The Leitz HEKTOR lenses were developed specifically for mirrorless cameras and are not based on existing Leitz Cine or Leica series. Inspired by over 100 years of Leica lens history, they bring back the look and feel of designs from the 1930s, 1950s, and 1970s, combined with modern optical engineering. Made for today’s content creators and filmmakers, these lenses offer robust mechanics for professional use and a unique image character that works perfectly with digital sensors. Reliable and consistent, they deliver outstanding image quality while staying true to the classic Leitz/Leica aesthetic.
HEKTOR rendering
- High resolution in the image center with a slight fall-off towards the edges
- Soft blur with smooth transitions
- Rainbow flares
- Rounded field with reduced contrast at the edges
- No chromatic aberration – slight loss of focus towards the edges
- Subtle vignetting
- “Swirly bokeh” inspired by Petzval (100 mm)
- Soft halo – deep blacks
- Clear separation between “sharp” and “blurred” areas
- Even bokeh texture without rings – subtle “swirl” towards the edges
Inspired by history
Leitz HEKTOR lenses focus on two essentials: character and craftsmanship. Rather than adapting existing designs, they draw on over a century of Leica optical heritage, especially from the 1930s, 50s, and 70s, while also studying vintage designs from other makers.
The result is a unique blend: classic spherical construction reminiscent of 1980s–90s lenses, with influences from early Leica M and Petzval optics. This creates dynamic flares, subtle fall-off, and spherical aberrations that add personality without overpowering the image. Modern coatings ensure better control of glare and reduced chromatic aberration, making the lenses both expressive and practical for today’s filmmakers.
Ready to work
The Leitz HEKTOR series includes six full-frame prime lenses, 18, 25, 35, 50, 73, and 100 mm, all with a constant T2.1 aperture.
Designed with user-interchangeable mounts (E, L, RF, Z), they offer flexibility across multiple mirrorless formats. Fully manual, the lenses feature matched focus and iris ring spacing for fast swaps, with a smooth 120° focus rotation for precise hand operation.
Compact and lightweight, each lens has an 80 mm front diameter and a 77 mm filter thread (except the 18 mm). The 9-blade iris maintains a circular shape at every stop, ensuring smooth and consistent bokeh.
HEKTOR lenses use passive mounts and do not transmit metadata.