Sirui widens Aurora autofocus range with 15mm f/1.6 and 24mm f/1.4 primes

Sirui’s Aurora 15mm f/1.6 and 24mm f/1.4 are up for pre-order at $599 and $499. Both full-frame autofocus primes fit Sony E and L-mount, with X and Z coming next year.

Sirui has opened pre-orders on two new wide-angle lenses for its Aurora full-frame autofocus series: a 15mm f/1.6 at $599 and a 24mm f/1.4 at $499, now the cheapest lens in the Aurora range. These sit alongside the existing 85mm f/1.4 and 35mm f/1.4, and take the Aurora line wider than it has gone before.

Both are available initially in Sony E and L-mount versions, with Nikon Z and Fujifilm X versions due at the start of next year.

It's been a short journey to market since pre-production samples were shown at IBC. The 15mm uses 17 elements in 12 groups, including three aspherical, three ED, and three HRI elements, and covers a 109.3° diagonal angle of view on full frame. Minimum focus is 0.3 m (0.98 ft), and unusually for an ultra-wide it takes screw-in filters via a 77mm front thread. It weighs 542 g (1.19 lb) in E-mount and 550 g (1.21 lb) in L-mount, and measures around 106 mm (4.2 in) long.

The 24mm f/1.4 is built from 14 elements in 11 groups, with three aspherical, four ED, and three HRI elements. It focuses down to 0.26 m (0.85 ft) for a maximum magnification of 0.15x, takes 62mm filters, and weighs 550 g (1.21 lb) in E-mount or 560 g (1.23 lb) in L-mount.

Autofocus, build, and video controls

Both lenses use an STM stepping motor for autofocus, and Sirui says they work with the eye detection and subject tracking of compatible cameras. Each has an 11-blade aperture, a dust-, stain-, and splash-resistant all-metal body, and a USB-C port for firmware updates.

The control set leans toward video. The aperture ring can be switched between clicked and de-clicked operation, an iris lock holds it in the A or manual position, and there is an AF/MF switch plus a customizable Fn button that defaults to AF lock. Sirui pitches both lenses at gimbal and handheld work, and claims focus breathing is low.

Pre-orders are open now with the lenses due to shop around November 16.