Latest updates/rumors on the Zenit – Leica collaboration: new Zenitar 35mm f/1 lens for Leica M-mount


Some interesting updates on the Zenit/Leica collaboration rumors - the Russian company Zenit has a new Zenitar 35mm f/1 lens for Leica M-mount (pictured above). LeicaRumors reported on this lens last year. Here are the details:

  • Weight 740 grams
  • Lens design: 9 lenses in 8 groups
  • Filter size: 72 mm

The information comes from a Russian forum:

Сегодня посетил стенд КМЗ на Фотофоруме-2018. Никакими новыми камерами там не пахнет. Объективы демонстрируются на тушках Canon и Nikon. На витрине единственная зеркалка КМЗ Зенит КМ 2005 года для демонстрации объективов с байонетом К. Из новинок наиболее интересен дальномерно-безеркалочный объектив на лейковский байонет М 35мм F1.0. Весом 740 грамм, 9 линз в 8 компонентах. Светофильтр 72 мм. Но только в каталоге, живого я не видел.

Google translation:

Today I visited the KMZ stand at the Photoforum-2018. There is no new KMZ cameras. Lenses are demonstrated on the Canon and Nikon cameras. In the show-window, the only Zenit KM KMZ SLR for the demonstration of K-mount lenses. Of the novelties, the most interesting is the range-lensless lens on the Leica bayonet M 35mm F1.0. Weight 740 grams, 9 lenses in 8 components. Light filter 72 mm. But only in the catalog, I did not see the live one. (source: www.penta-club.ru)

In the same discussion there are also some interesting comments on the Zenit/Leica collaboration:

Это один из трёх объективов для «лейковского» проекта (камера — на базе Leica-M9, переназванная и с чуть другим корпусом, а объективы — красногорские). Проект, он — разовый, позиционируется как «имиджевый», хотя правильнее: «подарочный». Кроме указанного, будет ещё около 20 мм и 50 мм. На сайте упоминаний нет, так как проект постоянно корректировался и всё переиначивалось. Даже название камеры уже два раза менялось — и индекс и сама марка. Мы в феврале для Новостей подготовили интервью со знающим человеком, но он сам попросил отменить публикацию, которая попросту устарела за те несколько дней, потраченные на расшифровку записи и редактирование... Трудно о чём-либо конкретном сообщать до тех пор, пока нет подтверждений того, что этот проект получил окончательное одобрение, а заводу удалось изыскать соответствующее финансирование.

Google translation:

This is one of the three objectives for the "Leica" project (the camera is based on Leica-M9, redesigned and with a slightly different body, and the lenses are redrawn). The project, he - a one-time, is positioned as "image", although more correctly: "gift". In addition to this, there will be about 20 mm and 50 mm. There are no mentions on the site, as the project was constantly updated and everything was changed. Even the name of the camera has already changed two times - both the index and the brand itself. We in February for the News prepared an interview with a knowledgeable person, but he himself asked to cancel the publication, which is simply obsolete in the few days spent decrypting the record and editing ... It's hard to tell anything concrete until there is no confirmation of that, that this project received final approval, and the plant managed to find the appropriate financing. (source: www.penta-club.ru):


A new holding company was recently created under the name Shvabe (Швабe) - see the history of the company here. Shvabe and Zenit even shared a booth at a recent photo show in Russia (photo credit Shvabe):

Related posts:

Rumors: Zenit D1 mirrorless full-frame digital camera based on Leica M9, new Zenitar lenses for Leica M-mount

Zenit considered working with other major companies on their new full-frame mirrorless digital camera

Rumors: something is going on between Leica and Zenit

The Russian company Zenit to release a new full-frame mirrorless digital camera in 2018

Future KMZ-Zenit lenses: Zenitar 50mm f/0.95, 50mm f/1.2, 85mm f/1.2 and more

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