The Legacy of Leica M Glass

Building on the popularity of the Leitz M 0.8 series, the Leitz HUGO lenses bring Leica M photography optics with their rich colors, artful flares and rounded image field firmly into the world of professional cinematography. M lenses have been renowned for over a century as the photographer’s choice to capture the moment, interpreting the world in a way that tells a unique story in a single frame.

Even wide open at T1.5 the lenses are sharp, but without feeling harsh. Their lower contrast keeps images smooth and falloff feeling natural even while details pop. The strong field curvature of the full frame lenses means that at faster stops the edges fall away noticeably in illumination, focus, and resolution allowing subjects to jump off the screen. The bokeh strongly smooths out details, blurring backgrounds into impressionistic backdrops further accentuating the separation between subject and setting. 

Ready for Cinematography

The Leitz HUGO lenses are designed to be small, fast, lightweight and as close focusing as possible with the full character of the Leica M lens glass creating character at capture. The set of 13 full frame lenses ranges from 18 mm to 135 mm. The HUGO I series, 9 lenses from 18-135 mm, are T1.5. The HUGO II series adds 3 focal lengths at T2.1 at the long end for smaller size/weight options as well as slightly different looks. The 50mm T1.0 lens, based on the fabled Leica Noctilux, rounds out the set with its complimentary but unique character.

The Leitz HUGO lenses encapsulate the Leica M optics in a completely new housing design with a build quality to match the uncompromising durability and flexibility of existing Leitz cinematography lenses. They are available in swappable LPL, M or L mount. Other mechanical improvements include a traditional cine orientation of focus and iris scales with matched locations for quick lens changes, expanded 270° rotation of focus scales, and greatly increased close focusing. They remain incredibly compact and lightweight starting at 1.78 lbs / .81 kg, and between 2.7 - 4.4” (68 - 112 mm) in length with 95mm front diameters.

Like many rangefinder lenses, the rear elements of the lenses protrude beyond the mount into the camera body. Before using, confirm camera and mount compatibility below to avoid damage.

Like other Leitz cine lenses, the HUGO series will have readily available parts, replacement elements, and lens technician training will ensure reliable and consistent use for many years. Existing M 0.8 lenses will be eligible for a conversion to HUGO lenses in the future. Pricing and availability to be determined.

Who is Hugo?

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 iconic Leica M bayonet mount still in use today along with many of the early M series lenses.

The Leica M mount features a shallow flange depth of 27.8 mm, which was the key to designing small, fast, high-quality lenses that have been a staple of street photographers, war correspondents, and adventurers who need to move lightly, travel far, and shoot quickly for nearly seven decades. The Leitz HUGO lenses capture that same spirit and bring the iconic images of M glass into the world of moving pictures.