New Lens Roundup from Samyang

Samyang is forever on the move, quickly responding to our unfulfilled focal-length and format needs by producing quality manual-focus lenses at affordable prices. They sometimes even fill needs we didn’t realize we had.

The company's most recent releases include an 8mm f/2.8 Fisheye for mirrorless APS-C cameras, a 10mm f/2.8 lens for DSLR and mirrorless APS-C cameras, a 35mm f/1.4 with an AE Chip for Canon DSLRs, and a 7.5mm T3.8 Cine Fisheye for mirrorless Micro Four Thirds cameras.

8mm f/2.8 UMC Fisheye II

The Samyang 8mm f/2.8 UMC Fisheye II lens is available for Fujifilm X-mount, Canon EF-M-mount, Sony E-mount, and Samsung NX-mount cameras. In the case of this particular lens, Samyang had already answered the call for an ultra-wide fisheye for mirrorless, and based on that success, produced this version II, improving the optical design by including three extra-low dispersion elements and two aspherical elements. This upgrade reduces chromatic aberrations for more accurate, better-delineated colors and sharper overall imaging. In addition, UMC lens coating improves light transmission and helps to control flare and ghosting for more contrast-rich, color-neutral images.

The 8mm f/2.8 II provides a 35mm equivalent focal length of 12mm and full 180° angle of view. It’s well suited for creative applications, as well as interior and architectural subjects. Its fast f/2.8 maximum aperture is effective in low light and offers shallow-depth-of-field control. The solid yet compact form factor matches well with mirrorless camera designs and a built-in petal-style lens hood deflects stray light and protects the convex front lens element.

10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS

The Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS Lens is new to the Samyang lineup and is available for both APS-C format DSLR and mirrorless cameras. The DSLR versions include Canon EF-mount, Nikon F-mount, Pentax K-mount, and Sony A-mount lenses, and the mirrorless are Fujifilm X-mount, Sony E-mount, and Samsung NX-mount.

The 10mm ultra-wide-angle prime focal length provides the 35mm equivalency of 16mm for Canon and 15mm for the other mounts. It’s useful for myriad applications, not the least of which, inclusive architectural interiors and sweeping landscape panoramas. In actuality, it’s a good creative tool to have onboard for street photography, skate and sports work, and even portraiture. The fast f/2.8 maximum aperture and wide angle of view offer sufficient opportunities in low light and when controlling depth of field.

Samyang continues to improve its optical designs and, with one ED and two aspherical elements, the 10mm f/2.8 is a good example. Also, nano crystal anti-reflection coating (NCS) has been applied to lens elements to improve light transmission, reduce surface reflections, and prevent lens flare and ghosting for more contrast-rich imagery.

The Nikon F mount version of this lens incorporates a CPU/electronic circuit that enables control over exposure settings, including P/A/S/M modes. It also permits the use of i-TTL flash communication and transferring of EXIF data to image files.

35mm f/1.4 AS UMC for Canon EF (AE Chip)

Although a 35mm f/1.4 lens for Canon EF is already part of the Samyang lineup, the company has just introduced the Samyang 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC for Canon EF with AE Chip. This lens, while not an autofocus lens, incorporates a microprocessor that confirms when focus has been achieved and also allows exposure-control adjustments from the camera.

This lens is compatible with full-frame and APS-C format DSLRs and provides the 35mm focal-length equivalence of 56mm on APS-C cameras, giving it more of a standard-length angle of view. With its particularly fast f/1.4 maximum aperture, it is quite effective in low light and provides ample depth-of-field control. Hybrid aspherical lenses, including two high refractive lens elements and one aspherical element, produce sharp images with minimized aberrations; UMC lens coating improves light transmission and suppresses lens flare and ghosting.

7.5mm T3.8 Cine UMC Fisheye Lens for Micro Four Thirds

For digital cinematography, Samyang offers several prime manual-focus lenses, including the new Samyang 7.5mm T3.8 Cine UMC Fisheye Lens for Micro Four Thirds Mount. Physically it’s a very compact, lightweight lens with large 0.8 pitch gearing on the focus and aperture rings and a de-clicked aperture for smooth adjustment. The lens markings are on the side of the barrel are offered with the focus puller in mind.

The lens's 15mm focal-length equivalence in the 35mm format and a 180° angle of view let you indulge in distorted, all-inclusive fisheye creativity with just a 3.54" minimum focus distance and T3.8 maximum aperture. It is compatible with Micro Four Thirds mount cameras from Olympus, Panasonic, and Blackmagic. One aspherical and three extra-low dispersion (ED) lens elements reduce aberrations, while UMC coating improves light transmission and, along with a built-in petal style lens hood, reduces reflections, flare, and ghosting on this unique and eminently usable ultra wide-angle lens.