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Samyang’s New AF 35mm f/1.8 P FE Lens

Samyang’s new AF 35mm f/1.8 P FE prime lens for Sony E-mount is here, and now that the full specs are out (it was first teased at CP+ 2026), it is clear this lens is meant to sit as a smaller, more practical alternative to the faster 35mm f/1.4. It weighs 216 grams and measures 71.5mm in length, making it noticeably more compact. With a 69.8mm diameter and a 62mm filter thread, it is also a better fit for smaller full-frame bodies like Sony’s A7C series.

On the inside, the lens uses a 10-element, 8-group optical design, including two aspherical elements and two XHR (Extra High Refractive) elements. Those XHR elements are there to help control aberrations while keeping the overall size down. Samyang is also using its updated UMC II coating, which is meant to reduce flare and ghosting, especially in more difficult lighting like backlit scenes. The lens has a nine-blade diaphragm, which affects how out-of-focus areas are rendered, although this design seems more focused on balance than creating extreme background blur.

Autofocus is handled by a Linear STM II motor, an updated version of Samyang’s stepping motor, paired with revised control algorithms. The idea is smoother, quieter operation, which should be noticeable for video as well as stills. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.27 meters and a maximum magnification of 0.19x, which is pretty standard for a 35mm lens like this. Controls are kept simple, with a focus ring, an AF/MF switch, and a USB-C port for firmware updates, but no aperture ring or extra function button. There is also basic weather sealing. The lens is set to arrive at the end of April 2026, priced at $300.

A New OM System PEN Camera?

OM Digital Solutions has once again talked about the future of the PEN series, this time a bit more directly than before. In recent interviews with Photolari and Phototrend, company executives confirmed that a new PEN camera is actually planned. Kazuhiro Togashi, Senior Vice President, stated clearly that while there is no specific release date yet, the company does have plans to launch a new PEN series under the OM System brand. Compared to earlier comments, that is a more concrete statement than what we have heard in the past.

At the same time, details are still pretty much nonexistent. When asked specifically about a successor to the PEN-F, Togashi acknowledged that the company continues to receive a lot of requests for it and that the PEN line remains important. However, there is still no indication of what kind of camera this will be, whether it is a direct PEN-F successor, something closer to the E-P7, or something entirely different. That lack of clarity has been a recurring theme. Over the past couple of years, OM System has gone from saying it was “exploring the possibility” of a new PEN camera to now saying it has actual plans, but without adding much else.

Looking at the bigger picture, the demand has definitely been there. The original PEN-F came out in 2016 and was discontinued in 2018, and since then, there has not really been a proper replacement. Technically, OM System has the pieces to make one. the sensor and processor from cameras like the OM-1 Mark II or OM-3 could easily support a modern PEN-F-style body, while something like the OM-5 line could form the basis for a simpler model. There is also the ongoing question of whether OM System might go even further and build a compact Micro Four Thirds camera, given the renewed interest in compact cameras overall. For now, though, it is still all talk, and the main question has not changed much: when will it actually show up?

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