Samyang has begun teasing an AF 28-135mm F2.8 FE zoom for Sony E-mount cameras, publishing full specifications more than four months ahead of a confirmed February 2027 launch.

The Korean manufacturer bills the lens with copy reading "The New All Rounder," a positioning that puts it directly against established mid-range zooms like the Tamron 28-75mm F2.8 G2, the de facto standard for event, wedding and corporate shooters running Sony bodies. Samyang's pitch is one stop of reach flexibility at the same maximum aperture, paired with published specs that confirm an extending-barrel design and substantial mass.

What the published specs actually say

Samyang has released teaser images and a full specification sheet, an unusual level of pre-launch disclosure. Key figures:

• Focal length/aperture: 28-135mm F2.8
• Mount: Sony E (full-frame)
• Length: 151mm to 190mm extending (6.0–7.5 in)
• Weight: 854g (1.9 lbs)
• Filter thread: 82mm
• Autofocus motor: voice coil

The barrel extends roughly 39mm from retracted to telephoto, a movement that affects gimbal balance and body profile on event work. At 854g the lens sits in the heavier bracket for a mirrorless full-frame zoom — heavier than any native fast standard zoom in the E-mount system, lighter than most 70-200mm F2.8 telephotos.

How it compares to the Tamron it shadows

The teaser positions the 28-135 directly against Tamron's 28-75mm F2.8 G2, the dominant mid-range workhorse for working photographers using Sony bodies:

• Samyang measures roughly 30 percent longer at the wide end, stretching to about 60 percent longer at the telephoto end.
• Mass runs about 60 percent heavier than the Tamron, which lists around 540g.
• Filter thread jumps from 67mm (Tamron) to 82mm (Samyang), raising ongoing accessory cost for shooters who standardize on a filter set.

For a wedding day, an awards ceremony or a press conference, the trade-off is 60mm of extra reach at F2.8 against noticeable bulk. Whether the long end earns its place in a working kit depends entirely on the assignment mix.

Autofocus, controls and a Schneider signal

Samyang states the optic uses a voice-coil autofocus motor, the same technology it has rolled out across recent releases. Photographers should expect quiet, decisive drive performance subject to firmware tuning — independent production tests remain pending.

Preview images show control-ring grip textures that match the company's existing Schneider-Kreuznach co-developed lenses, a line that has historically targeted photojournalists and documentary shooters. Samyang has not formally confirmed Schneider-Kreuznach involvement for the 28-135mm, but the visual cue is suggestive.

What it means for kit decisions

A 28-135mm F2.8 native E-mount occupies a slot no first-party Sony optic currently fills, and one competing third-party brands have only partially addressed. Pricing, weather sealing, optical stabilization, minimum focus distance and front-filter compatibility all remain unspecified at the teaser stage. Photographers weighing a pre-order should wait for those data points plus real-world autofocus reviews before committing kit budgets; lens-launch pricing on Samyang's prior releases has shifted between teaser and street.

With a February 2027 ship date, working photographers now have a clear window to track independent MTF charts, firmware rollouts and side-by-side comparisons once review units circulate.