Lens orientation (archive)
This page serves as an archive and orientation page for lens topics, focal lengths, mount questions and support links, especially in connection with the autofocus guide.
Lenses
From ultra-wide fisheye lenses to cine series: Samyang offers options for many use cases. Manual focus is useful for controlled work; autofocus matters for compatible systems and moving subjects.
Ultra wide angle
8 mm – 16 mm
Wide-angle lenses with bright variants. The 12mm f/2.0 and 14mm f/2.8 are often considered for astro, landscape and architecture work when mount, sensor format and workflow fit.
Suitable for
Standard & Wide
MF · f/1.4
Samyang standard focal lengths cover classic angles of view for street, reportage, available-light work and travel. Mount, sensor format, focus type and the intended image look remain decisive.
Suitable for
Portrait and telephoto
MF · f/1.4
85mm and 135mm focal lengths are mainly used for portraits, beauty, details and subjects with more working distance. The choice depends on camera mount, focus type and desired background separation.
Suitable for
Sony E · autofocus
14 mm – 75 mm · FE
Autofocus lenses for Sony E mount, depending on series and camera. Focus behaviour, size, weight, EXIF transmission and camera-function compatibility are relevant.
Suitable for
Cinema · Cine
PL · EF · 14–135 mm
Cine lenses use T-stops instead of f-stops, consistent front diameters for matte boxes and precise follow-focus gearing. Many setups benefit when length and control paths are consistent within one series.
Suitable for
Camera mounts
Sony E → full frame and APS-C (MF + AF)
Canon EF → DSLR full frame and APS-C
Canon EF-M → APS-C mirrorless
Nikon F → DSLR full frame and APS-C
Fujifilm X → APS-C mirrorless
Micro Four Thirds → MFT format
Guidance
Samyang is organized here by focal length, focus type, mount and typical use cases. The page supports orientation but does not replace checking the exact camera and mount compatibility.
Use case 01
For the Milky Way, starry skies and night landscapes, wide angle, brightness, manual focusing and sensor format are important selection criteria.
Guidance: check 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS for APS-C or 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC for full frame
Use case 02
For portrait and beauty work, working distance, perspective, background separation and focus type are decisive. Short telephoto focal lengths are often used for this.
Guidance: check 85mm f/1.4 AS IF UMC (MF) or AF 75mm f/1.8 FE for Sony E
Use case 03
Street and documentary photography often need compact, bright lenses that stay unobtrusive and quick to use. The 35mm f/1.4 offers a classic street angle of view, while the AF series adds fast autofocus for Sony users.
Guidance: 35mm f/1.4 AS UMC (MF, multiple mounts) or AF 35mm f/2.8 FE for Sony Alpha with autofocus
Use case 04
Architecture and landscape work depend on angle of view, edge rendering, tripod work and controlled focusing. The right angle of view depends strongly on sensor format and subject distance.
Guidance: check 14mm f/2.8 for full-frame landscapes, 12mm f/2.0 for APS-C or 16mm f/2.0 for a broad angle of view
Use case 05
The XEEN cine series is intended for film production: T-stops for repeatable exposure control, consistent front diameters for matte boxes and follow-focus gearing for clean focus pulls.
Guidance: check XEEN Cine sets with 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm according to mount and handling
Use case 06
For macro and close-up work, reproduction ratio, working distance, lighting and sensor format matter. A longer focal length can create more distance from small subjects.
Guidance: check 100mm f/2.8 Macro ED UMC depending on camera mount
Guidance
Shop and guide links help classify focal length, mount and use case.
8–16 mm
Wide angle
Fisheye · 12mm f/2.0 · 14mm f/2.8 · 16mm f/2.0
→24–50 mm
Standard
24mm f/1.4 · 35mm f/1.4 · 50mm f/1.4
→85–135 mm
Portrait and telephoto
85mm f/1.4 · 100mm Macro · 135mm f/2.0
→Guide
Autofocus series
Sony E · focal lengths · video AF · selection criteria
→Cine · PL/EF
XEEN cine series
T1.5–T2.6 · follow-focus gearing · 14-135mm
→All
Samyang orientation
Focal lengths, mount questions and shop information
→FAQ
Manual focus (MF) is suitable for tripod work, landscape, astrophotography and situations where focus is set deliberately. Autofocus (AF series) is relevant depending on series and system when subject movement, reportage work or video AF are more important. Mount compatibility, sensor format and workflow matter for the decision.
The f-stop (such as f/1.4) is a theoretical geometric value describing aperture opening. The T-stop (transmission) accounts for the amount of light that actually passes through the lens. With photo lenses, T is usually slightly above the f-number. In video productions with several cameras, T-stops make exposure between lenses easier to compare.
Samyang MF lenses are available for many common mounts: Canon EF (DSLR), Canon EF-M (APS-C mirrorless), Nikon F (DSLR), Sony E (full frame and APS-C mirrorless), Sony A (DSLR), Fujifilm X (APS-C) and Micro Four Thirds (Panasonic, Olympus/OM System). The AF series is available only for Sony E (FE). The XEEN Cine series is available in PL (Arri, RED) and Canon EF.
For full frame, the 14mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC is often considered; for APS-C sensors, the 12mm f/2.0 NCS CS is a common orientation point. Angle of view, sensor format, brightness and controlled manual focusing are decisive. Getting stars sharp requires careful focus, often with live-view magnification.
Samyang produces lenses for both sensor sizes. Full-frame lenses (for example 14mm f/2.8, 85mm f/1.4) can also be used on APS-C cameras; the crop factor then applies (x1.5 for Sony/Nikon APS-C, x1.6 for Canon APS-C). CS lenses (marked with "CS" in the name, for example 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye CS) are designed for APS-C and have a smaller image circle, so they are not suitable for full frame. Sensor compatibility is stated in the product description.
First check mount, sensor format, focus type and use case. Manual series require controlled focusing; AF series depend on camera compatibility. Brightness, weight, filter thread and desired focal length should also fit the workflow.