# Leica's retro 35mm lens is a love letter to the past

> Lailens releases a limited-edition 35mm f/3.5 lens inspired by vintage British optics, prioritizing character over modern perfection.
- Title: Leica's retro 35mm lens is a love letter to the past
- Summary: Lailens releases a limited-edition 35mm f/3.5 lens inspired by vintage British optics, prioritizing character over modern perfection. Sometimes a lens's…
- Keywords: leica m-mount, lailens, 35mm lens, white queen, vintage optics, limited edition, rangefinder, dallmeyer, manual focus, film photography, Leica's, retro
- Source: Digital Camera World — https://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
- Published: 2026-09-17T07:05:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: leica m-mount, lailens, 35mm lens, white queen, vintage optics, limited edition, rangefinder, dallmeyer, manual focus, film photography
## Lailens drops a retro 35mm lens
Lailens released the 35mm f/3.5 "White Queen" for Leica M-mount cameras, available on eBay for $599. Only 299 examples will be made.

> only 299 examples are being made
## Inspired by classic British optics
The lens recreates a classic Dallmeyer 35mm f/3.5 design at a 1:1 ratio. Lailens disassembled two original lenses to reproduce the optical structure and imaging characteristics.
## Retro styling inside and out
The White Queen features a silver metal barrel with a gold-colored aperture ring, manual focus, and an Anastigmat-derived optical design. It's designed to look at home on both classic film and modern digital M cameras.
## Not chasing modern speed
At f/3.5, the lens is slower than many modern 35mm alternatives offering f/2 or f/1.4. But that's not the point. The appeal is size, mechanical simplicity, and vintage optical character.
## Priced below Leica's own lenses
At $599, the White Queen costs considerably less than many first-party Leica lenses, making it an accessible entry point for photographers seeking vintage character.
## Character over clinical perfection
In a market filled with technically exceptional lenses, the White Queen's biggest selling point is its vintage rendering and unusual appearance, not clinical sharpness.
## Key takeaway

Sometimes a lens's appeal comes from its vintage character and mechanical simplicity, not from chasing technical perfection.