Samyang XEEN Master: Cinema lens series with eight prime focal lengths (14–200mm), constant T1.5 aperture, and uniform 127mm length for professional film production.
The XEEN Meister series comprises eight prime lenses: 14mm, 16mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 135mm, and 200mm, all with a consistent T1.5 aperture. The lenses weigh between 1.2kg (14mm) and 2.5kg (200mm) with a uniform length of 127mm. Focus and aperture rings rotate 200° and 120° respectively and are equipped with 0.8 pitch gears for follow focus systems. The minimum focusing distance ranges from 0.28m (24mm) to 1.9m (200mm) depending on the focal length. Available mounts include Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, Micro Four Thirds, and PL-Mount.
Samyang first announced the XEEN series at NAB 2015 as a direct competitor to established cinema lines like Zeiss CP.2 or Canon CN-E. Market launch followed in 2016 with the first four focal lengths, and the series was completed in 2017. In 2018, Samyang introduced the XEEN Meister variant, a revised version with improved coatings and optimized mechanical precision. The development took four years and cost Samyang over $15 million in investment in new manufacturing technologies.
XEEN Meister lenses are primarily used in budget-conscious film productions and high-end commercials. Netflix series like "Kingdom" (2019) used the series for exterior shots, while Mercedes-Benz commercials (2018) employed the 85mm for portrait sequences. The T1.5 aperture allows for extreme low-light shooting without additional lighting. Typical workflow: use with RED, ARRI Alexa Mini, or Sony FX cameras with wireless follow focus. An advantage is the consistent weight for gimbal setups, a disadvantage is the variable sharpness performance between focal lengths.
Compared to Zeiss CP.3 (T2.1), XEEN Meister offers one stop more light at one-third the price, but does not achieve their sharpness performance. Canon CN-E lenses have similar specifications but cost 40% more. The Rokinon Cine DS series is positioned as a more affordable alternative, but only achieves T1.4-T1.6. In 2021, Samyang introduced the XEEN CF series as a carbon fiber successor (30% lighter), followed in 2023 by the XEEN Meister Anamorphic line. For budgets under €50,000 per lens, XEEN Meister represents a competitive option.
Als DoP schätze ich die durchgängige T1.5-Blende der XEEN Meister, weil ich bei Brennweitenwechseln keine Belichtungskorrektur vornehmen muss. Die 200°-Fokusrotation gibt mir präzise Kontrolle bei Schärfeverlagerungen, allerdings variiert die Schärfeleistung deutlich - die 35mm ist knackscharf, die 85mm eher weich bei offener Blende.
Ich nutze die XEEN Serie gezielt für ihre charakteristische Bokeh-Zeichnung, die durch die 11 Blendenlamellen sehr cremig ausfällt und Gesichter sanft vom Hintergrund trennt. Die geringe Schärfentiefe bei T1.5 erlaubt mir subtile emotionale Führung - was scharf ist, bestimmt die Aufmerksamkeit des Zuschauers ohne aufdringliche Kamerabewegungen.
Mit 4.500€ pro Objektiv kostet ein XEEN Meister-Set etwa 36.000€ - ein Zeiss CP.3-Set würde 120.000€ kosten. Die Anschaffung amortisiert sich bereits nach 15 Drehtagen gegenüber Mietkosten, und durch das geringe Gewicht spare ich Transportkosten und Rigaufbau-Zeit am Set.
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