Band Pro Film & Digital announced that the first sets of Leica Summilux-C Cine Lenses have shipped from the new Leica factory in Wetzler, Germany.
Otto Nemenz International in Hollywood, CA, took delivery of several production sets of eight lenses each. “The lenses are already out working on productions,” said company president Otto Nemenz. “Everyone that has used the lenses likes them and the demand for the Leicas is very high.”
The Leica Summilux-C lenses, distributed exclusively worldwide by Band Pro, are the first cine lenses produced by Leica Camera. They also represent the new generation of lens design with special physical characteristics, such as identical external dimensions and location of focus and iris ring, as well as imaging advancements, like ultra high resolution and optimization for new digital sensors which reveal more lens imperfections than traditional film.
“The new Leicas are the perfect answer to this new challenge,” said cinematographer Florian Ballhaus, who field-tested the Summilux-C lenses on his recent feature film Gambit (CBS Films). “In the world of digital cinematography with its clean, sharp images, there is an increased spotlight on the choice of lenses. The Leicas have a wonderful character while being perfectly predictable with their gentle Leica look that one expects from the still lenses we all know and love. They are as sharp as you want them to be but the focus falls off quite gently. I found myself using less filtration with them because they render skin tones so beautifully. I was very impressed with how uniquely they handled highlights and flairs.”
“These are in every way the lenses that we’ve been waiting for,” said Amnon Band, BandPro president and CEO. “When Leica first approached us with this project they had some very high design and performance ambitions for these lenses. All I can say is they’ve delivered.”
