Hello Everyone,
After two years of continuous development and refinement, we are pleased to announce that production of the Light Lens Lab 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical "11873" has officially begun. The lens will be available for order in the last quarter of 2025.
A prototype of the 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical “11873” was first completed in 2023 and submitted to Leica Society International for in-depth testing and review. Based on their valuable feedback, we decided to postpone its release to make significant improvements to both the optical design and quality control process. The review of the first prototype of the 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical "11873" has been published by Leica Society International.
Please note that during the review of the 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical "11873," the lens tested was our first prototype. Over the past two years, we have implemented several key changes to optimize performance for modern high-megapixel sensors. Insights gained from another optical project—soon to be announced—had contributed to the final prototype of the 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical "11873." After testing the final iteration of the 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical “11873,” we are satisfied and confident in moving forward with production.
Key Changes:
- Changes to Aspherical Element Production: Transition from the use of a ground and polished method to a modern moulded and polished method. This change is due to the implementation of learning the use of moulded aspherical elements, enhancing precision and optical consistency.
- New ED and Achromatic Element: Introduced a high-refractive low-dispersion and Achromatic Element alongside the new aspherical element to reduce distortion, diffraction, and chromatic aberration. At the same time, it maintains the legendary character and characteristics through the use of Lanthanide elements.
- Enhanced Quality Control: Improved assembly precision and element spacing—particularly between aspherical and spherical groups—to optimize alignment and image quality. The rear element has been slightly extended for better optical performance, while maintaining full compatibility with M-mount and adapted camera systems.
- New Optical Standard: Due to the high-performance aspect of 35mm f/1.4 Aspherical “11873." The lens represents both a tribute to legendary lens design and characteristics and the foundation for our new high-performance optics series.
Finishes & Availability
The lens will be available in the following versions:
- Black Paint
- Chrome
- Titanium Grey Limited Edition: Limited to 300 pieces worldwide.
Black Paint and Chrome versions feature bodies and accessories made from 7075 aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, while the Titanium Grey Limited Edition are made from titanium alloy.
We are also exploring various front-ring designs. Please note that the prototype images shown are subject to refinement, including anodization and finishing adjustments:
Prototype Photos. Please note that the final production unit features several changes to the font, design and final finishing:
Chrome finish with the latest optical upgrades. Please note that the use of anodization is entirely new, and we will address these imperfections during the production of this lens.
Titanium Limited Edition, please note that the additional E46 lens hood is not yet finalized. There will be an update regarding changes to this lens hood with further updates and order announcement:
Planned concept for the E46 lens hood made in Titanium:
Titanium Raw Material Processing:
We expect to announce availability, pricing, and ordering details in November 2025, with shipping scheduled between November and January, depending on the choice of material and finish. Sample photos captured with the latest prototype will be featured in our upcoming blog post and on social media.
Thank you for your continued support throughout our journey to recreate and advance legendary optical designs. We look forward to sharing more updates soon—including progress on our film research project!