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Lens manufacturer Samyang has given its 135mm cine lens the MK2 treatment, adding weather sealing, a new iris and the design characteristics of the company’s VDSLR MK2 series. The introduction of the Samyang 135mm T2.2 VDSLR manual lens brings the MK2 series to a total six focal lengths spanning 14mm to 135mm.
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This new upgrade comes with a seal on the rear mount to create a weather-proof barrier between the lens and the camera, as well as a new 9-bladed iris that the company claims produces 18-point sun stars when closed down. The other new feature of this MK2 version is a design that positions the distance and aperture scales on the sides of the barrel to make life easier when the camera is mounted above chest height.
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The full frame lens measures 12.2cm/4.8in in length, weighs between 866.4g/1lb 14oz and 918.2g/2lbs, takes a 77mm filter and will be available in mounts for Canon EF, Sony E, Nikon F, Canon M, Fuji X and MFT systems.
The lens will ship early December and will cost £564 (approx. $775). For more information see the Samyang website.
Press release:
Samyang adds 135mm T2.2 to its VDSLR MK2 cine lens line-up
Exclusively distributed in the UK and Ireland by Holdan, the new VDSLR 135mm T2.2 MK2 is a compact, telephoto cine lens designed for filmmakers using DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
Manchester, United Kingdom – Thursday 28th October, 2021, Holdan, a specialist distributor to the professional video, broadcast and photography sector, has today announced Samyang’s completion of its VDSLR MK2 cine lens line-up with the new VDSLR 135mm T2.2 MK2 lens. It is exclusively distributed by them in the UK and Ireland.
Expansion of compact cine lens set with 6 most-used focal lengths
The VDSLR MK2 set now comprises 6 of the most-used focal lengths: 14mm T3.1, 24mm T1.5, 35mm T1.5, 50mm T1.5, 85mm T1.5 and 135mm T2.2. Fast T-stop values, beloved image quality and enhanced user-friendly features come in 6 different mounts such as Canon EF and Sony E, with full frame coverage.
Inheriting the renowned image quality of the original Samyang VDSLR series, the updated MK2 series is developed to be the foundational cine lens set for filmmakers. Samyang pioneered the entry-point cine lens line-up by launching its VDSLR range back in 2014 and it has been a staple set for independent filmmakers and low-budget project directors to broaden their horizons of creativity. During those 6 years, Samyang has worked in partnership with the market and introduced the updated VDSLR MK2 series, with useful new features.
Main Features
Compact professional cine lens covering full-frame sensor size
The compact size of Samyang’s VDSLR lenses makes them perfect for hand-holding and gimbal shooting. The new VDSLR 135mm T2.2 MK2 is only 12.2cm in length and weighs just 866.4g. In contrast to their compact size, the VDSLR MK2 lenses cover full frame sensors (36x24mm) and are ready for the high-quality video making environment.
Most popular focal lengths – available in 6 different mounts
The VDSLR MK2 range now has 6 focal lengths: 14mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm. These are the essential and most popular focal lengths for any creative or commercial projects. All 6 lenses are available and fully compatible with 6 different mounts: Canon EF, Sony E, Nikon F, Canon M, Fuji X and MFT. They are suitable for both DSLR and mirrorless systems and ready to support all types of filmmakers around the globe.
Long Focus Throw and De-Clicked Aperture Ring
Even though the VDSLR MK2 series is compact in size, it is fully-featured, with de-clicked aperture and focus gear rings. The long focus throw of over 195° enables cinematographers to focus precisely on their subjects, creating a more professional feel to video footage than with autofocus photo lenses.
Fast Aperture for Low-Light Situations
For independent filmmakers, a versatile lens saves time and budget. The Samyang VDSLR MK2 series has fast T1.5 apertures across 24mm, 35mm, 50mm to 85mm, T3.1 for 14mm and T2.2 for the new 135mm. This benefits filmmakers and allows them to concentrate more on the scene and creativity, without having to concern themselves about image quality, even in low-light situations. Also, the shallow depth of field available blurs out the background and highlights the subject, adding depth to the story.
New Feature #1: Weather Sealing
The new VDSLR MK2 series includes a weather-sealing feature to protect the most vulnerable gap between the lens and camera mount and prevent dust, light rain and snow from penetrating. It provides the ability to capture stunning images in less than perfect conditions.
New Feature #2: 9 Aperture Blades for exceptional Bokeh and Starburst effects
This series is updated with 9 aperture blades across all 6 focal lengths, to provide unified smooth and circular bokeh. It adds a three-dimensional quality and pleasing effect to out-of-focus backgrounds. 18-ray starburst highlights can also be created by stopping down to small apertures.
New Feature #3: Updated design with Side Scales
The Samyang VDSLR MK2 models have a sleek new design: Black and matte finish boosts usability and professionalism on the set. They are lightweight but sturdy and fully equipped for numerous projects. The distance scales are readable from both sides, as are the focal lengths. These features support focus pullers and assistant cinematographers to operate more intuitively.
Author:
Damien Demolder
Source: Dpreview
