Light Lens Lab 50mm f/1.5 Z21 렌즈 리뷰

Fred Miranda published his review of the new Light Lens Lab 50mm f/1.5 Z21 lens for Leica M-mount (the lens can be purchased directly from the LLL website or eBay). Here is the final review conclusion:

  
After spending meaningful time with the Light Lens Lab 50mm f/1.5 Z21, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for what this lens sets out to achieve, and in many ways, accomplishes. Inspired by the rare Angenieux S21 from the 1950s, the Z21 brings that vintage rendering into the modern era while preserving the character that made the original so iconic. This isn’t a lens chasing technical perfection. Instead, it delivers a unique, painterly look that feels grounded in photographic history while refining critical aspects like center resolution, mechanics improvements, and rangefinder compatibility. In terms of overall rendering, the Z21 feels like a faithful evolution rather than a direct copy.

Optically, its strengths are concentrated in the center of the frame. Resolution, contrast, and color are most impressive when shot wide open with subjects placed near the middle. The outer zones, particularly the mid-field, show a noticeable drop in sharpness and contrast. Interestingly, this can work in your favor when the composition emphasizes a central subject. The falloff, combined with optical vignetting and a swirling bokeh signature, contributes to the lens’s strong subject isolation and unmistakable vintage look. These traits won’t appeal to everyone, but they’re a big part of what gives the Z21 its nostalgic charm. Like most character-driven lenses, it rewards thoughtful framing and a willingness to lean into its imperfections.

The build quality is excellent. I do appreciate the weight savings, but I have to admit I miss the brass barrels used in some of the other Light Lens Lab lenses. Still, the lens feels like a precision-crafted tool. It features modern upgrades such as a native Leica M mount, a closer 0.7-meter minimum focusing distance, and a beautiful high-gloss black finish. Mechanically, it balances the feel of a modern lens with an old-world soul. Rangefinder coupling is reliable, and although my copy has a small amount of play in the focus ring, it’s still accurate and didn’t affect my shooting experience. On mirrorless bodies, I appreciated the extra precision and the ability to fine-tune focus, especially when dealing with field curvature or correcting for focus shift.

Stopping the lens down improves performance across the board. Between f/5.6 and f/8, sharpness and contrast become much more consistent throughout the frame. The 10-straight-bladed aperture produces defined, pleasing 10-ray sunstars. Flare is still present but takes on an expressive quality that adds mood rather than distraction. When compared to other vintage-inspired lenses like the LLL 50mm f/2 Speed Panchro II or the 50mm f/1.2 ASPH “1966”, the Z21 sits in the middle. It balances the 1966’s soft and dreamy rendering with the SP2’s more refined, structured and more predictable performance.

This lens isn’t meant for shooters looking for edge-to-edge sharpness or modern clinical rendering. It’s for those who welcome quirks like swirling bokeh, veiling flare, coma, and glow as part of their artistic process. It’s not a technical benchmark but a tool that encourages creative expression. In the right hands and with subjects placed closer to the center, it produces images with mood, depth, and a painterly elegance that’s hard to replicate in post-processing with modern optics.

After several weeks of shooting exclusively with the Z21, I found that placing subjects slightly off-center (where it’s not as corrected) often resulted in more natural-looking images with better balance across the frame. While I haven’t had the chance to shoot with the original Angenieux S21, I get the sense that the Z21 performs closer to its spirit when used this way.

Pros:

• Beautifully faithful rendering inspired by the Angenieux S21
• Excellent build quality with smooth mechanics and solid materials
• Low distortion, minimal lateral CA, and well-controlled tonal vignetting
• Center sharpness and contrast are strong even wide open
• Swirly bokeh and flare give images a nostalgic, cinematic feel
• Adaptable to mirrorless with good results and creative flexibility
• Attractive 10-point sunstars at smaller apertures
• Native Leica M mount with rangefinder coupling
• It focuses as close as 0.7 meters, compared to 1 meter on the original

Cons:

• Noticeable drop in resolution and contrast in the mid-field area
• Field curvature and focus shift require thoughtful technique
• Slight focus ring play (may vary by copy)
• Not ideal for subjects spread evenly across the frame
• Rendering quirks (swirl, glow, flare) may not suit all tastes or styles

 
Read the full review here.

Previous Fred Miranda reviews can be found here.

Additional information on the Light Lens Lab 50mm f/1.5 Z21 lens for Leica M-mount can be found here:

장점:

Angenieux S21에서 영감을 받은 아름답고 충실한 렌더링
부드러운 기계와 견고한 재료로 뛰어난 제작 품질 제공
낮은 왜곡, 최소한의 측면 CA, 그리고 잘 제어된 톤 비네팅
중앙의 선명도와 대비가 강하고 넓게 열려 있습니다
소용돌이치는 보케와 플레어는 이미지에 향수를 불러일으키는 영화 같은 느낌을 줍니다
미러리스에 적응할 수 있으며, 좋은 결과와 창의적인 유연성을 제공합니다
작은 구멍에서 매력적인 10점 별들
레인지파인더 커플링이 있는 네이티브 라이카 M 마운트
원래의 1미터에 비해 0.7미터 가까이 집중합니다

단점:

중간 영역에서 해상도와 대비가 눈에 띄게 떨어짐
필드 곡률과 초점 이동에는 신중한 기술이 필요합니다
약간의 초점 링 플레이(복사에 따라 다를 수 있음)
프레임 전체에 고르게 분포된 피험자에게는 이상적이지 않습니다
독특한 점(돌림, 빛, 플레어)을 렌더링하는 것이 모든 취향이나 스타일에 맞지 않을 수 있습니다

https://leicarumors.com/2025/09/17/light-lens-lab-50mm-f-1-5-z21-lens-for-leica-m-mount-review.aspx/

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