Sirui Prices Aurora 15mm f/1.6 at $599 and 24mm f/1.4 at $499

By Tom Whitfield

Sirui has set aggressive pricing on two new full-frame autofocus primes, launching the Aurora 15mm f/1.6 at $599/£529 and the Aurora 24mm f/1.4 at $499/£439. Both are available for pre-order now in Sony E and L mount, slotting in alongside the existing Aurora 35mm and 85mm. That undercuts most first-party fast primes by hundreds of dollars — the question, as always with Sirui, is whether the optics hold up outside the spec sheet.

What does the 15mm f/1.6 offer?

The lens targets landscape, astrophotography and interiors shooters, with a 109.3-degree angle of view and a 0.3m minimum focus distance. Sirui claims optical distortion of roughly 1.4%, which it says preserves geometric accuracy. On a 15mm, that figure is plausible but worth verifying — wide primes are where budget brands most often cut corners, and 1.4% is a manufacturer claim, not a measured result.

The physical package is solid for the money: a weather-sealed, all-metal barrel measuring 106.4mm long and 82mm in diameter, weighing 550g. Handling details borrowed from pricier glass include:

• Full electronic contacts for lens-body communication
• A physical aperture ring with iris lock and switchable de-click
• A customizable function button, usable as an AF lock
• An 11-blade diaphragm for rounder bokeh

The optical stack runs 17 elements in 12 groups: three aspherical, three extra-low dispersion, and three high refractive index elements. Stepping motor AF drives focus quietly and works with subject detection and tracking on compatible bodies.

Takeaway: $599 for a sealed, feature-complete 15mm f/1.6 is a genuine value proposition — if the distortion and corner performance match the claims.

How does the 24mm f/1.4 compare?

The 24mm f/1.4 shares its sibling's handling and footprint: roughly 550g and nearly the same length. The slightly longer focal length suits street and still-life work, and the f/1.4 aperture makes it a low-light tool. Its optical formula is 14 elements, including three aspherical, four ED and three HRI elements. Autofocus is the same stepping motor system, with subject tracking and eye detection supported.

Sirui is pitching this one at hybrid shooters. The company says the lens combines low focus breathing, a de-clickable aperture and quiet, accurate autofocus — three features video work demands. Focus breathing specs go unquantified, though, so working videographers should wait for independent tests before betting a shoot on it.

One gap in the rollout: Z mount and X mount versions are only "reportedly coming soon." No dates, no prices. Nikon and Fuji shooters have nothing firm to plan around.

Takeaway: at $499, the 24mm f/1.4 is one of the cheapest fast wide primes with full AF and video-friendly features on the market — for E and L mount users, at least.

Should working photographers buy in?

For full-time shooters, the pricing is the story. A fast 15mm and a fast 24mm for a combined $1,098 — less than many single first-party f/1.4 primes — makes the pair an inexpensive route to a complete wide prime kit for events, real estate and astro work. The Aurora line now covers 15mm through 85mm, which suggests Sirui intends to compete as a system rather than a one-off discount brand.

The caveats are the usual ones for a value label: distortion, AF consistency and weather-sealing claims all await lab and field verification. Nothing here has been independently tested yet.

If the 15mm and 24mm perform as specified, Sirui's Aurora line becomes hard to ignore for budget-conscious professionals — and the promised Z and X mount versions will widen that pressure once they actually ship.