The newly announced Leitz ELSIE lenses were designed from the ground up as premium cine lenses with full-frame performance and consistency in size and speed to serve a broad range of productions. The set consists of 13 lenses and ranges from 15mm to 150mm, all at T2.1. According to Leitz, the new bokeh design was developed in conjunction with Leica Camera in order to create “out-of-focus elements that are painterly while still being recognizable”. More details (and questions) are below.
The ELSIE is Leitz’s newly developed line of cinema prime lenses. Manufactured in Germany, consistent T-Stop 2.1, and with a new bokeh design, the set includes 13 primes in the range of 15mm to 150mm. The Leitz ELSIE lenses are designed for full-frame performance with a consistency in size and speed to serve a broad range of productions. Furthermore, the ELSIE lenses are available in LPL mount. “Designing for the shallower flange depth of the LPL standard allows for more design flexibility and higher performance without pushing the mechanical or optical characteristics to the extreme” Leitz adds.
The Leitz Primes being extremely well corrected with high and even illumination and resolution across the frame from edge to edge. The Elsie lenses are designed to allow some falloff character to differentiate between our more performance-driven lenses like Leitz Prime and Summilux-C.
Leitz emphasizes that the ELSIE lenses incorporate the warmth and resolution that Leitz lenses are known for. “The lenses feature a noticeable but gradual falloff of resolution and illumination as the image approaches the corners to create a dimensional pop that gently draws the viewer‘s eye toward the center of the frame”, Leitz says. Also, a new bokeh design developed in conjunction with Leica Camera more closely mimics their M lenses by creating out-of-focus elements that are painterly while still being recognizable.
We have never believed in offering only one kind of look to the market. Our M 0.8 and Thalia lines of lenses offer a completely different look using still photo glass. Today’s market demands choices and we are offering a new choice with Elsie lenses.
Explore the table below for a comparison between the primes in the series:
Nada. No info about pricing, nor availability, nor sample footage. We’ll update the article when this info comes out. Nevertheless, for comparison, the price of a complete Leitz Cine Primes set is €500,000. So expect a set of ELSIE to be at that range.
Update: Regarding the price, Leitz has announced that the lenses will be around 19K euros each, which is significantly lower than the price of the Leitz Primes.
It’s hard to tell more about the ELSIE, since other than marketing stuff and a picture of Zack Snyder, there’s not much to explore. For instance, what’s the difference between the Leitz primes released two years ago? I mean, the Cine Primes are sharp, with natural-looking bokeh and round, out-of-focus highlights, and they cover the VistaVision sensor, and they’re even faster than the newly announced ELSIE. The Leitz Cine Primes were a natural development following the acclaimed Summicron-C lenses designed for the Super35mm format. However, the ELSIE is dedicated to large sensors as well. If so, what’s the reason for developing a whole new set of cine-primes? You are welcome to try and answer that.
Update: Leitz added more info and stated: “In regards to the differences between the lenses, there is a difference in their appearance with the Leitz Primes being extremely well corrected with high and even illumination and resolution across the frame from edge to edge. The Elsie lenses are designed to allow some falloff character to differentiate between our more performance-driven lenses like Leitz Prime and Summilux-C. We have never believed in offering only one kind of look to the market. Our M 0.8 and Thalia lines of lenses offer a completely different look using still photo glass. Today’s market demands choices and we are offering a new choice with Elsie lenses”.
Here’re the products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers.
Yossy is a filmmaker who specializes mainly in action sports cinematography. Yossy also lectures about the art of independent filmmaking in leading educational institutes, academic programs, and festivals, and his independent films have garnered international awards and recognition. Yossy is the founder of Y.M.Cinema Magazine.
Your email address will not be published.
Notify me of follow-up comments by email.
Notify me of new posts by email.
Get updated with News & Insights on Digital Cinema!
Get updated with News & Insights on Digital Cinema!
Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment announced new IMAX theatrical releases of the Steven Spielberg classics E.T.…
In continuous with our previous video published by Nikon Asia regarding the editing of 8K N-RAW…
Write, shoot and edit a short film in one weekend while getting access to top-of-the-line equipment,…
Nikon Asia has published a video showing off the filmmaking capabilities of its flagship Z9. The…
It seems that the high-speed car pursuits in the last Fast & Furious movie which is…
© 2018-2022. All Rights Reserved. Y.M.Cinema Magazine