Samyang XEEN: Cine lens series featuring consistent gear rings and T-stops, designed for professional film production.
Focal Lengths
| 14 | 16 | 24 | 35 | 50 | 85 | 100 | 135 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T3.1 | T2.6 | T1.5 | T1.5 | T1.5 | T1.5 | T1.5 | T2.2 |
| 0.28m | 0.25m | 0.25m | 0.30m | 0.45m | 0.90m | 0.30m | 0.80m |
| 1.47kg | 1.53kg | 1.12kg | 1.22kg | 1.15kg | 1.23kg | 1.55kg | 1.45kg |
| 114 | 114 | 114 | 114 | 114 | 114 | 114 | 114 |
| 104° | 97° | 74° | 54° | 40° | 24° | 20° | 15° |
| ◀━━━━━▶ | ◀━━━━━▶ | ◀━━━▶ | ◀━━▶ | ◀━━▶ | ◀━▶ | ◀▶ | ◀▶ |
PL/EF/E/MFT · 200° Focus Throw · FF · 11 Blades · + 16-50mm Zoom
Technical Details
The XEEN series comprises eight prime lenses (14-135mm) plus a 16-50mm T2.6-3.1 zoom. Apertures range from T1.5 to T3.1, with an 11-blade iris for smooth bokeh. The housing is made of anodized aluminum, featuring standardized 0.8 module gears. Minimal focus breathing and a 43.3mm image circle for full-frame coverage. The 100mm is a macro lens with a minimum focusing distance of 0.30m.
History & Development
Samyang introduced the XEEN series in 2015 as its first dedicated cinema line, after primarily producing still photography lenses since 1972. The 16-50mm zoom lens followed in 2016, and the specialized 100mm macro in 2017. Development was carried out in collaboration with Rokinon (North America) and Bower (distribution), with the lenses being identically marketed under various brand names. In 2019, Samyang expanded its portfolio with the XEEN CF series, featuring a carbon fiber housing for reduced weight.
In Practice on Film
XEEN lenses are primarily used in low- to mid-budget productions requiring professional cinema features. The series has been employed on productions such as "The Meg" (2018, specific underwater sequences) and various Netflix series. Typical workflows involve use with RED, ARRI Alexa Mini, or Blackmagic cameras. Advantages include uniform housing dimensions for quick lens changes and a constant T1.5 aperture. Disadvantages are evident in lower sharpness performance at the edges and higher weight compared to modern cine lenses.
Comparison & Alternatives
XEEN lenses are positioned between consumer photo lenses and high-end cinema series like Zeiss CP.3 or Canon Sumire. They offer true cine features at a fraction of the cost of ARRI/Zeiss Master Primes (a 1:10 ratio). Modern alternatives include the DZOFilm Vespid series or Sigma Cine Primes, which offer comparable pricing with potentially better optical performance. XEEN is suitable for productions that require standardized cine workflows but lack the budget for Tier 1 lenses.