The fastest L-mount lens ever has arrived, bringing f/0.95 speed to full-frame Panasonic, Leica and Sigma cameras
(Image credit: Zhong Yi Optics)
L-mount users wanting to shoot with an f/0.95 lens have previously had to adapt oversized lenses from other systems, but now Zhong Yi Optics has released the super-fast, super-affordable Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III natively for L-mount cameras.
The Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III is now available to users of full-frame Panasonic, Leica and Sigma bodies. So whether you want to shoot high resolution stills on the Panasonic S1R, hybrid street imagery on the Leica SL2-S or fantastic footage on the Sigma fp L, you now have one of the fastest lenses on the market at your disposal.
Already available in Canon RF, Sony E and Nikon Z mirrorless mounts, along with a DSLR version for Canon EF bodies, the Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III is officially the first nifty fifty with an f/0.95 aperture released for the L-mount.
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(Image credit: Zhong Yi Optics)
(Image credit: Zhong Yi Optics)
A fully manually operated lens, it features manual focus (with a long, almost 360° focus throw that's ideal for videography), a manual aperture ring (which is declicked, again making it more suitable for video shooting) and has no electrical contacts, meaning that EXIF data will not be transmitted.
While the press information released by Zhong Yi states that the lens has 11 elements in 8 groups, it appears that it actually has 10 in 7 (including an extra-low dispersion element to control color fringing and chromatic aberrations) along with a 9-blade aperture.
As with other mounts, it's a substantial lens that weighs in at 675g / 1.49lbs and measures 88 x 75mm, with a 67mm filter thread.
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The Mitakon Speedmaster 50mm f/0.95 III is available now for $799 (approximately £565 / AU$1,034) directly from the Zhong Yi website, and soon on its Amazon US web store.
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
