Lens manufacturer Sirui has announced a significant expansion of its Aurora series of full-frame optics, introducing two brand-new lenses designed specifically for Sony E-mount and Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma L-mount camera systems. The newly unveiled 15mm f/1.6 and 24mm f/1.4 lenses join the existing 35mm and 85mm models in the growing Aurora lineup, further cementing Sirui’s commitment to providing high-performance, feature-rich glass for contemporary mirrorless shooters at competitive price points.
Both new additions share a consistent design philosophy, balancing robust weather-sealed construction with advanced optical designs and modern electronic functionality. Weighing in at approximately 550 grams each and featuring closely matched physical dimensions, the lenses are tailored for photographers and videographers who demand versatility and reliability in the field without being weighed down by overly bulky gear.
Aurora 15mm f/1.6
The wider of the two new releases, the Aurora 15mm f/1.6, has been engineered primarily with landscape photographers, astrophotographers, and interior architectural shooters in mind. Offering an expansive 109.3-degree field of view, this ultra-wide prime lens is designed to capture sweeping vistas and tight spatial environments with minimal geometric distortion. Sirui reports that the lens maintains an optical distortion level of around 1.4%, ensuring that straight lines and architectural elements are reproduced naturally.
In addition to its sweeping perspective, the 15mm f/1.6 provides a minimum focus distance of 0.3 meters, affording creators greater compositional flexibility when attempting to isolate foreground elements against expansive backgrounds. Housed within a weather-sealed, all-metal lens barrel, the optic measures a relatively compact 106.4mm in length with a diameter of 82mm and a total weight of 550g.
Connectivity and physical handling have been given careful consideration in the design of the Aurora series. The 15mm lens features full electronic contacts that facilitate seamless communication between the lens and the host camera body, transmitting EXIF data and supporting in-camera corrections. For tactile control, the lens incorporates a physical aperture control ring complete with an iris lock and a switchable de-click mechanism, making it equally adept at continuous smooth aperture adjustments for video recording and traditional stepped adjustments for stills. Furthermore, the lens includes a customizable function button that can be programmed to perform various tasks, such as acting as an autofocus lock.
Beneath the exterior metal shell lies a complex optical construction consisting of 17 elements arranged in 12 groups. This configuration includes three aspherical elements aimed at controlling spherical aberrations and reducing distortion, three extra-low dispersion (ED) elements to suppress chromatic aberration and color fringing, and a trio of high refractive index (HRI) elements that help maintain a compact physical profile while keeping optical aberrations at bay.
To enhance visual aesthetics, Sirui has equipped the lens with an 11-blade aperture diaphragm, which is designed to produce smooth, round, and natural-looking bokeh when shooting with the wide f/1.6 maximum aperture. Focusing duties are handled by a modern stepping motor autofocus system, delivering fast, accurate, and quiet performance that integrates smoothly with the advanced subject detection and tracking modes found on modern mirrorless cameras.
The Sirui Aurora 15mm f/1.6 is currently available for pre-order, carrying a retail price of $599 in the United States and £529 in the United Kingdom.
Aurora 24mm f/1.4
Accompanying the ultra-wide prime is the Aurora 24mm f/1.4, a versatile moderate wide-angle lens that shares many of the ergonomic and physical traits of its wider sibling. Weighing approximately 550g and matching the approximate length of the 15mm model, the 24mm f/1.4 offers a classic focal length that is exceptionally well-suited for street photography, environmental portraits, documentation, and still-life work.
The exceptionally bright maximum aperture of f/1.4 makes this lens a powerful tool for low-light shooting, allowing photographers to maintain lower ISO settings or faster shutter speeds in dim environments while also offering shallow depth-of-field control for subject isolation.
Optically, the Aurora 24mm f/1.4 features a sophisticated 14-element design that incorporates three aspherical elements, four extra-low dispersion elements, and three high refractive index elements. This combination is designed to deliver high edge-to-edge sharpness and contrast while effectively managing optical flaws such as coma and flare.
Like the 15mm model, the 24mm f/1.4 features a stepping motor autofocus system that supports intelligent subject tracking and eye-detection autofocus algorithms. Sirui has paid special attention to the needs of videographers during the development of the 24mm optic, ensuring it possesses characteristics desirable for motion picture production. The lens has been designed with minimal focus breathing, a de-clickable aperture ring for silent and seamless exposure transitions, and quiet autofocus operations that prevent motor noise from bleeding into audio tracks during recording.
The Sirui Aurora 24mm f/1.4 is priced at $499 in the US and £439 in the UK for the initial Sony E-mount and Leica/Panasonic/Sigma L-mount versions. In addition to these mounts, Sirui has indicated that versions for Fujifilm X-mount and Nikon Z-mount are slated for release in the near future, further broadening the accessibility of the Aurora lens family to shooters across multiple camera ecosystems.
