Leica R and Panavision Primo glass

[JohnJensen]

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Hi everyone,

Does anyone know which serial numbers on the Leica R lenses that has the similar glass at the Panavision Primo lenses.

What years and timeframe, Leica was sourced by Panavision to produce the Primos lenses for them.

And until which serial number and year did they stop making primo lenses for Panavision and themself stop using similar glasses for their own Leica R lenses ?

 

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[jaapv]

You might find something of interest in this forum :

https://cinematography.com/index.php?/forums/topic/78086-story-on-the-panavision-primo-primes/

Especially a gentleman called David Mullen appears to be rather expert on the subject. 
 

The strange thing is that Leica closed down their glass making facility in 1989 and sold the patents to Schott, so they could not have been supplying “Leica Glass”. The lens that is sometimes mentioned as being closest to Panavision lenses is the Summilux C  but this is not an R lens. 
Leica C lenses are made by the Cine division of Leica. 
 

https://gmpphoto.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-memory-of-leitz-glass-laboratory.html?m=1

[JohnJensen]

3 hours ago, jaapv said:

You might find something of interest in this forum :

https://cinematography.com/index.php?/forums/topic/78086-story-on-the-panavision-primo-primes/

Especially a gentleman called David Mullen appears to be rather expert on the subject. 
 

The strange thing is that Leica closed down their glass making facility in 1989 and sold the patents to Schott, so they could not have been supplying “Leica Glass”. The lens that is sometimes mentioned as being closest to Panavision lenses is the Summilux C  but this is not an R lens. 
Leica C lenses are made by the Cine division of Leica. 
 

https://gmpphoto.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-memory-of-leitz-glass-laboratory.html?m=1

Thank you a lot for this reply, do you know a way to direct contact people via cinematograthy.com forum ?

[jaapv]

No, no idea but Google and LinkedIn might help. 

[wagner]

Good morning, John!

The only thing these lenses have in common with the Leica R lenses is, that they do use "Leitz Glas". They do have all different/new designs.  

Panavision 35mm lenses have has "flange focal distance" of 57,15mm (2,25"), so up to 50mm they do require a different Lense design. (Retrofocus) Leica R lenes have a FFD of 47mm.

Since these lenses have been made for the S35mm film format (18x24mm), they obviously do not cover VistaVision/35mm still format. Some of the longer lenses will however cover bigger formats.

Very good lenses, still on shoots every day. Just, very heavy.... nothing for a drone...😉

Regards,

Torsten 

 

[Larsy]

Im pretty sure this is just a rumor but I always heard it was the R lenses manufactured in the early 80s but who knows. However I hold out hope that there is some validity. Mostly because it feels cool to be filming on Panavision adjacent Leica lenses. 

I initially thought a lot about matching serial numbers when I was purchasing my set but quickly abandoned the idea when I realized most of the differences seems to be negligible or imaginary. 

[JMF]

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Hi,

in 2018, I had  the chance to shoot a feature film with the 1980s  Panavision Primo L lenses  (and a panavised Arri Alexa mini) and played with these Primo lenses on a Leica SL 601.

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The lenses were built for the Super 35mm cine format and even the 35mm prime lens hardly covers the 24x36 35mm stills format.

Here are some shots taken in 24x36 Full Frame on the SL 601 with the above mentioned 35mm Primo lens:

 

 

 

 

 

Took some more shots with the wider Primo lenses and the SL 601 but had to shoot in the APS-C mode to avoid vignetting :

14mm Primo L:

 

 

14mm Primo:

 

21mm Primo lens / SL APS-C:

 

 

 

27mm Primo lens on SL APS-C:

 

Cheers

JM.

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2024 by JMF