Samyang has launched a revolutionary new autofocus prime lens system with interchangeable optical elements. The Remaster Slim system allows you to switch between three different focal lengths. It’s currently available for full-frame Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras.
Pancake lens
The Samyang Remaster Slim lens system looks like a regular pancake lens. Pancake lenses are much shorter than they are wide, making them very flat and round, hence the name. The short length also means that a pancake lens adds very depth to your camera body. In addition, pancake lenses have a simple optical design which means they are very lightweight. This makes them great to leave on your camera body, so it is always ready to go.
Interchangeable optical elements
The major advantage that the Remaster Slim lens system has over other pancake lenses is the option to change the focal length. Samyang’s innovative technology means you can swap out the optical elements inside the lens instead of needing to switch the whole lens. The Remaster Slim base looks like the body of a regular pancake lens, however, there’s a hole in the middle instead of the lens optics. Using a unique magnetically fixed bayonet mount you simply drop in the optical system for the focal length you want.
Focal lengths
At the time of writing, the Remaster Slim lens system offers focal lengths of 21 mm and 28 mm, both with a maximum aperture of f/3.5. There is also a 32 mm option with a maximum aperture of f/2.8. Optically, each lens is designed with 6 or 7 lens elements, including Samyang’s PMO aspherical elements. In addition, the 21 mm and 28 mm lenses include an ED (extra low dispersion) element while the £2 mm option includes an HR (high refractive index) lens element.
Autofocus
The Samyang Remaster Slim lens system base incorporates an STM autofocus motor. There is also a thin manual focus ring and a custom switch to select autofocus or manual focus. Interestingly, Samyang says that in manual focus mode, the MOD (minimum object distance) is shortened. This means you can focus more closely by hand than using the autofocus on the lens.
Design
As a pancake lens, the Samyang Remaster Slim system is very compact. It has a length of just over three-quarters of an inch (2 cm) and weighs less than 2.8 ounces (80 g). The filter size is 49 mm.
What we think
Back in May, we reported that Panasonic was launching a pancake lens. Now Samyang has done one better and announced a unique pancake lens system with interchangeable focal lengths. As is often the case with pancake lenses, Samyang is promoting the system as an “always ready” lens that’s an alternative to a body cap. However, the company has also highlighted the “genuine analog sensibility that is distinctly different from smartphone images created with digital technology”. For many years sales of digital cameras, especially compact cameras, have been on the decline as smartphone cameras have improved. Maybe now, companies are sensing a consumer desire to return to the quality and simplicity of a dedicated camera. With Samyang’s Remaster Slim system, your Sony full-frame camera can become a point-and-shoot. It sounds like a lot of fun, so hopefully the system will get a worldwide release.
Pricing and availability
The Samyang Remaster Slim lens system was available for pre-order in South Korea including the 32mm lens option. It was priced at 308,00 Korean won (around $229), however the preorders quickly sold out. Samyang says it should start shipping the pre-orders in September. The company will then make the Remaster Slim system more widely available in South Korea in October. Samyang hasn’t said whether the system will be launched outside of South Korea.
