Zhong Yi Optics, a Chinese lens manufacturer, has introduced the Mitakon Creator 28mm f/5.6 lens, a $299 replica of the Leica Summaron M 28mm f/5.6 lens with “faithful adherence to the original lens characteristics while preserving a reasonable pricing for photographers.”

Zhong Yi Optics claims the new lens features a compact and lightweight design that is great for photographers who carry their cameras (and lenses) everywhere they go. It is also said to make the new lens an ideal choice for Leica shooters since it has rangefinder coupling support that permits exact focus on Leica systems.

This significantly less expensive version of the M 28mm f/5.6 lens (the original Leica version costs over $3,000) is compatible with a wide range of camera mount types, including the Leica M, Fujifilm X and G, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Pansonic Lumix L, and Sony E, allowing access to a much wider range of systems than the original.

The Mitakon 28mm f/5.6 lens body is made of durable metal. It incorporates a little knob on the focus ring to make the compact lens more usable for more people by delivering a smoother, more accurate, and seamless focus adjustment.

The lens comprises eight elements grouped into seven groups. One is an extra-low dispersion element designed to increase image quality and offer fine details across the entire image with little field curvature. The 130-gram lens is 51 millimeters by 44 millimeters and has an f/5.6 to f/22 aperture range. It also features a maximum field of view of 76 degrees and a 37mm filter thread.

According to the company, the manual lens was developed with portability and convenience of use in mind for photographers, with an extraordinarily lightweight and tiny size to make it an ideal addition to photographers’ kits who want to travel light. The Mitakon Creation 28mm f/5.6 is suited for a wide range of shooting techniques, including street photography, landscapes, and event work/photojournalism, where mobility and ease of use are vital.

Here are some sample pictures: