Leica Summicron-C: Digital cine lenses with f/2.0 speed — compact build for modern film cameras with PL-Mount.
Technical Details
Focal Lengths
| 18 | 21 | 25 | 29 | 35 | 40 | 50 | 75 | 100 | 135 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2.0 | T2.0 | T2.0 | T2.0 | T2.0 | T2.0 | T2.0 | T2.0 | T2.0 | T2.0 |
| 0.25m | 0.28m | 0.30m | 0.32m | 0.35m | 0.38m | 0.45m | 0.70m | 0.85m | 1.00m |
| 1.1kg | 1.2kg | 1.2kg | 1.2kg | 1.3kg | 1.3kg | 1.4kg | 1.7kg | 1.9kg | 2.1kg |
| 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 | 80 |
| 84° | 74° | 64° | 57° | 48° | 43° | 34° | 23° | 17° | 13° |
| ◀━━━━▶ | ◀━━━▶ | ◀━━━▶ | ◀━━▶ | ◀━━▶ | ◀━━▶ | ◀━▶ | ◀▶ | ◀▶ | ◀▶ |
PL · 80mm Front · 300° Focus · T2.0 · Super 35
History & Development
Leica introduced the Summicron-C series in 2012 as its first foray into the professional cinema market. Development began in 2009 in cooperation with CW Sonderoptic in Bad Kreuznach, building on decades of experience in still photography lens manufacturing. In 2014, Leica expanded the series with the 25mm and 135mm focal lengths. The lenses were created in response to the growing demand for compact, fast cinema lenses for the new generation of digital cinema cameras like the RED Epic and Arri Alexa.
Practical Use in Film
Summicron-C lenses are preferentially used for handheld and Steadicam shots due to their low weight, which reduces strain on the equipment. The characteristic Leica look is evident in soft skin tones and natural color rendition without excessive contrast. The constant T2.0 aperture allows for consistent exposure when changing focal lengths. Typical applications are found in independent productions and documentaries where mobility and natural rendering are required. The 300° focus rotation facilitates precise focus pulls in longer takes.
Comparison & Alternatives
Compared to Zeiss CP.2 or Canon CN-E, Summicron-C lenses offer a warmer, more organic image character with less sharpness in the image corners. Cooke S4/i lenses achieve similar naturalness but are significantly more expensive. The Leica Thalia series is positioned as a modern alternative with a larger image circle for full-frame sensors and improved optical performance. Summicron-C is suitable for productions with limited budgets that still aim for the characteristic Leica look, while Thalia lenses are designed for high-end productions with the highest optical demands.