At CP+ 2026, Samyang was showcasing its upcoming 60-180 mm f/2.8 zoom on its booth for the first time. But away from the show floor buzz, far from visitors’ eyes, we also got to discover 3D prototypes of potential future lenses for full-frame mirrorless cameras. Ambitious concepts, still shrouded in mystery. Here’s an overview of these promising leads, based on the information we gathered on site.
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Samyang, balancing product planning and user feedback
At CP+ 2026, we had the opportunity to speak with Kim Dubin, head of product planning at Samyang. This allowed us to discuss several full-frame lens projects currently under consideration by the manufacturer, both short and medium term. It was a chance to learn more about the strategic directions and development priorities envisioned by the South Korean lens maker.
The lens manufacturer is currently exploring four different concepts in order to gather feedback from its users, as well as from the media, before determining which lenses would be most relevant to produce and bring to market.
Samyang specifies that the details shared with us are not confirmed for production at this stage and are still part of an exploratory phase aimed at collecting user feedback. The specifications mentioned are therefore subject to significant changes, or may never result in a commercial launch.
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f/2 aperture, the next standard for Samyang zooms?
Among these potential new releases, we discovered two ultra-fast zoom projects: a wide-angle AF 20-50 mm f/2 FE zoom and a versatile AF 28-85 mm f/2-2.8 FE zoom.
Samyang AF 20-50 mm f/2 FE: a wider and faster wide-angle zoom
The Samyang AF 20-50 mm f/2 FE is a zoom designed to meet strong demand for a lens with a faster aperture than f/2.8 and, more importantly, a wider focal length than the traditional 24 mm at the wide end.
It is reportedly still at an early stage of development, and its launch would not be expected before 2028 or 2029, partly to avoid cannibalizing the current AF 24-60 mm f/2.8 that the manufacturer has just released. Due to its wider aperture, this zoom would be larger and heavier than the current 24-60 mm.
Samyang AF 28-85 mm f/2-2.8 FE: a versatile zoom with a fast variable aperture
The other option under consideration would be an AF 28-85 mm f/2-2.8 FE zoom. It was initially envisioned with a constant f/2 aperture, but Samyang would ultimately opt for a variable aperture in order to reduce its size. Unstabilized and slightly larger than the new 24-60 mm, this zoom could see the light of day by late 2027 or spring 2028 if feedback is positive. It would thus directly compete with the Tamron 28-75 mm f/2.8 as well as the Sigma 28-70 mm f/2.8 on the E mount.
Samyang AF 28-135 mm f/2.8 FE: the next king of versatility?
Absent from the CP+ booth but very much real (and already “showcased” at IBC 2025), the 28–135 mm f/2.8 is reportedly already in production for a release planned for late 2026 at the earliest.
More versatile than the recent Tamron 35-100 mm f/2.8 DI III VXD (or even the Sigma 28-105 mm f/2.8 DG DN Art), it should feature a new linear autofocus motor (VCM). This would replace the current stepper motors, which were showing their limitations for video and fast-action tracking.
Long telephoto primes with stabilization and built-in teleconverter?
Samyang is also exploring the long prime segment, a market where only a very small handful of players are present. We could thus see two lenses arrive: the AF 300 mm f/4 FE OIS and the AF 200 mm f/1.8 FE OIS.
Samyang AF 300 mm f/4 FE OIS: stabilization and built-in teleconverter
The Samyang AF 300 mm f/4 FE OIS is a prime lens inspired by optics from the DSLR era. It would target wildlife and sports photographers looking for a longer and more affordable alternative to the classic 70-200 mm f/2.8 zoom.
The South Korean manufacturer could even consider integrating a built-in 1.4x teleconverter (effectively turning it into a 420 mm f/5.6) to work around licensing restrictions on external teleconverters imposed by major camera manufacturers. We can also see that the lens would feature numerous controls. But the most interesting aspect may lie elsewhere.
As you may have noticed, the OIS designation could mean that this lens would be Samyang’s first to feature optical image stabilization (OIS).
Indeed, the manufacturer is currently developing its optical image stabilization system, tested on prototypes of the 135 mm f/1.8. This stabilization could equip future telephoto and long prime lenses from the manufacturer if the performance gains prove worthwhile.
Although no pricing has been set given the early stage of development, Samyang already states that it intends to position itself very competitively with this lens.
Samyang AF 200 mm f/1.4 FE OIS: a technological showcase?
Finally, the last 3D mockup presented is that of a striking lens, the Samyang AF 200 mm f/1.8 FE OIS. This fast long prime would serve as a true technological showcase, aiming to stand out against the 200 mm f/2 offerings from Laowa and Sigma.
By Samyang’s own admission, producing this kind of lens could be costly, particularly when integrating an optical stabilization system still new to Samyang, but the manufacturer wants to listen to market demand and, above all, demonstrate what it is capable of. A legitimate approach when you consider the threat from numerous Chinese lens manufacturers that are juggling wide apertures, stabilization, autofocus, and highly attractive price-to-performance ratios.
It is worth noting that Samyang could ultimately release only one of these two lenses to avoid direct competition between them.
Strategy and development on other mounts
We were also able to briefly discuss the strategy for expanding to other mounts.
As you may have noticed from the lens names, the priority remains the Sony E mount, but Samyang confirms its commitment to the L-Mount alliance, the 14-24 mm f/2.8 has justbeen released in L-mount and the upcoming 60-180 mm f/2.8 will also be available on this mount. According to their data, the L-Mount market is quite dynamic in China and Europe, but less so in Japan or South Korea.
As for a potential move to Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts, the lens maker is still waiting for official licenses from the Japanese manufacturers. But, interestingly enough, the latest AF 24-60 mm f/2.8 would already be technically easily adaptable to the RF mount, thanks to a shorter mechanical flange distance in the lens design.
