Skip to main content

Samyang's cinema-level lenses continue to grow with a new 20mm option

Samyang’s pro-level cinema lens line is filling out — on Monday, the company announced the eighth lens in the series, the XEEN 20mm T1.9.

Like the other seven lenses in the series, the XEEN 20mm T1.9 is designed for high-end video, particularly for pairing with cameras hitting or exceeding that 4K resolution. Samyang says that all the lenses in the series have declicked gear rings in the same exact locations — so swapping out lenses when using video rigs with follow focus isn’t so much of a hassle.

Recommended Videos

The 20mm addition to the series captures a 94.8-degree ultra-wide angle on a full frame camera, but since the lens is designed to cover a 24mm x 36mm area, it’s compatible with five different sensor sizes. On a Super 35, the lens covers a 75.31-degree angle but will adapt all the way down to a micro four-thirds sensor with a narrower 56-degree angle of view with a different mounting system. The XEEN lenses sell with variations for the compatible mounts, including PL, Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E and micro four thirds.

The latest XEEN lens uses a bright T/1.5 aperture. That aperture is designed with 11 blades for smooth, round background bokeh.

The lens also uses a metal construction. Samyang says the 114mm front, durability, and declicked aperture make the lens an ideal option for high-end films.

The 20mm joins a 14mm, 16mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm, bringing the XEEN lens lineup total to eight since the series was first launched in 2015.

The latest XEEN 20mm T/1.9 will launch worldwide next month. The recommended retail price is 2,200 euros, which translates into roughly $2,353. Along with the different mounting options, the lens is also available with a metric or imperial scale on the focus ring.

Hillary K. Grigonis
Hillary never planned on becoming a photographer—and then she was handed a camera at her first writing job and she's been…
New Canon EOS R50 V could be the vlogger camera of the year
Canon EOS R50 V

Canon has just unveiled its new EOS R50 V as what could be the ultimate vlogging camera for creators.

Following the Canon EOS R50, this upgrade uses a V as it's all about the video extras. While you still get that premium mirrorless camera setup, now this also pulls in some of the great video features from the PowerShot V1.

Read more
Earth takes on ‘eyeball’ vibes from space
Our planet as viewed through the space station's seven-window Cupola module.

The blue marble and the blue planet are both well-known descriptions of the rock that is our home. But “Earthly eyeball”? That’s a new one.

But when viewed through the International Space Station’s Cupola module, that’s exactly how it looks -- according to NASA astronaut Don Pettit.

Read more
Fujifilm’s new Instax mini 41 offers more instant-print fun
Fujifilm's Instax mini 41 instant-print camera.

Fujifilm has just dropped the latest addition to the Instax instant-print family of cameras. 

The Instax mini 41 is an update on the four-year-old Instax mini 40, bringing with it a sleeker look and new features to ensure you don’t waste a single sheet of the photographic paper that you pop in the back. 

Read more