Light Lens Lab founder explains recreating rare Leica lenses affordably

In a 20-minute video interview, Light Lens Lab founder Mr Zhou described how the company recreates rare Leica M lenses and outlined upcoming projects; the article notes one recreated Summilux 35mm is reported as a 98% match to an original that sold for about $25,000, while LLL’s version sells for around $1,500.

Light Lens Lab founder Mr Zhou spoke in a 20-minute video interview about the workshop’s work recreating rare Leica M lenses and its wider goals. The company, founded in 2018, has become known among Leica fans for M-mount lenses that aim to replicate the look, build, and optical character of scarce originals. The article highlights both painstaking replicas and reworked vintage designs that aim to improve image quality while remaining much less expensive than originals. Zhou framed the work as born from personal fandom and said the company seeks to match Leica’s workmanship and quality. What the article reports: - The interview runs about 20 minutes and focuses on the history and popular products of Light Lens Lab. - One highlighted example is a recreation of the Leica Summilux 35mm ('11873'), described as a 98% match; the original is reported to have traded near $25,000 while LLL’s version is sold for around $1,500. - Zhou said his early work used expired patent documents to reproduce a 1953 35mm lens and that this method helped establish LLL’s approach. - The article describes technical challenges such as matching discontinued glass types; Zhou worked with the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics to remake special glass for a 1966 Noctilux recreation. - Planned projects mentioned include remaking modern Leica lenses, an "ACDK" cine-inspired series, redesigning a classic Chinese TLR camera, and producing the company’s own film. Summary: Light Lens Lab’s work is presented as offering Leica-like optical character at a much lower price point, achieved through careful replication and some technical collaboration. The founder outlined a roadmap that includes modern-lens remakes, a cine-style ACDK series, a redesigned TLR camera, and a film manufacturing effort, indicating those initiatives are next steps for the company.