Leica has been one of the few companies to work with lenses based on vintage offerings. One of the reasons being that the Leica’s M range requires a manual lens, which challenges the way one designs the lenses. Light Lens Lab is one such company that has introduced some impressive lenses, and they are reviving up one of the most celebrated lenses again for portrait photographers.
The lens is the 50mm f1.9 Rigid-ZS6, which will be launched on May 31, 2026, at $799. The 50mm combines the classic Dallmeyer Super-Six optical design with Light Lens Lab‘s Rigid mechanical platform. Here is a look at the specs:
- Optical Construction: 6 elements in 4 groups (double-Gaussian)
- Format Coverage: 135 full frame
- Focus Range: 0.7m to ∞
- Diaphragm: Preset type, half-stop increments
- Lens Mount: Leica M-mount quick-change bayonet
- Filter Thread: E39
- Lens Hood: A42 clip-on (sold separately)
- Length: 45mm
- Diameter: 54mm
- Weight: Approx. 263g (without accessories)
- Construction: Brass outer barrel with aluminum and brass internals
- Price: $799 (Brass Chrome)
- Manufacturing: Fully in-house
The Super-Six was the name of the original Dallmeyer 50mm f1.9 lens, which was loved by photographers, thanks to the soft bokeh and impressive colors. The lens was loved by portraits and street photographers, and the original lenses are pretty hard to come by. Keeping that in mind, the Light Lens Lab‘s version is pretty impressive, as it allows one to relive the same magic with a modern lens. All of this, at a pretty reasonable price at that.
The Rigid-ZS6 also comes with the same mechanical platform used in the 50mm f2 Rigid and Rigid-SPII. This includes the strong chassis, which Leica M users will adore.
The new 50mm has two variants available. The standard Rigid-ZS6 has classic Super-Six rendering, while the low contrast version is for photographers seeking a film-photography aesthetic on digital bodies. The Leica M system has attracted photographers who prefer character with their lenses. At f1.9, you get bokeh, painterly effects, and some great renderings, says the company. The lens is small, compact, and really fast, and easier to carry around with Leica bodies.
Since we have not yet tested Light Lens Lab’s other models, it is hard for us to comment about its performance. But since the lens is under $800, and it has a nice vintage design, it pairs well with many other offerings photographers may have. The scene has the Voigtlander Nokton 50mm f1.5 MC as other competition, including 7Artisans 50mm f1.1. This means one can also rely on other optics if they need to be at the under $800 mark. For now, the company’s offering sounds impressive. It remains to be seen what it can do for them.