IBC 2019 is currently ongoing in Amsterdam and Samyang has a new line of compact cinema lenses called the Xeen CF on display at the show and Matthew Allard from Newsshooter.com had the chance to talk to the people of Samyang during the show and get some info on this new and interesting lens line.
The new Xeen CF series is based around the existing Samyang Xeen (or cinema) prime lenses. The main difference between the two is not in the optics (the design is fairly similar) but in build and external design – the CF series is lighter and smaller and better designed for smaller camera systems. The barrel of the lens also uses some carbon fiber (hence the CF in the name) and as far as we know this is the first lens to do so.
The use of CF allowed Samyang to reduce the lens weight to only 900 grams (under 2lbs) which is considerably less than the original Xeen lenses and much lighter than almost any Cine lens on the market.
Another interesting difference between the old and new design has to do with the implementation of luminous barrel markings on the new Xeen CF lenses so you can see the markings even in low light.
Samyang introduced 5 lenses in this new line:Â 16mm T2.6, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5 and the 85mm T1.5 (the 16mm and 35mm will be available next year).
As for pricing, the new lenses in the line will be selling for $2500 starting from November 2019 – certainly one of the least expensive cine lenses on the market at the moment.
You can find a lot more info on the Xeen CF line on the Xeen mini-site – here.
If you liked this video you might also be interested in some of our other videos and coverage of IBC 2019 – here.
You can support LensVid by shopping with our affiliate partners
Affiliates: Amazon, B&H, Adorama and E-bay.
Why should you trust us?