C.P. Goerz Citograph 35mm f/8

C.P. Goerz Citograph 35mm f/8 Leica M

The C.P. Goerz Citograph 35mm f/8 Leica M is a modern fixed-focus hyperfocal lens made for Leica M and other camera mounts. It was launched through Kickstarter in 2017 as an "always-in-focus" street photography lens, using a 35mm focal length, fixed f/8 disc aperture, and a focusing range from 3 m to infinity [1]. The Leica M version is relevant for LeicaLensList because it is a native M-Mount lens, but it is not rangefinder coupled and does not focus through the camera rangefinder.

The lens uses a simple 4-element, 3-group optical construction and was designed as an extremely thin pancake-style lens. Published specifications list a 58 mm diameter, 23 mm length, M37×0.75 filter thread, and weight of about 120 g[2]. Because it has no focusing helicoid and no adjustable diaphragm, handling is closer to a body-cap hyperfocal lens than a conventional Leica M lens. It is intended for quick street photography, zone-style shooting, and spontaneous use where focusing speed is prioritized over close-focus flexibility.

For collectors, the Citograph 35mm f/8 is best understood as a modern revival-brand lens rather than a historical C.P. Goerz Berlin product from the original prewar company. The revived C.P. Goerz name was used for a Kickstarter-era project connected to Benedikt Hartmann and the wider modern revival-lens movement [3]. The lens should be kept separate from original Goerz lenses, the later Citograph 50mm f/2.8 project, and any non-M versions made for DSLR or mirrorless mounts.

History

Development and Launch

The Citograph 35mm f/8 was introduced on Kickstarter in July 2017 as a fixed-focus 35mm lens intended for street photography. The concept was built around hyperfocal use, with a 35mm focal length, f/8 disc aperture, and fixed focus from 3 m to infinity. The project was promoted as a way to simplify photography by removing conventional focusing and aperture operation.

Production Evolution

Leica Rumors reported in January 2018 that the first Citograph lenses were arriving from production and repeated the official technical specification, including 4 elements in 3 groups, M37×0.75 filter thread, 58 mm by 23 mm dimensions, and approximately 120 g weight. A later One Of Many Cameras listing confirms the Leica M version with the same core technical specification, including 35 mm focal length, 4 elements in 3 groups, 3 m to infinity focusing, and M37×0.75 filter thread. A confirmed production end year is not documented.

Special Variants

The Citograph 35mm f/8 was offered in multiple mounts, including Leica M, Nikon, Canon, Sony, Micro Four Thirds, and Fuji. These mount versions should not be merged for LeicaLensList, because only the Leica M version belongs in the M-Mount database. No confirmed Leica M color variants, limited finish variants, or optical revisions are widely documented.

Collector Notes

Collectors should verify that the lens is the Leica M version and not a Sony E, Fuji X, Micro Four Thirds, Nikon, or Canon mount copy. Important checks include the native M bayonet, fixed-focus design, absence of rangefinder coupling, M37×0.75 filter thread, clean rear element, complete caps, and correct Citograph engraving. Since the lens is fixed from 3 m to infinity, it should not be evaluated like a normal rangefinder-coupled 35mm M lens. Close-focus use requires accepting blur or adapting the lens to a camera with live view and checking actual focus behavior.