Rather than chasing the clinical perfection that dominates today’s lens market, Leitz Cine has gone the opposite direction entirely with their new HEKTOR series, featuring six prime lenses that deliberately embrace the character and quirks that made cinema glass legendary in the first place.
The HEKTOR lineup draws its inspiration from a century of optical history, specifically nodding to classic Leica M lenses from the 1930s and ’50s, along with the dreamy field curvature of vintage Petzval designs. These are completely new optical formulas designed from the ground up, using only spherical elements to create that organic, slightly imperfect rendering that digital sensors often lack.
Designed for Character, Not Charts
Where most modern cine lenses prioritize sharpness and correction above all else, the HEKTORs lean hard into their personality. Each of the six focal lengths — 18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 73mm, and 100mm — delivers T2.1 speed with a distinctly warm character that includes controlled shower flares, gentle Petzval swirl in the bokeh, and a natural vignette that draws focus to your subject without feeling forced.
The 73mm focal length is particularly noteworthy, paying direct homage to the iconic f/1.9 lens from the original 1930s Hektor series (yes, named after Max Berek’s dog). That silver anodized finish is a callback to the chrome bodies of those early Leica cameras that helped establish 35mm as the gold standard for both photography and cinema.
Built Like the Real Deal
Despite targeting the more accessible mirrorless market, Leitz hasn’t compromised on build quality. These lenses are manufactured and assembled in Germany using the same precision that goes into their flagship Summilux-C series. The 80mm front diameter is consistent across the range, with 77mm filter threads on everything except the 18mm. Focus and iris rings are matched across all focal lengths, making lens swaps seamless on set.
The user-interchangeable mount system supports Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-mount configurations. Five screws and a few minutes are all it takes to swap between camera systems, which extends the lenses’ versatility considerably. The replaceable front element is another thoughtful touch, essentially giving you a built-in sacrificial filter that’s easy and inexpensive to replace if damaged.
Spec Sheet
Focal Lengths: 18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 73mm, 100mm
Max Aperture: T2.1
Lens Mounts: Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z, L-mount (user-interchangeable)
Image Circle: 47.8mm (full-frame coverage)
Focus Rotation: 120°
Iris Blades: 9-blade circular aperture
Weight Range: 1.5-2.1 lbs
Filter Thread: 77mm (except 18mm)
Manufacturing: Designed and assembled in Germany
Pricing & Availability
The Leitz HEKTOR lenses are available now through authorized dealers, with individual lenses priced at $7,390 (or $7,590 for the 18mm). Mount kits run $190 each.
Recap
Leitz Cine Hektor Lenses
Leitz Cine’s new HEKTOR series brings six vintage-inspired prime lenses (18-100mm, T2.1) to the mirrorless market with features like controlled flares, Petzval swirl, and warm rendering.
