Samyang XEEN CF: Six cine lenses (16–135 mm) with carbon-fiber housing, 20% lighter than standard XEEN, T1.5–T2.6 aperture, 8K resolution.
Focal Lengths
| 16 | 24 | 35 | 50 | 85 | 135 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T2.6 | T1.5 | T1.5 | T1.5 | T1.5 | T2.2 |
| 0.25m | 0.25m | 0.30m | 0.45m | 0.90m | 0.80m |
| 1.0kg | 0.95kg | 0.95kg | 0.95kg | 0.95kg | 1.0kg |
| 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 | 95 |
| 97° | 74° | 54° | 40° | 24° | 15° |
| ◀━━━━━▶ | ◀━━━▶ | ◀━━▶ | ◀━━▶ | ◀━▶ | ◀▶ |
PL/EF/E · FF · Carbon Fiber · 200° Focus · 8K
Technical Details
Six focal lengths (16-135mm) with T1.5-T2.6 in a carbon fiber housing – 20% lighter than standard XEEN. 11-layer T* coating for flare reduction. Uniform 95mm front diameter, standardized 0.8 pitch gear rings. 200° focus throw, 100° iris throw. Fluorescent markings for low-light visibility. 8K capable, iF Design Award winner.
History & Development
Samyang first introduced the original XEEN series in 2015 as an affordable alternative to Zeiss CP.3 and Canon CN-E lenses. The CF variant followed in 2018 in response to cinematographer feedback regarding weight reduction for gimbal and handheld work. In 2020, Samyang expanded the series with the XEEN CF Meister series, featuring improved optical design and T1.3 aperture for select focal lengths.
Practical Use in Film
The XEEN CF lenses are utilized in indie productions and documentaries where reduced weight is crucial for extended handheld sequences. Gimbals like the DJI Ronin-S benefit from the lower lens weight, enabling more precise balancing. The uniform front diameter allows for quick matte box and filter changes without adapter swaps. The constant T1.5 aperture facilitates matching across multi-camera setups, while the minimal focus breathing makes the lenses suitable for focus pulls.
Comparison & Alternatives
Compared to Zeiss CP.3 lenses, the XEEN CF offer similar image quality at 60% of the cost, but with less precise mechanical construction. Sony FX lenses achieve comparable optical performance but cost three times as much. The XEEN CF are positioned between consumer lenses and high-end cine glass like Cooke S4i. For purely studio work, heavier lenses such as Sigma Cine or Canon CN-E often remain the better choice due to their more robust mechanics.