Samyang AF 12mm F/2E Launched

2021.04.26

Samyang is gearing up to level-up their target market with a new lens designed for astrophotography. Known for low-cost purely mechanical lenses, Samyang has been adding AF models for Sony E-mount for a little while now which still qualified as low-end market. The new lens launched today though features weatherproof construction which is clearly an upper-range feature.

The new Samyang AF 12mm F/2E is an ultra-wide-angle prime lens made exclusively for Sony E-mount. This lens covers an APS-C sensor-area which gives it a 99° angle-of-view. This makes it the brightest ultra-wide lens for Sony E, although there are half-a-dozen wider lenses with up to F/2.8 maximum apertures. With a combined wide aperture and focal-length, this lens is indeed well-suited for astrophotography. It should handle well photos of interiors and architecture.

This prime lens offers a close focusing distance of 19cm that corresponds to 0.09X magnification, so it is not tuned for close-up photography. A filter-thread at the front accepts 62mm screw-on filters which are extremely common when capturing the night-sky, either to filter out haze or to capture particular stellar wavelengths. The lens is equipped with an internal linear focus motor. There is AF/MF switch on the lens, so the focus mode must be set on-camera. Generally astro-photography is done in Manual Focus mode since such scene is too dark for most cameras to autofocus.

The Samyang AF 12mm F/2E is scheduled to ship in June for $400 USD. B&H Photo is ready to accept pre-orders and Adorama is expected to follow shortly. Ordering from these affiliates help support Neocamera while ensuring to be among the first that will receive this new lens.

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