New Company Lailens Announces 50mm f/1.1 Lens for Leica M-Mount
In recent years, third-party lens manufacturers have increasingly catered to Leica users by offering more affordable alternatives to the brand’s high-priced lenses. Companies such as Sigma, TTArtisan, Thypoch, Meike and AstrHori have introduced various lenses that cost a fraction of Leica’s original models. This expanding market now includes Lailens, a Chinese company established in March 2024.
Lailens has indeed announced its first lens, a 50mm f/1.1 designed for Leica M-mount cameras, while a second lens, a 35mm f/1.9 for L39 screw-mount systems, is expected to follow later in the year. The 50mm lens is built for full-frame cameras and features a fast aperture of f/1.1 to f/16, a 13-blade diaphragm, a close focusing distance of 0.7 meters and a yellow spot linkage focusing mechanism. The lens is relatively compact, measuring 4.3cm in length and weighing 386 grams. It accepts 52mm filters.
While the company has released several images of the product, details regarding the optical formula or materials used remain undisclosed. The lens casing appears to include markings similar to those found on Leica products and may be constructed from metal, although this is unconfirmed.
Here are some sample pictures shot with the Lailens 50mm f/1.1, from the company’s website:
The choice of branding by Lailens has drawn attention, particularly because its website is registered under the domain www.leicalens.com. This move could raise legal or reputational concerns, as it closely references the Leica name. In addition, the official product page lacks in-depth specifications or verified performance data: the company has shared a limited number of sample images, but broader testing and user feedback are still pending.
The anticipated 35mm f/1.9 lens, designed for the L39 mount, has so far only been seen in CAD renderings. Technical specifications and release details remain sparse, and the launch is expected sometime later in the year, while the lens is currently available for preorder.
The pricing positions Lailens among the more expensive options in the growing field of Chinese M-mount lenses, with the 50mm f/1.1 listed at $800. In comparison, TTArtisan’s 50mm f/0.95 ASPH is priced at $755, while 7Artisans offers a 50mm f/1.1 for $369. Other manufacturers such as Thypoch, Astra Lab and Mitakon Zhongyi also produce M-mount lenses that balance cost and performance, some of which offer wider apertures or lower prices. Additionally, brands outside of China, like Voigtländer, continue to offer competitive alternatives for Leica M users.
