Samyang Announced Two New Prima Lenses

credits: Samyang

Samyang just announced two new lenses in their Prima series: the AF 16mm f/2.8 P FE and the AF 85mm f/1.8 P FE, both designed for Sony E-mount. These follow last year’s 35mm f/1.4 P FE and are aimed at beginners and hybrid creators, people who want solid performance in a compact, lightweight package. "Prima" comes from the Latin word for "first" or "important," which fits the idea that these lenses are meant to be go-to choices, especially for newer shooters who want something practical but still sharp and fast. Samyang says the design balances portability and image quality, and all the Prima lenses share a clean, minimalist look with a red accent ring and durable plastic build.

The 16mm f/2.8 is a tiny wide-angle that only weighs 207 grams and measures 70.5mm long. It can focus as close as 12cm and offers a 1:3 reproduction ratio, which makes it great for semi-macro work or just getting dramatic wide shots with some detail up front. On an APS-C camera, it gives a 24mm equivalent field of view and half-macro capabilities. The optical construction includes several high-end elements to keep things sharp and clean across the frame, and it’s driven by a fast, quiet linear STM motor for autofocus. It’s also weather-sealed to an IP5 rating and features a USB-C port on the mount for firmware updates.

The 85mm f/1.8 is similarly compact at 272 grams and just slightly longer than the 16mm. This one’s aimed at portrait shooters, promising smooth, creamy bokeh and rich subject isolation thanks to its f/1.8 aperture and nine-bladed diaphragm. It’s not a macro lens, but it focuses reasonably close and is tuned for flattering, detailed portraits. Like the 16mm, it has a simple design with just a focus switch and USB-C port, plus the same IP5 dust resistance and updated lens hood for better flare control. Pricing and release dates haven’t been shared yet.

A closer look at both lenses will follow this Sunday inside the big magazine issue ;)