Samyang Asia launches 16mm f/2 lens for most every mount under the sun

If you like to take full advantage of the manual capabilities of your interchangeable-lens camera to unleash your artistic side, Korean lens manufacturer Samyang Optics has just announced a new creation that's likely to picque your interest. Over the last few years, Samyang has built a good reputation for providing affordable, completely manual lenses at reasonable price points. They're not for everyone -- the manual focus and manual aperture control are enough to keep many photographers away -- but if you're the kind who likes to keep everything under your own control, the scuttlebutt is that Samyang's products well worth taking a look at.

Through their Asian distributor, Samyang has just revealed the latest addition to their lens line: the new Samyang 16mm F2.0 ED AS UMC CS prime lens. The rectilinear design is based around an  optical formula consisting of 13 elements in 11 groups, and two of these are aspherics. (The name also suggests the use of extra-low dispersion glass, although it isn't clear how many ED elements are included.) 77mm threaded filters can be mounted on the front of the lens.

The new optic is intended for use on cameras with APS-C or smaller sensors, and will be offered in quite an array of mounting options: you'll be able to purchase Canon EF and EF-M, Fujifilm X, Nikon F, Olympus / Panasonic Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds, Pentax K, Samsung NX, or Sony A and E mount versions. (It's pretty easy to support a wide array of mounts when no electronics are included, a fact Samyang takes full advantage of.)

 

Samyang's 16mm f/2 lens is fully manual, but if you can live with that, experience suggests you can look forward to a pretty good optical performance for the price.

When mounted on a Nikon DX-format SLR, Samyang says the new optic will have an 83.1 degree field of view, for a 35mm-equivalent focal length of around 24mm. With the slightly smaller sensor size of Canon's DSLRs, you'll get a narrower 79.5mm field of view, and an equivalent focal length closer to 26mm. Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds cameras will yield a focal length equivalent to about 32mm, thanks to their 2.0x focal length crop. Weight of the lens is listed as 571 grams, although it isn't stated which variant this is for.

Availability is expected in late June or early July in Asian markets. No plans have been stated for sale in other markets, and pricing hasn't yet been disclosed.