Using Samyang Lens Station to update firmware (for R compatibility)

[Andy01]

I have received a response (actually twice - after I queried it after the first response) from Samyang (Korea) indicating that my Samyang 14mm f2.4 XP lens can be updated using their Lens Station and Lens Manager software to make it compatible with my R8.

The strange thing is that their own website seems to indicate that the Lens Manager software cannot be used with the XP lenses (see link);

https://www.lksamyang.com/en/about/notice-view.php?seq=1429

I have not heard of anyone on here using a Samyang Lens Station, nor updating firmware, but there does seem to be a number of people who have Samyang / Rokinon paperweights since switching to the newer R bodies.

Has anyone tried this ?

 

[Nusratty]

Aren't the XP lenses fully manual in which case there's no firmware to update

 

[Sittatunga]

Aren't the XP lenses fully manual in which case there's no firmware to update

No, they have electronically controlled irises and the aperture set is reported in the EXIF data. They are reverse engineered, so that's why they don't work with the very latest RF mount cameras. They would have been fine if they had no electronics whatsoever.

 

[Andy01]

Aren't the XP lenses fully manual in which case there's no firmware to update

No, as above the XP are the premium range and have camera controlled aperture. The older non-XP (the cheaper 14mm f2.8 MF for example) are fully manual with an aperture ring. I would assume that the AF lenses probably have the same issue as the XP lenses ?

 

[Intheshadows00]

I have the Samyang 14mm f2.4 XP EF lens and it does not work with my R6ii. It worked fine with my EOS R.

I saw your post and emailed Samyang about it. Hoping to hear back.

Don't really want to sell this lens for a different one.

Thanks for posting about this. We must not be alone. Haha

 

[thunder storm]

I have received a response (actually twice - after I queried it after the first response) from Samyang (Korea) indicating that my Samyang 14mm f2.4 XP lens can be updated using their Lens Station and Lens Manager software to make it compatible with my R8.

The strange thing is that their own website seems to indicate that the Lens Manager software cannot be used with the XP lenses (see link);

https://www.lksamyang.com/en/about/notice-view.php?seq=1429

I have not heard of anyone on here using a Samyang Lens Station, nor updating firmware, but there does seem to be a number of people who have Samyang / Rokinon paperweights since switching to the newer R bodies.

Has anyone tried this ?

Sorry, I can't help you. I have the 50mm f/1.2 XP, and that one works without any updates on my R5.

 

[Andy01]

I have the Samyang 14mm f2.4 XP EF lens and it does not work with my R6ii. It worked fine with my EOS R.

I saw your post and emailed Samyang about it. Hoping to hear back.

Don't really want to sell this lens for a different one.

Thanks for posting about this. We must not be alone. Haha

I emailed Samyang again to clarify (because there website specifically says that the Lens Station is NOT compatible with XP lenses) and the person has said that (obviously) a Lens Station cannot be used with an XP lens to adjust auto focus (because it is AF), but said that it definitely works with the XP lenses (because they have contacts) for firmware updates.

I am reluctant to go out and spend $100 (Australian) of a Lens Station just to update firmware (probably once). The flip side of this though is that buying another UWA lens that is compatible with my R8 will cost probably more than $100 (even after selling my XP second hand). Annoying !

 

[Andy01]

I have received a response (actually twice - after I queried it after the first response) from Samyang (Korea) indicating that my Samyang 14mm f2.4 XP lens can be updated using their Lens Station and Lens Manager software to make it compatible with my R8.

The strange thing is that their own website seems to indicate that the Lens Manager software cannot be used with the XP lenses (see link);

https://www.lksamyang.com/en/about/notice-view.php?seq=1429

I have not heard of anyone on here using a Samyang Lens Station, nor updating firmware, but there does seem to be a number of people who have Samyang / Rokinon paperweights since switching to the newer R bodies.

Has anyone tried this ?

Sorry, I can't help you. I have the 50mm f/1.2 XP, and that one works without any updates on my R5.

From what I can tell, the compatibility issue started with the R3 / R7 / R10 bodies onwards (so obviously R8 & R6 ii as well).

 

[thunder storm]

O.K., thanks.

 

[roscografik]

I have received a response (actually twice - after I queried it after the first response) from Samyang (Korea) indicating that my Samyang 14mm f2.4 XP lens can be updated using their Lens Station and Lens Manager software to make it compatible with my R8.

The strange thing is that their own website seems to indicate that the Lens Manager software cannot be used with the XP lenses (see link);

https://www.lksamyang.com/en/about/notice-view.php?seq=1429

I have not heard of anyone on here using a Samyang Lens Station, nor updating firmware, but there does seem to be a number of people who have Samyang / Rokinon paperweights since switching to the newer R bodies.

Has anyone tried this ?

Sorry, I can't help you. I have the 50mm f/1.2 XP, and that one works without any updates on my R5.

I have the 85mm f/1.2 XP, it worked fine on my RP but no more on my R8…

 

[thunder storm]

I have received a response (actually twice - after I queried it after the first response) from Samyang (Korea) indicating that my Samyang 14mm f2.4 XP lens can be updated using their Lens Station and Lens Manager software to make it compatible with my R8.

The strange thing is that their own website seems to indicate that the Lens Manager software cannot be used with the XP lenses (see link);

https://www.lksamyang.com/en/about/notice-view.php?seq=1429

I have not heard of anyone on here using a Samyang Lens Station, nor updating firmware, but there does seem to be a number of people who have Samyang / Rokinon paperweights since switching to the newer R bodies.

Has anyone tried this ?

Sorry, I can't help you. I have the 50mm f/1.2 XP, and that one works without any updates on my R5.

I have the 85mm f/1.2 XP, it worked fine on my RP but no more on my R8…

In what way is it not working?

 

[Andy01]

I have received a response (actually twice - after I queried it after the first response) from Samyang (Korea) indicating that my Samyang 14mm f2.4 XP lens can be updated using their Lens Station and Lens Manager software to make it compatible with my R8.

The strange thing is that their own website seems to indicate that the Lens Manager software cannot be used with the XP lenses (see link);

https://www.lksamyang.com/en/about/notice-view.php?seq=1429

I have not heard of anyone on here using a Samyang Lens Station, nor updating firmware, but there does seem to be a number of people who have Samyang / Rokinon paperweights since switching to the newer R bodies.

Has anyone tried this ?

Sorry, I can't help you. I have the 50mm f/1.2 XP, and that one works without any updates on my R5.

I have the 85mm f/1.2 XP, it worked fine on my RP but no more on my R8…

In what way is it not working?

If it is anything like the other MF lenses with contacts for aperture (including my 14mm XP), the camera will not show any means of setting aperture, may show the incorrect focal length (my 14mm shows as a 50mm), and the camera will freeze when the shutter button is pressed - necessitating a battery removal.

 

[Victor Engel]

I have the Samyang 14mm f2.4 XP EF lens and it does not work with my R6ii. It worked fine with my EOS R.

I saw your post and emailed Samyang about it. Hoping to hear back.

Don't really want to sell this lens for a different one.

Thanks for posting about this. We must not be alone. Haha

I emailed Samyang again to clarify (because there website specifically says that the Lens Station is NOT compatible with XP lenses) and the person has said that (obviously) a Lens Station cannot be used with an XP lens to adjust auto focus (because it is AF), but said that it definitely works with the XP lenses (because they have contacts) for firmware updates.

I am reluctant to go out and spend $100 (Australian) of a Lens Station just to update firmware (probably once). The flip side of this though is that buying another UWA lens that is compatible with my R8 will cost probably more than $100 (even after selling my XP second hand). Annoying !

Perhaps there's a local camera show that has one you can use? Or maybe they can flash the firmware for you?

 

[Andy01]

I have the Samyang 14mm f2.4 XP EF lens and it does not work with my R6ii. It worked fine with my EOS R.

I saw your post and emailed Samyang about it. Hoping to hear back.

Don't really want to sell this lens for a different one.

Thanks for posting about this. We must not be alone. Haha

I emailed Samyang again to clarify (because there website specifically says that the Lens Station is NOT compatible with XP lenses) and the person has said that (obviously) a Lens Station cannot be used with an XP lens to adjust auto focus (because it is AF), but said that it definitely works with the XP lenses (because they have contacts) for firmware updates.

I am reluctant to go out and spend $100 (Australian) of a Lens Station just to update firmware (probably once). The flip side of this though is that buying another UWA lens that is compatible with my R8 will cost probably more than $100 (even after selling my XP second hand). Annoying !

Perhaps there's a local camera show that has one you can use? Or maybe they can flash the firmware for you?

Thanks for the suggestion. I have made some inquiries - though only one local shop lists it for sale on their website (and it is a special order), and haven't had any success. Perhaps part of the problem is that the local Australian Samyang distributors told me that it cannot be done (in spite of Korea saying otherwise), and now are not responding to emails - so perhaps they have told their retailers that this can't be done ??

I have more or less given up on Samyang, and I am listing the XP for sale, and looking at either Canon RF 16mm or Pergear 14mm f2.8 Mk ii.

 

[Daltonh]

I got my XP lens to work with my Canon R body! I have a Samyang 14mm F2.4 XP with Canon EOS R8, and I was having the same issues as everybody else. I reached out to the Samyang service support email and they responded with a link to a google drive folder (https://drive.google.com/file/d/11FqbryETJaWZdq2xOqa1pfisvCG6G31y/view?usp=drive_link) that has firmware to update all the XP lenses to work with R body lenses.

I used the EF Samyang Lens Station, but the Lens Manager software on the Samyang website doesn't work with the XP lenses for whatever reason. The Google Drive folder has a different program to run, and the instructions in the README are very easy to follow.

In fewer than 5 minutes, I had my lens updated and working perfectly! I can electronically change the aperture from the camera, I don't need to remove the battery to un-brick the body, and the lens is fully functional. Now I just need to wait for the clouds and rain to go away (go figure), and I can test it with some nightscape photography.

Hope this helps!

 

[Andy01]

I got my XP lens to work with my Canon R body! I have a Samyang 14mm F2.4 XP with Canon EOS R8, and I was having the same issues as everybody else. I reached out to the Samyang service support email and they responded with a link to a google drive folder (https://drive.google.com/file/d/11FqbryETJaWZdq2xOqa1pfisvCG6G31y/view?usp=drive_link) that has firmware to update all the XP lenses to work with R body lenses.

I used the EF Samyang Lens Station, but the Lens Manager software on the Samyang website doesn't work with the XP lenses for whatever reason. The Google Drive folder has a different program to run, and the instructions in the README are very easy to follow.

In fewer than 5 minutes, I had my lens updated and working perfectly! I can electronically change the aperture from the camera, I don't need to remove the battery to un-brick the body, and the lens is fully functional. Now I just need to wait for the clouds and rain to go away (go figure), and I can test it with some nightscape photography.

Hope this helps!

Good to know that this works. In Australia the Samyang distributor wouldn't (couldn't ?) do it for me, and the lens station was $120, which I objected paying for a single firmware update. I rather paid $300 for a Pergear lens and sold my Samyang XP.

 

[thunder storm]

I got my XP lens to work with my Canon R body! I have a Samyang 14mm F2.4 XP with Canon EOS R8, and I was having the same issues as everybody else. I reached out to the Samyang service support email and they responded with a link to a google drive folder (https://drive.google.com/file/d/11FqbryETJaWZdq2xOqa1pfisvCG6G31y/view?usp=drive_link) that has firmware to update all the XP lenses to work with R body lenses.

I used the EF Samyang Lens Station, but the Lens Manager software on the Samyang website doesn't work with the XP lenses for whatever reason. The Google Drive folder has a different program to run, and the instructions in the README are very easy to follow.

In fewer than 5 minutes, I had my lens updated and working perfectly! I can electronically change the aperture from the camera, I don't need to remove the battery to un-brick the body, and the lens is fully functional. Now I just need to wait for the clouds and rain to go away (go figure), and I can test it with some nightscape photography.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for reporting here, that's crazy useful information.

 

[nighthiker]

I got my XP lens to work with my Canon R body! I have a Samyang 14mm F2.4 XP with Canon EOS R8, and I was having the same issues as everybody else. I reached out to the Samyang service support email and they responded with a link to a google drive folder (https://drive.google.com/file/d/11FqbryETJaWZdq2xOqa1pfisvCG6G31y/view?usp=drive_link) that has firmware to update all the XP lenses to work with R body lenses.

I used the EF Samyang Lens Station, but the Lens Manager software on the Samyang website doesn't work with the XP lenses for whatever reason. The Google Drive folder has a different program to run, and the instructions in the README are very easy to follow.

In fewer than 5 minutes, I had my lens updated and working perfectly! I can electronically change the aperture from the camera, I don't need to remove the battery to un-brick the body, and the lens is fully functional. Now I just need to wait for the clouds and rain to go away (go figure), and I can test it with some nightscape photography.

Hope this helps!

Thanks for reporting here, that's crazy useful information.

Hi!

I agree! That are great & cheap news as I like my XP lenses (have several of them for multi-camera panorama shooting) and I was limited to the 'old' RF-bodies until now. The local Samyang repair shop offered me an update, but for around 80 EUR per lens.

The XP lenses have still some QC issues (decentering is still not always perfect, but much better than the 'classic' Samyang lenses), but they are still good for astrophotography (low coma and acceptable vignette). Price and weight(!) are also acceptable to me as I also hike to my photo locations with several cameras. The recent alternative (Sigma 14/1.8) is very heavy and there has been some rumor about an RF astro lens in the near future, but that is uncertain and will be heavy and $$$$.

 

[nighthiker]