Lailens

Lailens is one of the newest entrants to the Chinese M-mount renaissance, established in March 2024. While brands like TTArtisan and 7Artisans focus on heavy brass "tribute" lenses, Lailens (designed by DJ Optical) has carved out a different niche: extreme compactness.

For the Leica shooter, Lailens offers a specific solution to a common problem: "fast lenses are usually huge." Their flagship 50mm f/1.1 is marketed as one of the smallest and lightest lenses of its speed in the world, allowing rangefinder users to shoot in low light without unbalancing their camera with a 1kg "glass grenade" like the Noctilux.

History

Lailens is a fresh face, but its lineage traces back to the experimental fringe of Chinese optics.

The "Mirror Casting" Origins (2020s)

Before the "Lailens" brand was formalized in 2024, the optical formulas were often associated with the domestic Chinese outfit known as Mirror Casting Workshop. Their earlier lens, the "Night Owl Abyss," was a cult curiosity on forums—a rough-around-the-edges ultra-fast prime.

• The Rebrand: In 2024, the company professionalized its operations under the name Lailens. They took the optical core of the Night Owl, shaved off over 50g of weight, refined the mechanics, and released it globally as a polished consumer product. This transition mirrors how 7Artisans evolved from a garage hobbyist group into a major manufacturer.

The DJ Optical Connection

Like several other boutique Chinese brands, Lailens utilizes designs from DJ Optical. This shared engineering pool allows them to punch above their weight class, delivering complex optical formulas (including high-refractive elements) at prices that undercut almost everyone else in the market.

Product Lines (M-Mount & LTM)

Lailens currently focuses on a small, focused lineup of high-speed, compact primes.

The 50mm f/1.1 (The Flagship)

• The Claim: At roughly 338g and only 4.3cm in length, this is arguably the smallest f/1.1 lens available for full-frame cameras. For comparison, the Voigtländer Nokton 50mm f/1.0 is nearly double the weight.
• Mounts: Uniquely, Lailens produces this lens in two distinct native mounts:
  • Black Version: Native Leica M-Mount.
  • Silver Version: Native LTM (L39) screw mount (released slightly later), appealing to Barnack Leica and Canon rangefinder users.
• Character: It is not a clinical lens. Wide open at f/1.1, it exhibits classic spherical aberration (glow) and swirly bokeh. It sharpens up significantly by f/2, making it a "dual personality" optic similar to the Sonnar formula [[1]].

The 35mm f/1.9 (The LTM Specialist)

• Concept: A tiny, rigid prime designed for street photography.
• Design: Unlike the modern trend of f/1.4 wide angles, this lens settles for a modest f/1.9 aperture to maintain a pancake-style profile. It is often sold natively in LTM, requiring a simple adapter ring for M-bodies. This choice keeps the lens barrel incredibly slim, preventing viewfinder blockage.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification Details
Native Mount	Leica M-Bayonet (Black) & L39/LTM (Silver).
Focus Coupling	Coupled. (Standard rangefinder coupling to 0.7m).
Build Materials	Anodized Aluminum. This keeps the weight exceptionally low compared to the brass-heavy TTArtisan line.
Aperture	13 Blades. Ensures perfectly circular bokeh even when stopped down.
Filter Thread	52mm (50mm f/1.1).
Close Focus	0.7m. (Standard M-limit).
Coatings	Multi-coated (Modern, but susceptible to veiling flare in direct sunlight).

Why Photographers Choose Lailens

• Portability: If you love the look of f/1.1 but hate the weight of a Noctilux or 7Artisans 50mm f/1.1, the Lailens is the only option that balances on a camera neck strap without tipping forward.
• LTM Support: Lailens is one of the few modern manufacturers actively releasing high-performance lenses in the L39 screw mount. This makes them a hero brand for users of the Canon P, Leica III, or Bessa R, who often struggle to find new lenses that fit their cameras without bulky adapters.
• The "Night Owl" Legacy: For collectors of obscure Chinese optics, the updated Lailens 50mm represents the matured version of the "Abyss" lens—a wild, swirly character lens that has been tamed just enough for daily use.

---

Sources

• [1] Leica Rumors (Brand Launch & Specs): https://leicarumors.com
• [2] Digital Camera World (50mm f/1.1 Analysis): https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/lenses/is-this-the-smallest-f-1-1-lens-in-the-world
• [3] Fotagogo (Official Distributor Specs): https://fotagogo.com/products/lailens-lens-50mm-f1-1