Rokinon (Samyang) Lens Codes, Decoded

I’ve tried a few Rokinon lenses now, and they have some really interesting offerings. But if the brand looks unfamiliar, here’s a rundown.

Rokinon is a brand name rather than a factory. The lenses are designed and built in South Korea by Samyang Optics, and sold in North and South America under the Rokinon name by Elite Brands, a New York company. Known for producing high-quality, affordable optics, Rokinon caters to a wide range of photographers and videographers, from amateurs to professionals.

The name is used in the Americas under a long-standing exclusive distribution deal with Samyang Optics.

Rokinon isn’t actually owned by Samyang and doesn’t make the lenses itself.

Samyang has also supplied glass sold under Samyang, Bower, Walimex, Pro-Optic, and several other names. That’s why you will often see the exact same lenses sold under the names Rokinon, Samyang, and occasionally Bower. Sometimes they look identical. Other times they have slight design tweaks.

As a third-party manufacturer, Rokinon produces lenses that are compatible with various camera mounts, including Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and Micro Four Thirds systems.

In recent years, Rokinon has added a number of autofocus lenses. But they initially became known for lenses with manual focus and manual aperture control. This emphasis on manual operation has enabled Rokinon to offer lenses at a lower price point compared to similar lenses from major camera brands.

Rokinon’s lens lineup includes a diverse range of optics with specialty features. They are particularly strong in the area of affordable cine lenses for filmmaking.

Like other manufacturers, Rokinon uses codes in the names of their lenses to identify key features and technologies of the lens. And those codes, or names, are often among the most unusual and hard to decipher.

Once you know how to read them, they can be very useful as a shorthand way to quickly categorize a particular lens. But the codes can also be confusing, and every lens manufacturer makes up its own codes.

Here is the breakdown of the codes Rokinon uses, grouped by the type of information they convey.

1. Lens series & categories

Rokinon divides its lineup into distinct buckets based on whether you are a photographer or a filmmaker.

Still photography series

• AF (Autofocus):
  • The Tech: The modern lineup. These are fully electronic autofocus lenses designed for Sony E, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-Mount.
  • Note: Unlike their older lenses, these have no manual aperture ring (controlled via camera).
• SP (Special Performance):
  • The Tech: Rokinon’s premium manual-focus DSLR lenses (equivalent to the Samyang “XP” line). They feature heavy-duty construction, 50-megapixel+ resolution capability, and rubberized focus rings. Designed to compete with Zeiss/Sigma Art.
• Series II:
  • The Tech: Updated versions of their classic manual focus primes (like the 85mm f/1.4 Series II). They feature weather sealing and a new “de-click” switch for the aperture.

Remaster Slim (modular system)

In 2024, Rokinon/Samyang introduced a new concept: the Remaster Slim. This is a modular lens system designed for mirrorless cameras that separates the electronic “base” from the “optical elements.”

• The Tech: You leave the ultra-slim AF module (the base) mounted to your camera. You can then magnetically swap out tiny optical lens disks. There are three: 21mm f/3.5, 28mm f/3.5, and 32mm f/2.8.
• The Benefit: It allows a full-frame mirrorless camera to remain “pancake” thin, fitting into a jacket pocket while still giving you autofocus, an AF/MF switch, a focusing ring, and a 49mm filter thread on the module. Aperture is set from the camera body.
• Compatibility: Currently available primarily for Sony E-mount, this system is aimed at street photographers and travelers who want the “point-and-shoot” experience without sacrificing full-frame quality.

Pro Tip: If you see “Remaster Slim” on the box, make sure the kit includes the AF module base, as the individual optical disks cannot be used without it.

Cinema & video series

• Cine DS (Dual Scale):
  • The Tech: The standard for affordable filmmaking. “Dual Scale” means the focus and aperture markings are printed on both sides of the lens (for focus pullers). They are color-matched and feature standard 0.8 pitch gears.
• Cine DSX:
  • The Tech: The updated version of the DS line. Key upgrades include weather sealing, a more rounded aperture (9 blades) for better bokeh, and a new sleek matte finish.
• V-AF (Video Autofocus):
  • The Tech: Launched in late 2022 and since expanded to a full set of primes. A revolutionary line of compact, lightweight Cine lenses that feature Autofocus. They include a Tally Lamp (to show when recording) and uniform size/weight for easy gimbal balancing.
• XEEN / XEEN CF:
  • The Tech: The Professional line. These are not just modified still lenses; they are housed in robust aluminum bodies (or Carbon Fiber in the case of “CF”). They feature standard front diameters (95mm), PL mount options, and luminous markings for dark sets.

V-AF (video autofocus)

The V-AF series is Rokinon’s dedicated line of cinema-optimized autofocus lenses. These were designed specifically for gimbal users and solo content creators who need professional video features without the weight of traditional cinema glass.

• The Tech: Every lens in the series shares the exact same weight and dimensions. This means you can swap lenses on a gimbal or drone without having to re-balance your setup.
• Recording Tally Lamp: These lenses feature a built-in LED light on the front and side that turns red when the camera is recording — an essential feature for vloggers and small crews.
• The Accessory Port (Electronic Pins): A key feature of V-AF is the electronic pin-connector on the front rim. This allows you to snap on the Dedicated Anamorphic Adapter, a 1.7x squeeze adapter that communicates electronically with the lens. The adapter itself is manual focus — it has its own geared focus ring — so you give up autofocus while it is attached.
• Custom Switch: Features a switch on the barrel that can be programmed via the Rokinon Lens Station to toggle between focus control and aperture control using the focus ring.

Buying Tip: Samyang lists the whole V-AF line as supporting up to 8K resolution, making them highly future-proof for the next generation of mirrorless cinema cameras.

2. Sensor format codes (will it fit?)

This is the most common trap for Rokinon buyers. Pay attention to “CS.”

• CS (Crop Sensor):
  • The Meaning: The lens is designed for APS-C or Micro Four Thirds sensors.
  • Warning: If you mount a “CS” lens (like the 12mm f/2 CS) on a full-frame camera, you will see a black circle around the image.
• Full Frame (No Code or “AF” Series)
  • The Meaning: Traditionally, if a Rokinon lens does not carry the “CS” badge, it is a Full Frame lens designed to cover a 35mm sensor.
  • The Exception: Be careful with the newer “AF” (Autofocus) mirrorless series. Rokinon has released several AF lenses designed for APS-C cameras — the AF 12mm f/2 is the obvious one — that do not carry “CS” in their retail title.

Tip: Always double-check the “Format” or “Sensor Coverage” spec in the online listing. If you are a full-frame shooter (Sony a7 series, Nikon Z5/6/7, Canon R5/6), avoid any lens that mentions “APS-C” or “Crop Sensor” to prevent heavy vignetting or a permanent black circle in your frame.

3. Optical features & glass

• IF (Internal Focusing): The lens focuses by moving elements inside the barrel. The lens does not get longer or rotate at the front (essential for using polarizing filters or matte boxes).
• AS (Aspherical): Specially shaped glass elements used to correct spherical aberration (softness) and distortion.
• ED (Extra-Low Dispersion): High-quality glass that reduces chromatic aberration (purple/green fringing in high-contrast areas).
• UMC (Ultra Multi-Coating): Rokinon’s standard multi-layer lens coating to reduce flare and ghosting.
• NCS (Nano Coating System): Rokinon’s premium coating (found on higher-end lenses like the 12mm f/2). It sits closer to the glass element than UMC, offering superior light transmission and contrast.

4. Mount abbreviations

Because Rokinon makes the same lens for everyone, checking the box code is vital.

• Canon EF / RF / M
• Nikon F / Z
• Sony E
• Fuji X
• MFT (Micro Four Thirds)

Shopping tip

Rokinon vs. Samyang: What’s the difference?

The short answer: Nothing but the name.

Samyang Optics in South Korea designs and manufactures the lenses sold under both names; Rokinon is the label its American distributor, Elite Brands, puts on them. The glass, electronics, and build quality are identical.

Here is how the naming usually breaks down:

In North and South America, the lenses carry the Rokinon name. In Europe and Asia they are sold as Samyang, though Samyang-branded stock turns up in US stores too, including at the big retailers. Older stock, and some budget rebadges, wore the Bower, Walimex, or Pro-Optic name instead. The model designation after the brand — focal length, aperture, and the codes above — is the part that tells you what you are actually buying.

Feature	Rokinon Branding	Samyang Branding
Primary Market	North America (USA/Canada)	Europe, Asia, and Global
Premium DSLR Line	SP (Special Performance)	XP (Excellence in Performance)
Cine Lenses	Cine DS / DSX	VDSLR MK2 / AS IF UMC
High-End Cinema	XEEN	XEEN

Buying Tip: Because they are identical lenses, savvy shoppers should check the price for both Rokinon 85mm AF and Samyang 85mm AF. It is common for one to be $50 – $100 cheaper than the other due to different distributor sales or stock levels.