ZY Optics calls its new Mitakon Speedmaster 90mm f/1.5 a “budget alternative” to the Leica Summilux-M

Zhongyi Optics has announced their new Mitakon Speedmaster 90mm f/1.5 lens. They’re billing it as “a budget alternative to the legendary Leica Summilux-M“. And at $599, yeah, it certainly sounds like a bit of a bargain compared to the $14,000 Leica lens. They look pretty similar in outward appearance, although it doesn’t appear to be a straight-up copy, containing 9 elements vs the Leica’s 8.

The new lens is available in Canon RF, Sony FE, Nikon Z and Leica M mounts (no Leica L), with the latter being adaptable to other mounts. Offering “buttery bokeh” (their words), thanks to its f/1.5 aperture and rounded 9-blade aperture, it seems particularly well suited to its portrait photography target audience.

The lens contains 9 elements in 6 groups, as opposed to the Leica Summilux-M which contains 8 elements in 6 groups. Two extra-low dispersion elements help to minimise fringing and chromatic aberration with increased contrast and sharp detail, even wide open, according to ZY Optics. As well as offering a shallow depth of field, the wide f/1.5 aperture means it’s also well suited to low-light and nighttime photography.

Despite being a manual focus lens, ZY Optics suggests and even seem to recommend that you can use the Leica M mount version to get autofocus (with Eye AF) and IBIS using the Megadap MTZ11 and Techart TZM-01/LM-EA7 adapters. Do note, though, that the Leica M mount version does cost $50 more than the Nikon Z, Canon RF and Sony EF mount version.

The new Mitakon Speedmaster 90mm f/1.4 for Nikon Z, Canon RF and Sony FE is available to buy now for $599. The Leica M version in either black or silver is also available to buy now for $649 from the ZY Optics website.