# A trinity zoom that fits in one hand > LK Samyang's 60-180mm f/2.8 delivers telephoto reach and constant f/2.8 at half the weight of a 70-200mm. - Title: A trinity zoom that fits in one hand · Digital Camera World - Summary: LK Samyang's 60-180mm f/2.8 delivers telephoto reach and constant f/2.8 at half the weight of a 70-200mm. If you shoot weddings or events and want constant… - Keywords: photography, lenses, telephoto, mirrorless, gear review, trinity, zoom, fits, one, hand, Digital Camera World - Source: Digital Camera World — https://digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/lenses/lk-samyang-af-60-180mm-f-2-8-review-this-telephoto-lens-completes-the-schneider-kreuznach-trinity-of-f-2-8-zooms-for-mirrorless-cameras - Published: 2026-09-11T14:20:00+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: photography, lenses, telephoto, mirrorless, gear review ## The trinity problem Constant f/2.8 zooms at 14-24mm, 24-70mm and 70-200mm are the classic pro kit. They are also big, heavy and expensive, which sits oddly on a slim mirrorless body. > I'm less enamoured that they're typically big and hefty, feeling a bit of a mismatch for svelte mirrorless camera bodies ## Enter the alternative trinity A growing class of lenses keeps the constant f/2.8 but shrinks the size, weight and price. They trade a little zoom range for a lot of convenience. ## Samyang completes the set LK Samyang, formerly just Samyang and sold as Rokinon in the US, already had a 14-24mm and a 24-60mm. The 60-180mm is the third piece. ## Schneider-Kreuznach on board All three lenses were co-designed with the German optical firm founded in 1913. The badge is on the barrel and it adds real credibility to the trio. > the third lens in the trilogy that I'm reviewing here has been co-designed with the legendary German lens specialist Schneider-Kreuznach ## Mount options are narrow The 60-180mm and 14-24mm come in Sony E and L-mount. The 24-60mm is still E-mount only. Nikon, Canon and Fujifilm owners are shut out entirely. ## Ranges that hand off cleanly The 24-60mm holds a true 24mm wide end, and the 60-180mm picks up exactly where it stops. No gap between the two, which is rarer than it sounds. > the 60-180mm picks up the baton directly from it ## Priced well under the big names Around $1,099 / £899 / AU$1,789, with the L-mount version at $1,199 in the US. Camera-brand 70-200mm f/2.8 lenses cost far more. ## How rivals compare Tamron's 70-180mm F2.8 G2 is $999 in the US but pricier in the UK and Australia. Sigma's 70-200mm f/2.8 Sports is good value at $1,649 but much bigger. ## Half the weight, six inches long 730g and 87x149mm. All three Samyang trinity lenses together come to about 1.7kg, roughly what a single conventional 70-200mm weighs. > all three LK Samyang lenses only have a combined weight of about 1.7kg / 3.8lb ## The barrel extends Zoom to 180mm and the lens grows about an inch. Most 70-200mm zooms stay fixed in length, so this is a genuine compromise for the smaller body. ## Why that matters, a bit An extending barrel is a potential weak point for weather sealing and shifts the balance as you zoom. At one inch of travel, the reviewer barely noticed. > the total physical extension is only about an inch and the change in balance is barely perceptible ## No zoom creep Even pointed straight up or down on a tripod, the barrel stayed put. A zoom lock stops it drooping while the camera hangs off a neck strap. ## Rings you want to touch Zoom ring at the rear, focus ring at the front, both with a distinctive textured finish. The zoom ring is marked at 60, 100, 135 and 180mm. ## Switches where your hand is An AF/MF switch and a customizable function button sit on the barrel, so you never dig through menus. Most people set the button to autofocus hold. ## Seventeen elements, lots of exotic glass Two aspherical elements, seven ED elements and one high-refractive-index element in 14 groups. The aspherics also keep the whole thing small. > there's no shortage of high-tech glass ## Hood, port and seals A petal hood reverses for storage, a USB-C port takes firmware updates, and a metal mount with a rubber gasket anchors multiple weather seals. ## Sharp wide open Shooting a phrenology head at 87mm from f/2.8 to f/8 showed strong sharpness even wide open, with smooth bokeh from the 9-blade rounded aperture. ## The missing stabilizer There is no optical stabilization, which usually beats in-body IS at telephoto lengths. On Sony APS-C bodies without IBIS, where this acts like a 90-270mm, you get nothing. > you end up with no stabilization at all ## What the lab found Sharpness holds across the zoom range, better still stopped down a stop at longer focal lengths. Fringing is negligible. Some barrel distortion at 60mm, pincushion from 135mm up. > Color fringing is fairly negligible at all zoom and aperture settings ## Worth the money Four and a half stars across features, design, performance and value. Best for wedding and event shooters who want f/2.8 reach without carrying a brick. > the 60-180mm is a really good lens at a bargain price ## Key takeaway If you shoot weddings or events and want constant f/2.8 without the 1.5kg and the four-figure premium, this 730g zoom gets you most of the way for around $1,099.