50MMPRIME LENSES
egg-shaped. But it’s nothing that would worry most users. The Xeen’s colours do tend towards a very, very slight green cast, but this is easily sorted in post production so is not of any real concern. Flare is well controlled, though. Not quite as good as in the Sigma but it’s certainly nothing to worry about when using it in bright sunlight. Vignetting is well controlled and there is a tad of purple fringing in extreme circumstances, but nothing to worry about. And of course if you use the lens on a cropped-sensor Super35 camera, the edges of the frame are cropped so you really do get the best out of the lens. The reality is that the Sigma is spectacularly sharp, and the Xeen can’t match it optically although it is very good and it costs less than half the price. For your £1599/ $2495 you get all the handling of a genuine cinema lens in a well-built body that performs well and will last for years – even if you change camera systems.
show some softness, especially at the edges of the frame as you’d expect. And even when stopped down to T5.6, it can’t match the Sigma in terms of sharpness, contrast or sheer resolving power. The Xeen has fewer lens elements in fewer groups and this is the key difference. The Samyang does show some barrel distortion and there is a hint of focus breathing, too. The bokeh from its 11 iris blades is very smooth, though, although as you open up the lens aperture it does change from circular to slightly
A6300 or even micro four thirds cameras like a Panasonic GH5, then its size does make handholding a pain. It’s best on a tripod or with a rig, just like the Sigma. Of course, comparing it to the Sigma in terms of ergonomics and useability is a relatively like-for- like comparison. However, there’s a reason the Sigma costs more and it’s in optical quality where the Samyang does not produce the same level of images. In isolation, the Xeen is crisp, resolves lots of detail and shows lots of contrast. Wide open, it does
ABOVE On Super35 cinema cams the Xeen is right at home but it does dwarf the full- frame Sony A7R II and the APS-C Sony A6300.
BELOW The markings are very clear, ideal for seeing from both sides of a cinema camera, for example.
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