LK Samyang
LK Samyang is a South Korean optical manufacturer specializing in interchangeable camera, video, and cinema lenses.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
LK Samyang is the current corporate name of a South Korean manufacturer of interchangeable lenses for still photography, mirrorless cameras, DSLRs, video cameras, and cinema production. The business was established in 1972 and operated for many years under the name Samyang Optics. Its products have been marketed through the Samyang name as well as through regional and third-party labels including Rokinon, Bower, Opteka, Vivitar, Phoenix, and Quantaray. The company’s portfolio covers both autofocus and manual-focus optics. Its autofocus range has included wide-angle, standard, portrait, and zoom lenses for Canon EF and RF, Sony E, and Nikon F mounts. Its manual-focus catalog has extended across a broad selection of mounts and has included ultra-wide, fisheye, fast-aperture, macro, telephoto, tilt-shift, and compact crop-sensor lenses. This breadth has positioned the company as an alternative supplier for photographers seeking specialized focal lengths or comparatively accessible third-party optics. LK Samyang also maintains a substantial video-oriented business. Its cinema products include lenses with geared focus and aperture controls and cinematic T-stop specifications, while its XEEN line is presented as a dedicated cinema-lens brand. The range has included wide-angle, normal, portrait, and telephoto focal lengths for motion-picture and professional video applications. The company’s XP series has represented a premium manual-focus line for DSLR users. International distribution has been an important part of the company’s business model. Reference material describes exports to 58 countries through 39 overseas agents and distributors. Products have therefore appeared under different names depending on the market and distributor, rather than relying on a single globally uniform retail identity. In July 2023, Samyang Optics joined the L-Mount Alliance, connecting the company with an interchangeable-lens ecosystem used by participating camera manufacturers. On March 28, 2024, the company officially changed its name from Samyang Optics to LK Samyang Co., Ltd. The abbreviation LK was explained as meaning “Leading Korea.” The renaming marked a corporate identity transition while preserving continuity with the Samyang optical-lens business. The company remains active in photographic and cinematographic optics. Its documented product history includes discontinued legacy autofocus zooms and long-focus mirror lenses alongside newer autofocus mirrorless lenses, premium manual-focus optics, and cinema products. The available reference material does not establish a current chief executive, ownership structure, revenue figures, stock listing, or a specific headquarters address.
History
LK Samyang traces its origins to 1972, when the South Korean optical manufacturer that later became known internationally as Samyang Optics was established. The company developed around the production of photographic lenses and subsequently became a significant third-party supplier for interchangeable camera systems. Rather than being tied to one camera maker, it designed lenses for a range of mounts, allowing its products to reach users of different brands and formats. Over time, the company built a catalog spanning manual-focus and autofocus optics. Its manual-focus products included specialized wide-angle and fisheye lenses, fast-aperture primes, macro lenses, tilt-shift optics, telephoto lenses, and lenses designed for smaller sensor formats. This range gave the company visibility among enthusiasts and professionals looking for focal lengths or apertures that were not always available from the camera manufacturers themselves. The business also expanded into autofocus products. Documented autofocus offerings have included lenses for Canon EF and RF systems, Sony E, and Nikon F. The range has covered ultra-wide lenses, portrait primes, compact wide-angle lenses, standard lenses, and zooms. In the mirrorless era, the company added further autofocus products for Sony and Canon systems, including full-frame and crop-sensor designs. A separate part of the company’s development was its move into professional video and cinema optics. Samyang-branded cinema lenses were offered with cinema-oriented specifications and controls, while the XEEN name was used for a dedicated cinema-lens range. The company also introduced the XP series as a premium manual-focus line for DSLR users. These product families extended the company beyond the enthusiast still-photography market into filmmaking and commercial video production. Samyang’s international presence was supported by distribution arrangements and regional branding. Reference material states that the company exported to 58 countries through 39 overseas agents and distributors. Depending on the market, its lenses could be sold under names such as Rokinon, Bower, Opteka, Vivitar, Phoenix, and Quantaray. This multi-brand distribution model made the products available internationally while producing a less uniform consumer-facing identity than that of major camera manufacturers. The company received recognition in product and industrial-design contexts. Listed examples include a 2014 VIP ASIA Award for the 50mm T1.5 UMC, a 2015 Good Design recognition for XEEN, a 2016 E-Photozine Gear of the Year recognition for the XP 85mm, a further Good Design recognition for XP in 2016, an iF Design Award in 2017, a Red Dot Design Award in 2018, and a 2018 TIPA Award for the AF 35mm F2.8 FE. In July 2023, Samyang Optics joined the L-Mount Alliance. This was a strategic development that placed the company within a shared mount ecosystem used by participating camera manufacturers. On March 28, 2024, Samyang Optics officially changed its corporate name to LK Samyang Co., Ltd. The company explained LK as “Leading Korea.” The new name represents the current corporate identity, while Samyang remains important as the historic and continuing product brand. Available reference material does not provide verified information about the founder, current executives, ownership, financial performance, listing status, or headquarters address.
- 2024
Corporate renaming to LK Samyang
[1]On March 28, Samyang Optics officially changed its name to LK Samyang Co., Ltd., with LK explained as “Leading Korea.”
- 2023
Joined the L-Mount Alliance
[1]Samyang Optics joined the L-Mount Alliance in July, broadening its participation in a shared mirrorless-camera mount ecosystem.
- 2018
Red Dot and TIPA recognition
[1]The company was listed for a Red Dot Design Award, while the AF 35mm F2.8 FE received a TIPA Award in the CSC Prime Lens category.
- 2017
iF Design Award
[1]A Samyang product or product family was listed as receiving an iF Design Award.
- 2016
XP line receives design and product recognition
[1]The XP range was listed for Good Design recognition and the XP 85mm received an E-Photozine Gear of the Year mention.
- 2015
Good Design recognition for XEEN
[1]The XEEN cinema line received a Good Design recognition.
- 2014
VIP ASIA recognition for 50mm T1.5 UMC
[1]The 50mm T1.5 UMC was listed as a recipient of a VIP ASIA Award.
- 1972
Company founded
[1]The South Korean optical manufacturer that later operated as Samyang Optics and LK Samyang was established.
Products and positioning
A South Korean third-party lens manufacturer serving photographers, videographers, and cinema users through a broad range of autofocus, manual-focus, premium, and cinema optics across multiple camera mounts.
Photographic lenses
Autofocus lenses
LK Samyang’s autofocus portfolio has included wide-angle, standard, portrait, and zoom lenses for several major camera mounts. Documented examples include AF 14mm and AF 85mm lenses for Canon EF, AF lenses for Canon RF, a broad Sony E-mount range from 14mm through 85mm, and AF 14mm and 85mm lenses for Nikon F. The catalog also includes mirrorless zooms such as the AF 24-70mm F2.8 FE and AF 35-150mm F2-2.8 FE.
Photographic lenses
Manual-focus photographic lenses
The manual-focus range covers numerous mounts and focal lengths. Products listed in the reference material include fisheye lenses, ultra-wide primes, fast 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm lenses, a 100mm macro, a 135mm telephoto, a 24mm tilt-shift lens, and compact crop-sensor models. Manual-focus Nikon Z-mount examples include 14mm F2.8 and 85mm F1.4 lenses.
Premium DSLR lenses
XP series
The XP series is a premium manual-focus lens family designed for DSLR photography. Listed models include 10mm F3.5, 14mm F2.4, 35mm F1.2, 50mm F1.2, and 85mm F1.2. The range was positioned above the company’s more general photographic lenses and received design and product recognition during the 2010s.
Cinema lenses
Samyang cinema lenses
Samyang’s cinema lenses are interchangeable optics intended for motion-picture and professional video use. The documented range includes focal lengths from ultra-wide 7.5mm and 8mm designs through 135mm, with cinema-oriented T-stop specifications such as T1.3, T1.5, T1.9, T2.2, T2.6, and T3.1. These products extend the company’s capabilities beyond still photography.
Cinema lenses
XEEN
XEEN is a dedicated cinema-lens brand associated with Samyang. The listed XEEN range includes 14mm, 16mm, 20mm, 24mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm lenses, covering common wide-angle, normal, portrait, and telephoto requirements for cinematic production. The line received a Good Design recognition in 2015.
Telephoto lenses
Legacy long-focus and mirror lenses
Discontinued products have included manual-focus T-mount mirror lenses from 300mm to 800mm, conventional long-focus lenses, and a 650-1300mm F8-16 zoom. These products represent an earlier part of the company’s catalog, before its more visible expansion into autofocus mirrorless and branded cinema systems.
Brand decisions
2024
Corporate identity change to LK SamyangStrategyBackground
After operating under the Samyang Optics name, the company updated its legal and corporate identity.
Action taken
On March 28, 2024, Samyang Optics officially changed its name to LK Samyang Co., Ltd.; LK was explained as “Leading Korea.”
Aftermath
The company continued its optical-lens business under the LK Samyang corporate identity while retaining continuity with the Samyang product heritage.
2023
Membership in the L-Mount AllianceStrategyBackground
The company sought participation in a shared interchangeable-lens ecosystem used by compatible mirrorless-camera manufacturers.
Action taken
Samyang Optics joined the L-Mount Alliance in July 2023.
Aftermath
The membership expanded the company’s formal association with the L-Mount platform. The available source does not specify the resulting product lineup or commercial impact.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/lk-samyang · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled