If you’ve ever browsed a camera store shelf and noticed the name “Samyang,” you’re already familiar with one of the most interesting lens companies in the world. But if you know the name “Rokinon,” you’ve probably been watching YouTube reviews or reading gear forums based in the US. Here’s the thing: they’re the exact same lens.
Samyang Optics — The Company
LK Samyang Co., Ltd. (formerly Samyang Optics Co., Ltd.) is an optical equipment manufacturer headquartered in Masan Hoewon-gu, Changwon City, Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. On March 28, 2024, the company changed its name from “Samyang Optics” to “LK Samyang.” The “LK” stands for “Leading Korea,” reflecting its parent organization, the LK Group.
With approximately 130 employees, LK Samyang designs and manufactures interchangeable lenses for all major camera systems — Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and Leica — and exports to 58 countries through 39 overseas distributors. Over 90% of revenue comes from international markets, making it far better known abroad than at home.
In Korean photography circles, the brand has earned the affectionate nickname “Sam-Zeiss” (삼자이스 = Samyang + Carl Zeiss) — a nod to optical performance that punches well above its price point. In a 2024 interview with the Korea Economic Daily, then-CEO Koo Bon-wook acknowledged the nickname, explaining that it reflects a perception of “European-grade technology at Korean prices.”
Too Many Brand Names — The Truth About Rokinon, Bower, and Walimex
One of the most confusing aspects of Samyang is its multi-brand strategy. Depending on where you live and which retailer you visit, the same lens may appear under a completely different name.
| Brand Name | Primary Market | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Samyang | Korea, Japan, Asia | The company’s own brand. In Japan, distributed by Kenko-Tokina since May 2016 (previously by Shin-Tokyo Bussan) |
| Rokinon | North & South America | Exclusively distributed by Elite Brands Inc. (EBI). Originally a different company’s trademark, abandoned in 2002 and adopted for Samyang products |
| Bower | North America | Used for select retail channels |
| Walimex / Walimex Pro | Germany & Europe | Sold by Foto Walser GmbH |
| Opteka | North America | Primarily online retail channels |
| Vivitar | North America | A licensed legacy brand name, once famous for its own lens designs |
| Quantaray | North America | Private-label brand for camera retail chains |
| Phoenix | North America | Select retail channels |
Regardless of which brand name is on the box, the optical design and manufacturer are always the same: Samyang. The only difference is the logo engraved on the lens barrel. This multi-brand approach was designed to leverage each regional distributor’s existing retail network, and it is a direct legacy of Samyang’s OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) past.
That said, this “same lens, many names” situation has caused real confusion among consumers. In North America especially, it’s not uncommon to find both “Samyang” and “Rokinon” listings for the identical lens on Amazon or B&H Photo — sometimes at different prices. Reviewers have long flagged this issue, and the question “What’s the difference between Rokinon and Samyang?” remains a perennial topic on Reddit and photography forums.
The Origin of the “Rokinon” Name
The story behind the Rokinon brand name is more complicated than you might expect.
“Rokinon” was originally a brand used by Rokina International, a New Jersey–based company, from around 1980 through the late 1990s. It appeared on inexpensive 35mm and 110 film cameras, accessories, and even SLR lenses manufactured in Japan and imported by Rokina International.
Around 2002, Rokina International abandoned the “Rokinon” trademark. Elite Brands Inc. (EBI), Samyang’s exclusive North American distributor, subsequently acquired the trademark and began using it for Samyang-manufactured lenses from Korea. In other words, the Rokinon lenses of the 1980s–90s and today’s Rokinon lenses are completely different products from completely different manufacturers.
EBI also holds licenses for other legacy brand names including “MINOLTA,” “COLEMAN,” and “BELL and HOWELL,” operating across product categories spanning lenses, optics, digital cameras, and consumer electronics.
XEEN and V-AF — Brands for Filmmakers
Samyang isn’t just about stills photography. The company has built a significant presence in the cinema lens market.
XEEN
Launched in 2015, XEEN is Samyang’s professional cinema lens brand. These lenses feature unified barrel dimensions, geared focus rings, and declicked apertures — all essential for professional video production. The XEEN CF series, which incorporates carbon fiber in the barrel construction, was the world’s first full-frame cine lens to do so, achieving a notable reduction in weight without sacrificing durability. The XEEN Meister series sits at the top of the lineup as the premium tier.
V-AF Series
Introduced in 2022, the V-AF series is a compact lineup of autofocus cine lenses for the Sony FE mount. The range currently includes six lenses: 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, 45mm, and 75mm (all T1.9), plus a 100mm (T2.3). A particularly interesting addition is the 1.7x anamorphic MF adapter, which pairs with V-AF lenses to enable anamorphic-style shooting.
Remaster Slim — A Modular Lens Experiment
Released in 2024, the Remaster Slim is an unusual product for Samyang. It features a shared base unit that accepts three interchangeable optical modules: RS 21mm F3.5, RS 28mm F3.5, and RS 32mm F2.8. Pitched as a compact, creative system for content creators, it signals Samyang’s willingness to experiment beyond conventional lens design.
The Schneider-Kreuznach Partnership — A New Chapter Begins
One of the most significant developments in Samyang’s recent history is its strategic partnership with Schneider-Kreuznach, the storied German optical manufacturer.
Founded in 1913, Schneider-Kreuznach has supplied lenses to legendary camera brands including Kodak, Rolleiflex, and Hasselblad. Under this partnership, the two companies divide responsibilities as follows:
- LK Samyang: Product development, manufacturing, quality assurance, marketing, sales, and customer service
- Schneider-Kreuznach: Optical design review, measurement analysis, fine-tuning, evaluation, and testing
Their first co-developed product was the AF 14-24mm F2.8 FE, released in April 2025. Marketed as “the world’s first front-filter-compatible 14-24mm ultra-wide zoom for Sony E-mount,” it generated significant attention. This was followed by the AF 24-60mm F2.8 FE, announced at IBC 2025 in September, and a prototype AF 60-180mm F2.8 FE shown at CP+ 2026 — demonstrating an accelerating pace of co-development.
A 130-person Korean lens maker partnering with a German optical house that has over a century of history — it’s a combination that signals Samyang’s determination to move beyond its “affordable and decent” image and compete on optical performance in earnest.
Joining the L-Mount Alliance
In July 2023, Samyang announced its membership in the L-Mount Alliance, the multi-brand lens consortium founded by Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma. This gave Samyang a foothold for serious expansion into major mirrorless systems beyond Sony E-mount. AF lenses for L-mount, such as the AF 35-150mm F2-2.8 L, are already part of the current lineup.
Sources
- LK Samyang Official Website — History (https://www.lksamyang.com/en/about/history.php)
- Wikipedia — “LK Samyang” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LK_Samyang)
- NamuWiki — “LK삼양” (https://en.namu.wiki/w/LK삼양)
- Camera-wiki.org — “Samyang” (https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Samyang)
- Camera-wiki.org — “Rokinon” (https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Rokinon)
- Rokinon.com — “About Us” (https://rokinon.com/pages/about-us)
- Elite Brands Inc. — “Rokinon” (https://www.elitebrands.com/rokinon)
- Schneider-Kreuznach Official — “Schneider-Kreuznach x LK Samyang” (https://schneiderkreuznach.com/en/photo-optics/lenses/schneider-kreuznach-x-lk-samyang)
- Schneider-Kreuznach — “Collaboration with LK Samyang” (https://schneiderkreuznach.com/en/company/news/newsroom/collaboration-schneider-kreuznach-samyang)
- LK Samyang Press Release — AF 14-24mm F2.8 FE (https://www.lksamyang.com/en/about/notice-view.php?seq=1773)
- PetaPixel — “First Look at the Schneider-Kreuznach x Samyang 60-180mm f/2.8 Lens” (https://petapixel.com/2026/02/27/first-look-at-the-schneider-kreuznach-x-samyang-60-180mm-f-2-8-lens/)
- DPReview — “Sony E mount gains fast standard zoom option” (https://www.dpreview.com/news/2031694064/samyang-schneider-kreuznach-24-60mm-f2-8)
- MFlenses.com Forum — “Rokina vs. Rokinon – Past vs. Present” (https://forum.mflenses.com/rokina-vs-rokinon-past-vs-present-t56896.html)
