The New Samyang V-AF Lens Family

By Jay Gilmour | Photographer & Filmmaker, jaygilmour.co.uk

Now in its 50th year, Samyang continues to push the envelope when it comes to lens innovation. This month the company announced the V-AF lens family, with the V-AF 75mm T1.9 the first lens from the new line-up to become available. Four more lenses – 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, & 45mm – will be released before the end of 2023.

The Samyang V-AF family has been created specifically for video content creators. Small, lightweight and colour matched, this exciting new line-up of full-frame cinema AF lenses is aimed squarely at filmmakers on a budget, who don’t won’t to skimp on picture quality.

Jay Gilmour, an established wedding videographer and Samyang Ambassador, received one of the first engineering samples. We decided to catch up with him to get his verdict on the new lens.

What are your first thoughts about the new lens?

Just incredible, it ticks just about every box for what I need in a lens. When the rest of the line-up is available, I honestly don’t think I will need any others for my video work. Light and compact, it's as at home on my gimbal as it is on i handheld rig.

I know the line-up is based on the small photo range optics, but Samyang has done some magic on them to optimise the lenses for videographers. The focused breathing is second to none. Sony can’t even do that with its GM lenses in my opinion!

Looking at the little details and touches, it tells me that there has been time, effort and a lot of thought gone into this lens family, for example:

• There’s a tally light so you know you’re recording, which is great for vlogging
• It’s easy to connect a follow focus system
• The contacts at the front of the lens are clearly designed to add electronic accessories – I'm seriously intrigued to what those might be!

Optically speaking, it’s crisp and sharp, and the incredible AF, especially paired with my Sony FX3 is just a dream. It is not mechanically fast like some lenses, it’s smooth and natural, almost like I was pulling focus myself. Coupled with the AF that sticks and tracks with a subject, I couldn’t have asked for more.

How does the V-AF lens fit into your line of work?

I try to keep my gear to a minimum. It's difficult to carry a big heavy bag around, plus a gimbal and my handheld rig. So having the lens the size and weight it is, is the biggest plus to me (and my bad back!) Not having to attach a follow focus belt to every lens is a bonus!

When the other lenses in the family are released, every lens will be the same weight and size. I can swap and change lenses in seconds. There’s no need to re-balance my gimbal, no need to move any of my follow focus gears. This in itself is invaluable. Shooting weddings, I often have very little time to change lenses, and have to make do with what I have. Sometimes I think I miss a great angle because of that.

Would you recommend this lens to other videographers?

Oh yes!! I think you can tell by my comments here I’m excited already for the rest of the line-up to be released! Samyang just need to get them all out! For all the features I’ve mentioned, this line-up of lenses really could be a game-changer for the industry. For a lot of videographers, having cine attributes with great autofocus is incredible. There's a buzz around them when I talk about them to my friends that I haven't seen with other lenses. It’s a very exciting time to be shooting!

The lens’ first UK appearance was at The Photography and Video Show, where it was awarded Best in Show by Digital Camera World (in addition, the newly announced by Digital Camera World & Amateur Photographer. In addition, Jay brought along his own V-AF lens as part of his seminar “One Step More” at the booth to show how it has enhanced his own workflow and ethos of going that bit extra for clients and consumers. AF 85mm F1.4 FE II won a Best of Show award from Amateur Photographer). Jay brought along his prototype V-AF lens to the Holdan booth as part of his seminar “One Step More” and talked about how it will improve his workflow and help him to do that bit extra for his clients.