Thypoch Presents Ksana 21mm f/3.5 Lens
Thypoch has introduced the Ksana 21mm f/3.5, a manual-focus wide-angle lens for Leica M mount that inaugurates the company’s new Ksana series. The lens combines a compact mechanical design with an optical approach intended to reference the rendering characteristics of cinema and photographic lenses from the 1970s.
Central to the Ksana 21mm f/3.5 is Thypoch’s newly developed Epoch Coating 73, which is part of a broader project aimed at studying and recreating the visual traits associated with specific historical periods of lens design. In this case, the reference point is 1970s-era cinema optics, with an emphasis on warmer highlight behavior, controlled flare, and softer color transitions. The coating is intended to influence rendering character rather than resolution alone, while still maintaining consistent performance across the frame.
The optical construction consists of eight elements arranged in six groups: there are one aspherical element, two extra-low dispersion elements, and three high-refractive-index elements. According to the Chinese company, this combination is used to limit chromatic aberration and distortion while preserving edge-to-edge sharpness. The lens covers the full-frame image circle and provides a wide field of view appropriate for landscape, street, and documentary photography. A nine-blade diaphragm offers an aperture range from f/3.5 to f/22 and is designed to produce defined starburst effects when stopped down.
Physically, the Ksana 21mm f/3.5 is notably small and light: the all-aluminum barrel measures 27 millimeters in length and weighs approximately 131 grams. The lens features a scalloped focusing ring and a crescent-shaped focus tab, reflecting traditional rangefinder ergonomics. For rangefinder users, a tactile indicator at 0.7 meters signals the point at which the optical rangefinder coupling disengages, requiring a switch to electronic viewfinder focusing for closer distances. Minimum focusing distance is 0.5 meters.
The lens is fully manual, with no electronic contacts, autofocus, or optical stabilization. Its mechanical simplicity aligns with its compact form factor and historical design references. Although native to Leica M mount, the short flange distance allows the lens to be easily adapted for use on many modern mirrorless camera systems.
Here are some sample pictures, courtesy of Typoch:
The Thypoch Ksana 21mm f/3.5 is available in black and silver finishes. Pricing is set at $549 in the United States and €479 in Europe.
