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Chroma Cameras has introduced its first lens for 35mm Leica screw-mount cameras, a compact 24mm F11. The M39 thread mount lens is presently in pre-production, so specs aren’t fairly finalized but, however beta models have weighed a mere 16g. Per Kosmo Foto, the working title for the brand new lens is ‘Glass,’ however that will change forward of the official launch.
The lens barrel is constructed from a single block of aluminum, which is anodized and engraved. Steve Lloyd of Chroma Cameras instructed Kosmo Foto that the M39 thread mount was chosen due to its quick flange depth and broad compatibility with rangefinder and digital mirrorless digital camera techniques. M39 adapters can be found for practically each digital camera system, together with Canon RF, Fujifilm X, Sony E, Nikon Z, Micro 4 Thirds, L and extra. Lloyd has tailored the lens to Zarya 35mm, Hamish Gill and Sony A7 cameras.
Beta pattern of the Chroma Cameras 24mm F11 lens. The lens has a working title of ‘Glass,’ though the ultimate mannequin title could change.
To know the inspiration behind the brand new lens, it is vital to contemplate Chroma Cameras’s new 35mm Dice pinhole digital camera, one of many firm’s custom-built large-format digital camera fashions. About 18 months in the past, Lloyd was speaking to considered one of his pals a couple of box-style digital camera that will be simple to make use of whereas delivering high-quality outcomes, type of like a contemporary Field Brownie digital camera that is compact, like Chroma Cameras’s Child Dice digital camera. The unique plan was to adapt an current lens for this new box-style digital camera, however then Lloyd determined to look into making an authentic lens.
This render of the brand new lens exhibits simply how compact it’s. A beta model of the lens weighs solely 16g, which is barely greater than half an oz.. The lens has an M39 thread mount due to the mount’s quick flange distance and versatile adaptability throughout many digital camera techniques.
After testing three units of beta lenses and testing them along with his a7’s digital shutter – the box-style physique will use an digital shutter – Lloyd realized that the brand new lens was worthy of changing into its personal standalone product. He instructed Kosmo Foto, ‘After seeing these first outcomes, I knew that the lens was ok to be a standalone product in its personal proper, so [I] started designing a correct L39-mount physique for them, and speaking to a different buddy of mine about producing the machined aluminum variations.’
Picture shot on a FED Zarya digital camera and beta lens utilizing Kosmo Foto Agent Shadow movie. Picture credit score: Steve Lloyd
Lloyd has labored with Jason Lane of PictorioGraphica and Lane’s colleague Max Affleck. Lane and Affleck are completed engineers and optical designers. Each have labored with Chroma Cameras earlier than for its ChromaGraphica dry plate holders. Lloyd remarked, ‘Jason is at all times a nasty affect on my very energetic designer mind, as he at all times goes together with my concepts…This explicit lens was tweaked through a late evening Skype name we had round eight months in the past, resulting in the absolutely corrected, double-coated glass aspect design that is now in manufacturing. Max has been specializing in the machining of the aluminum major physique, and we have been passing the design between us making small modifications to the best way that the lens components are housed, so that every lens will be optically corrected in a jig when assembled, to make sure a constant high quality to the completed lens.’
Picture shot on a FED Zarya digital camera and beta lens utilizing Kosmo Foto Agent Shadow movie. Picture credit score: Steve Lloyd
For now, the brand new lens would be the just one Chroma Cameras presents, though clients have requested medium-format lenses with an identical design and subject of view. Lloyd remains to be engaged on the digital shutter-equipped Dice-style digital camera physique, plus an interchangeable lens cone for an unreleased Six: digital camera product.
As for the brand new 24mm F11 M39-mount lens, the preliminary manufacturing run will comprise 500 models. Lloyd remains to be analyzing manufacturing prices, however he hopes it will launch at £99, which is round $115. The optical glass is in manufacturing and Lloyd hopes to ship it to Jason and Max for ultimate meeting and testing forward of a potential launch later this month. To remain updated with Chroma Cameras, go to its web site and comply with the corporate on Instagram. Head over to Kosmo Foto to view extra pattern photographs.
Pictures courtesy of Chroma Cameras through Kosmo Foto
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