Leitz Cine has announced their newest lens line: the Hektor Primes, a six-lens set designed for today’s mirrorless cameras. Compact, consistent, and unapologetically character-driven, the Hektors represent a notable shift for Leitz Cine as they step into a price bracket and design philosophy aimed less at rental houses and more at working cinematographers who want artistry without sacrificing reliability or build quality.
Hektor Overview
The Hektor Primes arrive as a set of six lenses – 18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 73mm, and 100mm – all at T2.1 and covering full frame. They are designed exclusively for mirrorless cameras with user-interchangeable mounts for E, L, RF, and Z systems. This makes them unusually flexible for cinematographers who work across multiple platforms.
No Leitz lens launch would be complete without a nod to history. The Hektors take their name from famed Leica optical designer Max Berek’s dog, Hektor, which also inspired some of Leica’s earliest interchangeable photo lenses in the 1930s. One of those original lenses was a 73mm f/1.9 – a detail that clearly influenced the inclusion of a 73mm focal length in this modern cine set. We felt obligated to mention this fun fact, even though it is bound to appear in every other article since we all receive the same press release. Still, it is a charming piece of lineage, and it adds a bit of personality before you ever put a Hektor on a camera.
Specs & Build
The Hektors share the kind of consistency that professionals expect from a purpose-built cine set. Each lens carries an 80mm front diameter, 77mm filter threads (except the 18mm), and identical gear positions, making swaps on set seamless. Focus rotation is 120°, striking a balance between precise pulls and quick manual operation. Leitz also paid attention to real-world usability. The lenses incorporate a replaceable front flat element (again, except the 18mm), designed as a sacrificial protector that is inexpensive and easy to swap – almost like having a built-in clear filter. The build quality is exactly what you would expect from a German-made cine lens. Whether that phrase still carries weight in 2025 is up for debate, but there is no question that the Hektors are designed with durability and serviceability in mind.
Optical Design
Unlike many modern cine lenses that prioritize sharpness and correction, the Hektors lean into their quirks. Leitz designed them with spherical-only optics, intentionally embracing a more vintage-inspired rendering. Early impressions suggest that they balance resolution in the center with more painterly characteristics toward the edges. This makes them quite different from Leitz’s Summicron-C or Summilux-C lines. The company describes the Hektors as being built “for artists, not engineers.” That is marketing speak, but in this case it seems fair. These lenses are as much about feel as they are about technical performance.
Pricing & Position
As with any Leitz lens, pricing is part of the conversation. The Hektor Primes are priced at $7,390 each, with the exception of the 18mm at $7,590. Mount kits come in at $190 apiece, while a six-lens case is $390 and individual cases are $40. Outfitting a complete six-lens kit with mounts pushes the investment to just under $45,000.
This puts the Hektors in an unusual space. They are not priced for entry-level shooters, but they are significantly more accessible than Leitz’s flagship cine glass. For cinematographers moving from stills glass or video-oriented lenses into their first serious cine set, the Hektors could represent a meaningful step up – one that blends reliability, serviceability, and character.
Final Thoughts
The Hektor Primes are an intriguing move from Leitz. They offer excellent build quality, multiple mirrorless-friendly mounts, and a unique look that feels distinctly different from the rest of the company’s lineup. Whether they are the right fit for you depends on how much you value character, and how much you are willing to invest in it. For some, these lenses will still feel premium-priced. For others, they may be the most accessible entry point into the Leitz Cine ecosystem yet.
We have had hands-on time with the Hektors – both on the bench and field-use, and there is much more to say about how they render. From swirly bokeh to flare behavior. Subscribe and check back for our in-depth review, where we will dive deeper into their optical character and performance with real-world examples.
Check in with the experts at Duclos Lenses if you’re ready to get your hands on the new Leitz Cine Hektor Primes.
Tech Specs
As always, here are the tech specs for my fellow lens geeks.
| Spec | 18 mm | 25 mm | 35 mm | 50 mm | 73 mm | 100 mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aperture | T2.1 | |||||
| Image Circle | 47.8 mm | |||||
| Close Focus (ft) | 0’9″ | 1′ | 1’2″ | 1’9″ | 2’6″ | 2’9″ |
| Close Focus (m) | 0.22 | 0.30 | 0.35 | 0.50 | 0.75 | 0.85 |
| Horizontal AoV – Full Frame (36×24 mm) | 101.4° | 79.8° | 63.2° | 44.6° | 33.1° | 24.7° |
| Horizontal AoV – Super 35 (24.9×18.7 mm) | 83.1° | 63.5° | 47.6° | 32.9° | 24.3° | 18° |
| Weight (lb) | 1.85 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.1 |
| Weight (kg) | 0.84 | 0.77 | 0.71 | 0.66 | 0.72 | 0.97 |
| Length (in / mm) | 3.47″ / 88.2 | 3.47″ / 88.2 | 3.47″ / 88.2 | 3.47″ / 88.2 | 3.47″ / 88.2 | 4.84″ / 123 |
| Lens Mount | L, E, Z, RF | |||||
| Front Diameter | 80 mm | |||||
| Front Filter | M77 × 0.75 screw-in (except 18 mm) | |||||
| Rear Filter | No | |||||
| Focus Rotation / Iris Rotation | 120° / 49° | |||||
| Iris Blades | 9 blades | |||||
| Iris Shape | Circular through all stops | |||||
Thanks for the rundown on these.
I’m a fan of vintage lenses (including the Leica Rs, of which I own a set), so these really appeal to me. I’d hoped the price point would be more comparable to the Cooke SP3 or Zeiss Nano sets, but ultimately these were more likely to be a rental for me anyway.