Beauty First

The use of modern photography lenses for beautiful cinematography is rare, mostly because many modern photo lenses lack a distinct and artistic character, instead prioritizing sharp images that can feel devoid of life. The Leitz THALIA 65 lenses, based on the sublime Leica S medium format lenses, are an exception to the rule. The S lenses were designed to capture people above all else and the way THALIA 65 lenses render faces evokes the iconic portraiture that medium format is known for. Add in Leica’s unrivaled skin tone rendering, just warm enough to add a divine spark of life, and the THALIA 65 lenses stand apart as a set that puts beauty front and center of every frame.

Many cinematographers have pulled away from modern cinematography lenses in order to introduce aberrations that take the edge off digital sensors. The THALIA 65 lenses deliver many of these characteristics without some of the drawbacks associated with vintage lenses like difficult-to-control flares and limited availability of replacement parts. Like many older lenses, they exhibit a field curvature that brings the viewer’s attention to the center through a gradual falloff of contrast and resolution toward the edges. The images created by THALIA 65 lenses are clear and detailed without feeling overly sharp as witnessed by their beautiful, smooth skin tones. And the newly designed circular iris keeps the bokeh smooth and beautiful through all stops while maintaining structure in the out-of-focus details.

Ready to Tell the Bigger Story

The Leitz THALIA 65 lenses offer a large potential image circle that covers up to ARRI Alexa 65 or 65mm film. While these larger capture formats accentuate the dimensionality of the images as even more aberrations and curvature are translated to the sensor, the sensual nature of the lenses comes through on any camera or format.

The wide range of 11 focal lengths in the THALIA 65 series, starting at 20mm and continuing to 180mm, makes them unusually broad for larger format lenses, which helps to better service productions on all formats. The ability to swap between PL and LPL mounts, both with /i metadata contacts, further demonstrates their format flexibility.

Included in the THALIA 65 series are 3 macro lenses. The 24mm, 55mm and 120mm all have 1:2 macro capability. There’s no need to slow down production with diopters or mix and match lenses for insert shots, product work, or extreme close ups.

The THALIA 65 T-90 mm is a standout lens with a truly unique character. Based on an optical design of the 1935 Leica Thambar lens, the THALIA 65 version also creates a dreamy softness that can make portraiture instantly feel like George Hurrell’s old Hollywood work, rich with beauty and glamour. 

Film Look

Although the THALIA 65 lenses are new lenses, they do offer many of the image characteristics that have driven cinematographers to pair older lenses with digital sensors.
They are clear without being overly sharp and focus is smooth and forgiving without looking soft.
Skin tones are natural and smooth with accurate color rendition.

Bokeh Master

The innovative iris design of the THALIA lenses maintains a circular iris through all apature stops, creating a cinematic bokeh that comes alive with character.
Outt-of-focus elements maintain their structure, which further adds to the sense of dimensionality in the image.

Covered

The THALIA 65 lenses offer a large image circle that covers sensors up to the ARRI ALEXA 65, but can be used to create equally stunning images on VistaVision ans Super 35 sensors and film stock as well.

Dimensionality

Images captured with the THALIA 65 lenses can appear to have an added depth and dimensionality, especially on larger sensors, due to a gradual focus fall off curve.
Rather than center with gradual and pleasing fall off of contrast and light towards the edges leading the view to the image center as well as adding dimensionality to the scene.
Different from most iamges created with modern lenses.

Shot with THALIA 65