Update #2: the domain name cw-sonderoptic.de is registered to Rainer Schnabel (perform a whois check for cw-sonderoptic.de) and of course he works for Leica: see this Google search.
Update: a picture of some of those Leica cine lenses could be seen here (English translation).
Rumors about Leica cinema lenses have been circulating for a while (see here and this link about Leica Cinema GmbH). Today, those rumors are much closer to become a reality. Take a look at this website http://cw-sonderoptic.de:
Looks like a nice lens, right? Well it is, because the rumor is that it will be produced in Solms by Leica. How do I know that? Go to Leica's annual business report (PDF file) and turn to page 57:
Business relationship with CW Sonderoptic GmbH
With CW Sonderoptic GmbH, a company 100.0%-owned by the Company’s majorityshareholder, ACM Projektentwicklung GmbH, the Company has had a cooperationagreement since April 25, 2008.In the period from April 1, 2008 until March 31, 2009, CW Sonderoptic GmbH has deliv -ered no goods and rendered no services to Leica Camera AG. As at the record date, thereare no accounts payable. In the period from April 1, 2008 until March 31, 2009, LeicaCamera AG has delivered goods and rendered services in a volume of € 609,000. As atthe record date, there are accounts receivable in the amount of € 114,000.Business relationship with CW Sonderoptic GmbHWith CW Sonderoptic GmbH, a company 100.0%-owned by the Company’s majorityshareholder, ACM Projektentwicklung GmbH, the Company has had a cooperationagreement since April 25, 2008.In the period from April 1, 2008 until March 31, 2009, CW Sonderoptic GmbH has deliv -ered no goods and rendered no services to Leica Camera AG. As at the record date, thereare no accounts payable. In the period from April 1, 2008 until March 31, 2009, LeicaCamera AG has delivered goods and rendered services in a volume of € 609,000. As atthe record date, there are accounts receivable in the amount of € 114,000.
CW Sonderoptic is a subsidiary of ACM Projektentwicklung (owner of Leica Camera AG) - you see the connection now?
The rumor is that there may be up to 20 new cinema lenses (!) - they will be better and smaller (and of course more expensive) than the current line of Zeiss cine lenses.
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13 Comments
wow, pair this with a red scarlet = drool
Have a look at this article: http://leicarumors.com/send-tips-and-rumors/
I think the picture shows “skeletons” of such cine lenses…
Sry, ment this article: http://www.handelsblatt.com/mittelstand-spart-sich-forschung-und-entwicklung%3B2446579
thanks, I will add this to the post
Is there still a new film camera expected this year?
1. why should they start a new company and not call them leica-lenses? indeed the name leica on the lens will help selling them.
2. why is the company owned by ACM and not by leica itself?
3. why should they let people take a photograph of the manufacturing of the secret new lenses. why should they even allow any journalist to see them
4. why is the photo in the article so obvious to be an archived leica-photo (manufacturing R-lenses) from associated press (ap)
5. this one speaks for the rumor: it says “MULTI ASPH” on the lens shown on the cwsonderoptik-website.
6. yes, there pretty sure is a connection between leica and cwsonderoptik, but nothing that says leica will make these lenses – i think they are just helping to develop.
one more PRO the rumor:
the domain’s (cw-sonderoptic.de) whois-check (only works with http://www.denic.de/webwhois for now) says the “Administrative Contact” of this domain ist “Rainer Schnabel”.
And then do a google search for “rainer schnabel” +leica (http://www.google.com/search?q=%22rainer+schnabel%22+%2Bleica) and see who this guy is or was working for.
don’t know much about cinema lenses but the industry is shifting to 3D in a very rapid rate these coming years. yes, pair it with a RED and you are talking.
M! je t M if you understand french lol!!!
Leica should try to put some video features on the new line they are developing ,because I dont see any improvement this way !
The company is located in Wetzlar and as far as I can remember Leica plans to move back to Wetzlar from Solms – meaning they’d be in the same business park.
They were already presented by Band Pro:
http://matthewduclos.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/band-pros-mystery-primes/
But optical superior to the Zeiss Master Primes? That’s hardly imaginable!
Leica’s former factory in Midland Ontario (elcan.com) makes some Panavision lenses, so this wouldn’t be a first for Leica.
The Red and other video cameras have created a huge demand for cine-style lenses, so it’s a growing market. Film makers started using these cameras with SLR lenses, but they quickly realized the benefits of cine features like the ability to use follow-focus gears, exact matching of color and aperture between different lenses, extra precise focus scales, the ability to hang heavy accessories off the front without tilting the focus plane, etc.