow soon. A 50 mm T1.0 lens will also be available. The initial seven-lens set is priced at approximately US$106,300 with the 50 mm T1.0 at US$18,700.

The lenses will have an LPL mount as well as the traditional cine orientation of focus and iris scales, expanded focus scales with a 270° rotation, and greatly increased close focus ability. They are extremely compact and lightweight starting at 1.78 lbs / .81 kg, and between 2.7 – 4.4″ (68 – 112 mm) in length.  The Leitz HUGO lenses take their name from esteemed engineer Hugo Wehrenfennig, whose work for Leica Camera (then Ernst Leitz GmbH, Wetzlar) included creating the classic Leica M bayonet mount still in use today as well as many of the early M series lenses.  For more information about the Leitz HUGO lenses visit: leitz-cine.com/product/hugo