Bridging the Mechanical Divide: P+S Technik Unveils the HEXAMO Mount System for Leitz HEKTOR Cine Primes and ARRI ALEXA Cameras

In the fast-evolving landscape of digital cinematography, lens compatibility has expanded dramatically over the past decade. Filmmakers and rental houses frequently mix and match vintage iron, modern glass, and specialized sensor formats to achieve unique visual signatures. Yet, despite immense technological strides in sensor design, coatings, and autofocus algorithms, one fundamental engineering barrier has remained stubbornly resistant to quick fixes: the flange focal distance.

A simple adapter ring can work wonders when matching a longer flange-distance lens to a shorter flange-distance camera body. However, the reverse has always presented a formidable physical obstacle. When a lens is engineered specifically for mirrorless systems with micro-short flange depths, it sits physically closer to the sensor. Attempting to mount that lens onto a cinema camera platform with a deeper flange register—such as the industry-standard ARRI ALEXA family—results in an inability to achieve infinity focus, rendering the glass practically useless for narrative or commercial production.

Enter P+S Technik, a German company renowned for high-end optical-mechanical engineering and bespoke cine accessories. Their answer to this perennial optical bottleneck is the HEXAMO Mount System. By bypassing quick-fix optical correction elements in favor of a rigorous, purpose-built mechanical conversion, P+S Technik has successfully bridged the gap between the Leitz HEKTOR Cine Prime series and the ARRI ALEXA platform. For the first time, cinematographers can marry the distinctive rendering of Leitz’s mirrorless-optimized glass with the unmatched color science, dynamic range, and production reliability of ARRI’s flagship cinema cameras.

Main Facts: What is the HEXAMO System?

The P+S Technik HEXAMO is not a simple, off-the-shelf adapter that you pop into a lens mount on a whim. Instead, it is a comprehensive, precision-engineered mount conversion system designed to integrate two sophisticated, yet mechanically incompatible, ecosystem standards.

The core elements of the HEXAMO solution include:

The Camera Modification: The stock lens mount of a compatible ARRI ALEXA camera is permanently replaced with a custom-engineered, ultra-low-profile HEXAMO camera mount. This creates the exact mechanical recess and precise flange depth required by the HEKTOR lenses without degrading the camera’s structural integrity or interfering with its internal filter architecture.
The Lens Modification: Each individual Leitz HEKTOR Cine Prime lens undergoes a dedicated mechanical overhaul. Its native mirrorless mount is removed and replaced with a specialized three-piece rear interface assembly.
Individual Calibration: Because tolerances in high-end cinema optics are measured in fractions of a millimeter, every single lens and camera converted to the HEXAMO standard is individually calibrated. This guarantees absolute mechanical precision, correct flange focal depth, and pinpoint infinity focus across the board.
Robust Locking Mechanism: To handle the rigors of professional sets, the system incorporates a distinctive red locking ring. This creates a rigid, play-free, and secure connection capable of withstanding the immense mechanical torque exerted by heavy wireless lens control motors and follow-focus units.

Chronology of an Engineering Breakthrough

The journey toward bringing the Leitz HEKTOR look to the ARRI ALEXA platform is rooted in the recent evolution of lens design.

The Rise of Mirrorless Cine Glass

In recent years, lens manufacturers recognized the immense potential of designing high-end cine primes around mirrorless mounts. By embracing shorter flange focal distances, optical designers could create lenses that were significantly smaller, lighter, and often faster, while yielding unique organic optical properties that sharply contrast with the ultra-clinical sharpness of modern digital sensors.

Leitz embraced this philosophy with the introduction of the HEKTOR Cine Prime series. Designed as a full-frame lineup spanning six focal lengths—18mm, 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 73mm, and 100mm, all featuring a consistent T2.1 aperture—the HEKTOR family quickly captured the attention of cinematographers seeking smooth focus transitions, natural image rendering, and distinctive flare characteristics.

The Limitation

However, a distinct operational friction point quickly emerged. While independent filmmakers and boutique production units working on smaller mirrorless bodies could easily adopt the HEKTOR primes, high-end commercial, episodic, and feature film productions rooted in the ARRI ALEXA ecosystem were largely locked out. Because the ARRI ALEXA 35mm platform utilizes a considerably deeper flange distance, traditional mechanical adapters simply could not bridge the physical gap. Inserting glass-filled optical correctors to achieve infinity focus was out of the question, as high-end cinematographers refused to compromise the pristine optical integrity of Leitz glass with secondary correction elements.

The P+S Technik Intervention

Recognizing this frustration, P+S Technik set to work on a purely mechanical workaround. Abandoning the idea of a universal slip-on adapter, the engineering team realized that a custom conversion service was the only viable path forward. By developing the proprietary HEXAMO architecture, they transformed what was once an insurmountable mechanical incompatibility into a seamless, permanent modification pipeline. Today, the system is commercially available through P+S Technik and their distribution partner, CBM Cine, marking a major milestone in cross-ecosystem lens integration.

Supporting Data & Technical Specifications

To fully appreciate the scope of the HEXAMO conversion, it is vital to examine the technical parameters of the components involved in the workflow.

P+S Technik HEXAMO Mount Brings Leitz HEKTOR Cine Primes to ARRI ALEXA Cameras | 4K Shooters

Leitz HEKTOR Cine Prime Specifications

Format: Full-Frame
Maximum Aperture: T2.1 (consistent across the entire prime set)
Focal Length Lineup:
- 18mm T2.1
- 25mm T2.1
- 35mm T2.1
- 50mm T2.1
- 73mm T2.1
- 100mm T2.1
Optical Characteristics: Smooth focus fall-off, organic and natural skin tone rendering, expressive flare behavior, and high optical consistency from wide to telephoto.
Native Design: Built around interchangeable mirrorless mounts, necessitating short flange focal distances.

ARRI ALEXA Platform Integration

Camera Compatibility: Designed for select models within the ARRI ALEXA ecosystem.
Filter Architecture Compatibility: Engineered to maintain seamless compatibility with ARRI’s internal motorized ND and filter architecture on supported camera models.
Build Quality: Aircraft-grade metals, precision tolerances, and a high-visibility red locking ring designed to eliminate any rotational play under intense operational stress.

Official Perspectives and Industry Reception

While major hardware modification systems often invite skepticism from purists who fear irreversible changes to expensive glass, reactions to the HEXAMO system within high-end rental and cinematography circles have been overwhelmingly positive.

In official statements released alongside the product launch, P+S Technik emphasized that their philosophy centers on zero optical compromise. "Rather than attempting to overcome a physical limitation with optical glass elements that degrade the image, we chose to engineer a dedicated mount conversion that preserves the unadulterated performance of both the camera and the lenses," noted a representative for the company.

Leitz has long championed creative freedom for cinematographers, and the ability to expand the operational envelope of the HEKTOR series into top-tier studio and cinema cameras aligns with the company’s ethos. By ensuring that every conversion is meticulously hand-calibrated, P+S Technik and CBM Cine have reassured prospective buyers that their high-value investments—both in Leitz glass and ARRI camera bodies—are in expert hands.

Rental houses, in particular, have expressed enthusiasm. Fleet managers constantly look for ways to maximize the utilization rate of their specialty lenses. By offering a standardized conversion pathway to the ARRI ALEXA platform, rental operations can now pitch Leitz HEKTOR primes to a much wider array of productions that would otherwise default to traditional PL or LPL-mounted glass.

Implications for Cinematographers and Productions

The introduction of the P+S Technik HEXAMO system carries several profound implications for modern filmmaking workflows:

1. Expanded Creative Palette Without Ecosystem Migration

For owner-operators and cinematographers heavily invested in the ARRI ALEXA workflow—whether shooting on the ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, or other supported models—switching camera ecosystems just to use a specific set of lenses is rarely economically or practically feasible. The HEXAMO mount eliminates this barrier. DP’s can now retain ARRI’s industry-standard sensor response, unparalleled dynamic range, and robust menu systems while injecting the distinct, vintage-leaning character of the Leitz HEKTOR series into their footage.

2. Rigorous Mechanical Reliability on Set

High-end sets are brutal on equipment. Wireless lens control units (such as ARRI WCU-4 or Hi-5 units paired with heavy digital motors) exert tremendous torsional force on lens mounts. A loose or sloppy adapter can lead to catastrophic focus drift, frame-stitching errors in visual effects pipelines, or damaged data communication pins. The HEXAMO’s robust three-piece rear assembly and positive-lock red ring provide the kind of rock-solid physical stability that professional camera assistants (ACs) demand during fast-paced shooting days.

3. Redefining "Vintage vs. Modern" Aesthetics

The HEKTOR series occupies a unique sweet spot in modern optics: it offers the mechanical build quality and consistency of modern cine housing combined with an organic, expressive visual language. By making these lenses native to the ARRI platform, P+S Technik encourages more DPs to experiment with cinematic rendering that moves away from clinical, ultra-sharp digital perfection in favor of texture, emotional depth, and nuanced character.

Conclusion

The P+S Technik HEXAMO Mount System is a masterclass in solving complex mechanical challenges through precision engineering rather than optical band-aids. By redesigning the physical interface points of both the ARRI ALEXA camera and the Leitz HEKTOR Cine Primes, the system achieves what was previously thought impossible: pristine infinity focus and uncompromised optical performance across two divergent technical ecosystems.

For rental houses, owner-operators, and visual storytellers looking to elevate their cinematic toolkit, HEXAMO represents an exciting bridge between two worlds. It proves that with enough mechanical ingenuity, the boundaries of camera and lens compatibility can be pushed further than ever before, expanding creative possibilities one custom-calibrated mount at a time.