Sirui Ships 15mm F1.6 and 24mm F1.4 Aurora Primes for L-Mount

Sirui has put two fast full-frame autofocus primes on sale today: the Aurora 15mm F1.6 at $599 and the Aurora 24mm F1.4 at $499. Both ship in Sony E-mount and, more notably for working shooters, in L-mount — a system where few wide autofocus primes combine this speed with this price.

The announcement matters because of the gap it fills. Panasonic, Sigma and Viltrox already offer autofocus primes in the 14–24mm range for L-mount, but few match an F1.4 or F1.6 maximum aperture while staying under $600. E-mount buyers have a few more comparable options, yet added competition still pressures pricing across the board.

What are the optical specifications?

The 15mm F1.6 uses 17 elements in 12 groups, including 3 aspherical elements, 3 ED (extra-low dispersion, a glass type that reduces color fringing) elements and 3 HRI (high refractive index) elements. The 24mm F1.4 is a 14-element, 11-group design and carries one additional ED element.

Close focus is modest on both. The 15mm focuses to 0.3m (11.8 inches); the 24mm reaches 0.26m (10.2 inches). Autofocus comes from stepper motors (a gearless motor design that moves lens elements in precise increments), consistent with the rest of the Aurora line.

How are they built and controlled?

The feature set is aimed at video and hybrid shooters as much as stills photographers:

• A physical aperture ring that locks, and switches between clicked and declicked operation
• A customizable function button
• An AF/MF switch on the barrel
• A USB-C port for firmware updates
• Dust and splash resistance with a metal construction

Filter threads differ between the two: the 15mm takes 77mm filters, while the 24mm uses smaller and cheaper 62mm glass. Both weigh roughly 550g (19.4 oz), varying slightly by mount. That figure sits on the heavy side for their class, but not enough to burden a working kit.

What does this mean for buyers?

For L-mount photographers — Panasonic, Leica and Sigma body owners — the two lenses represent one of the few routes to fast wide-angle autofocus without paying flagship prices. Event, interior and astrophotography shooters in particular have had to choose between slower zooms and expensive first-party primes in this range.

E-mount users gain a lower-cost alternative to existing fast wides rather than a unique capability. At a combined $1,098, the pair costs less than many single first-party wide primes from established manufacturers — a comparison that frames Sirui's market position precisely.

Are there caveats?

Sirui's claims cover construction and specifications, not measured optical performance; independent testing will need to confirm sharpness wide open, where F1.6 at 15mm and F1.4 at 24mm are hardest to control. Minimum focus distances near 0.3m also limit close-quarters work compared with macro-capable rivals.

Both lenses are available to order now from Sirui's website and other retailers, including B&H and Amazon for the E-mount 15mm. If third-party reviews confirm the optics, the Aurora pair should hold its position as the value benchmark in fast L-mount wide-angle glass for the coming cycle.