Samyang has announced details of the very first ‘AF 14mm F2.8 RF’ that’s been specially designed for RF mount. Samyang, who are well known for their wide-angle lenses, have crammed 113.9-degree ultra-wide-angle optical performance into a compact lens created for mirrorless cameras.

To meet consumer demand for lenses to fit Canon mirrorless RF cameras, Samyang launched the first manual focus lenses for RF mount [MF 14mm F2.8 and MF 85mm F1.4] back in February and the new AF lens is next up in the series. Samyang, which first launched autofocus lenses for Sony FE mount back in 2016 and in the 3 years since, the brand has carved a niche in being the world’s first third-party lens manufacturer to release lenses for new camera mounts. In 2018, Samyang also launched autofocus lenses for Canon EF mount and Nikon F mount. The new RF lens has been added to the line-up as the Canon RF mirrorless camera market continues to grow.

Samyang’s new AF 14mm F2.8 RF has 14 lens elements in 10 groups, with 6 special elements including 3 aspherical, 1 high refraction and 2 extra-low dispersion elements. These special optics promise to produce minimum distortion and outstanding image quality from corner to corner, with 113.9 degrees of wide-angle. Furthermore, we’re told that the 7 aperture blades create soft and circular bokeh with sharp light-rays.

Previously, Canon RF camera users had to use an RF adapter onto their Canon EF lens to enjoy a 14mm wide-angle, making for size and weight that is not ideal for use with a mirrorless camera. The new Samyang AF 14mm F2.8 RF is designed to prioritise the user experience of mirrorless cameras. As a result, the length of the flange back has been reduced and so the length and weight of the lens lowered to maximise the handling experience. Also minimised is the weight of the focusing system, for fast and accurate AF performance.

The new Samyang lens is furnished with a switch that allows easy changing between AF and MF when manual focus is required, or for fine adjustments. Dust and moisture resistant weather sealing assures a more secure experience under challenging conditions. There is
also a rear filter holder on the mount to create more diverse images and a new Lens Station which allows USB updating of firmware and other lens settings.

Pricing and availability

The new Samyang AF 14mm F2.8 RF will be available in November with a suggested retail price of £629 [inc VAT]. Head to Samyang’s website for more detailed info.