Leica Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 90mm f/1.5 Lens for Review
The Mitakon 90mm f/1.5 is a bokeh monster that weighs a ton. We dug into the specs to see if its stunning background blur justifies the compromises.
The 30-Second Version
A bokeh cannon that's heavier than your camera. If you live for creamy backgrounds and can handle manual focus, it's magic. For normal humans, it's a backache waiting to happen.
Overview
The Mitakon Speedmaster 90mm f/1.5 is a one-trick pony, but man, that one trick is gorgeous. This is a lens built for one thing: creating dreamy, cinematic portraits with an absurdly shallow depth of field. Forget versatility, forget autofocus. If you want a 90mm lens that can shoot wide open at f/1.5 and deliver creamy bokeh that ranks in the 90th percentile, this is your weird, heavy, manual-focus ticket.
Performance
The optical performance surprised us. For a third-party lens at this price, the sharpness and contrast wide open are solid, landing in the 64th percentile. That means you can actually use f/1.5 and get a usable image, not just a soft, dreamy mess. The built-in stabilization is the real shocker, scoring in the 86th percentile. That's a huge deal for a manual focus telephoto on a rangefinder, helping you nail focus handheld.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The f/1.5 aperture creates truly stunning, creamy bokeh that competes with lenses twice the price. 89th
- Built-in stabilization is a game-saver for a 90mm manual lens. 88th
- You get a unique, character-rich look you can't easily replicate in post. 82th
- Solid sharpness for the price, especially considering the extreme aperture.
Cons
- It's a brick. At 771g, it's comically heavy for a Leica M mount lens. 19th
- Manual focus only, and the focus throw isn't optimized for rangefinder patches. 26th
- Build quality feels cheaper than it should, scoring in the bottom 27th percentile.
- Forget close-ups; the 0.09x magnification is basically useless for anything but headshots.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Telephoto |
| Focal Length Min | 90 |
| Focal Length Max | 90 |
| Elements | 9 |
| Groups | 6 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.5 |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Leica M |
| Weight | 0.8 kg / 1.7 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 67 |
AF & Stabilization
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Max Magnification | 0.09x |
Value & Pricing
At $549, it's a niche bargain. You're paying for the f/1.5 aperture and stabilization. If those two features are your holy grail, nothing else comes close at this price. If you need autofocus or a lighter lens, it's a terrible value.
vs Competition
This lens exists in a weird space. The Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 is cheaper, has autofocus, and is far more versatile, but it's a different focal length and can't touch the bokeh. For Leica shooters, the real question is whether you want this specialized tool or save for a used Voigtlander 75mm f/1.5. The Voigtlander is better built and has a rangefinder-friendly focus throw, but it lacks stabilization and costs more. Against the Meike 55mm f/1.8, the Mitakon wins on pure bokeh but loses on weight and handling.
| Spec | Leica Mitakon Zhongyi Speedmaster 90mm f/1.5 Lens for | Tamron Tamron Di III Tamron 17-70mm f/2.8 Di III-A VC RXD Lens for Sony | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF | Canon Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens | Nikon Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/2.8 VR Lens (Nikon Z) | Panasonic Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 II |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 90mm | 17-70mm | 55mm | 24mm | 16-50mm | 14-140mm |
| Max Aperture | f/1.5 | f/2.8 | f/1.4 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 |
| Mount | Leica M | Sony E Mount | Nikon Z | Canon RF | Nikon Z | Micro Four Thirds |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 771 | 544 | 281 | 269 | 329 | 27 |
| AF Type | — | Autofocus | STM | Autofocus | Autofocus | — |
| Lens Type | Telephoto | Zoom | — | Zoom | Zoom | Telephoto |
Common Questions
Q: Is the manual focus hard to use on a Leica?
Yes, it's not ideal. The focus ring isn't tuned for the Leica rangefinder patch, so nailing focus at f/1.5 takes practice. Use the rear screen with focus peaking for best results.
Q: Can I use this on other cameras?
Maybe, with an adapter. But it's designed for Leica M mount. The image circle might not cover full-frame Sony or Canon sensors, and you'll lose all electronic communication.
Q: Is it sharp at f/1.5?
Sharper than you'd think for the price! Our data puts optical performance in the 64th percentile. The center is quite good wide open, but expect the corners to be soft. Stop down to f/2.8 for critical sharpness.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a walk-around lens or something for travel, skip this immediately. It scored a dismal 32 for travel. It's too heavy and too specialized. Go get the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7 instead for a fraction of the weight and the bonus of autofocus.
Verdict
We can only recommend this lens to a very specific photographer: a Leica M shooter who prioritizes bokeh above all else, doesn't mind manual focus, and has strong wrists. It's a brilliant specialist lens for portrait artists, but a frustrating daily driver for everyone else. For most people, a lighter, autofocus lens from Viltrox or even a used Voigtlander is a smarter buy.