{
  "id": 7997800,
  "title": "You can now buy this wonderfully retro 35mm lens for your Leica M rangefinder camera – but only 299 are being made",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/you-can-now-buy-this-wonderfully-retro-35mm-lens-for-your-leica-m",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-17T07:05:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Digital Camera World",
    "slug": "digital-camera-world",
    "url": "https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/lenses/you-can-now-buy-this-wonderfully-retro-35mm-lens-for-your-leica-m-rangefinder-camera-but-only-299-are-being-made"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Leica M system has frequently showcased intriguing third-party lenses, but Lailens' new 35mm f/3.5 lens for the Leica M-mount cameras, dubbed \"The White Queen,\" is particularly distinctive. This limited-production lens, priced at $599, is now available via eBay, with only 299 units being created. Rather than focusing on advanced optical formulas, Lailens has turned to the past for inspiration, borrowing design elements from a classic British Dallmeyer 35mm f/3.5 lens. The White Queen features a silver metal barrel with a gold aperture ring, giving it a vintage appeal that complements both classic film cameras and modern digital M cameras. As a manual focus lens, it emphasizes the tactile experience of the focus ring. With a 35mm focal length, aperture range from f/3.5 to f/22, and an Anastigmat design, the lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 0.6 meters and compatibility for small 23.5mm filters. Although not exceptionally fast, its size, mechanical simplicity, and limited output are part of its appeal. The primary draw is its unique optical character, which offers photographers a departure from modern, clinically perfect images. At $599, the lens is more affordable than many first-party Leica options. Currently listed on eBay, the Lailens 35mm f/3.5 \"White Queen\" presents a refreshing addition to the market, where technical excellence often overshadows character.",
  "summary": "This $599 Leica M lens looks like it has arrived straight from another century",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}