Thypoch has announced the Simera-C 16mm T1.9, a new full-frame ultra-wide cinema prime that expands the company’s compact Simera-C lineup to six focal lengths: 16mm, 21mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm.
The addition of a 16mm is a welcome one. I’ve spent time with the rest of the Simera-C primes and have enjoyed them quite a bit. They offer a pure, no-frills shooting experience that feels increasingly rare in a market crowded with overly clever lens systems. The 16mm appears to continue that same philosophy, bringing a wider field of view to the set without abandoning the compact, manual, cinema-oriented character that makes the Simera-C lenses appealing in the first place.
This announcement also feels notable coming shortly after Thypoch’s recent autofocus zoom lens, which we did not cover because, in my opinion, it is not really a cine lens. The Simera-C 16mm feels much more in line with what I had hoped to see from Thypoch: compact, manual, purpose-built lenses aimed at filmmakers who still appreciate the tactile, deliberate experience of operating a proper cinema prime.
A Compact Ultra-Wide for Full-Frame
The Simera-C 16mm covers full-frame sensors and offers a 106° diagonal angle of view. That puts it firmly in ultra-wide territory, suitable for architecture, interiors, landscapes, documentary work, handheld movement, and any situation where spatial exaggeration is part of the visual language.
Despite the wide focal length, Thypoch has kept the lens impressively compact. The 16mm measures 79.3mm long in E mount and 69.6mm in M mount, with a weight of 490g for E mount and 467g for M mount. That is particularly compelling for gimbals, compact cinema bodies, drones, and modular systems where every gram matters.
The lens opens to T1.9, which is slightly slower than the T1.5 maximum aperture of the rest of the Simera-C lineup, but still quite fast for a full-frame 16mm cinema prime of this size and price. The aperture range extends to T16, and the lens uses a 16-blade iris, matching the rest of the Simera-C series.
Mechanical and Optical Design
Optically, the 16mm is built around 15 elements in 11 groups. Thypoch claims strong correction of distortion and chromatic aberration, and the sample images provided appear to support that claim. I have not tested the 16mm in person yet, so I’ll avoid making any definitive statements about performance, but the early material looks consistent with the rest of the Simera-C lineup: clean, controlled, and modern without appearing overly sterile.
The lens focuses as close as 6 inches from the sensor plane, which should allow for some exaggerated foreground compositions and immersive wide-angle close-ups. Like the rest of the Simera-C lenses, focus control is fully manual with a 210° rotation. Thypoch also claims near-zero focus breathing. As always, marketing claims around focus breathing should be evaluated in practical shooting conditions, but low breathing would be especially useful on a lens this wide, where even small shifts in framing can become distracting.
Mechanically, Thypoch has done a good job keeping the Simera-C set relatively consistent. The 16mm uses a 67mm front diameter and 62mm filter thread, matching most of the set with the exception of the 75mm, which steps up slightly. That consistency matters. It keeps builds simple, speeds up lens changes, and makes the set more practical for small crews and owner-operators.
Mount Options
The Simera-C 16mm will be available in both Sony E mount and Leica M mount. The E mount version will almost certainly be the stronger seller simply because of the number of Sony users and E-mount cinema cameras in the market.
That said, the M mount version is arguably the more versatile option for filmmakers who use multiple camera systems. The shorter, simple mechanical mount adapts well to a variety of mirrorless mounts, giving the M mount version a bit more long-term flexibility. For shooters building a compact manual prime set across several camera bodies, that may be worth considering.
Who This Lens Is For
The Simera-C 16mm makes the most sense for filmmakers who want a compact full-frame ultra-wide without moving into larger, heavier, more expensive cinema glass. It should be especially appealing for gimbal work, handheld documentary shooting, travel productions, architectural cinematography, compact commercial builds, and lightweight full-frame camera packages.
It also helps round out the Simera-C lineup in a meaningful way. The 16mm now serves as the wide bookend of the set, giving users a much more complete range from ultra-wide to short telephoto. I would still like to see Thypoch eventually push beyond the 75mm, perhaps with something in the 135mm or 150mm range. Of course, a lens that long would almost certainly be larger and heavier than the current Simera-C primes, but it would be a welcome addition for filmmakers looking to build a more complete set.
Pricing and Availability
The Thypoch Simera-C 16mm T1.9 is available now with an MSRP of $879 for the E mount version and $959 for the M mount version. At that price, the lens is competitively positioned, especially considering the full-frame coverage, compact size, manual cinema mechanics, and ultra-wide focal length. Order the Thypoch Simera-C 16mm T1.9 here.
Thypoch is also offering a 6-lens Simera-C kit consisting of the 16mm, 21mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm. The kit is priced at $4,369 for E mount and $4,849 for M mount, with availability expected in mid-June. Support this blog and be sure to shop with Duclos Lenses for all your cinema lens needs. Order the Thypoch Simera-C 6-Lens Kit here.
As always, tech specs for my fellow lens geeks.
| Specification | Simera-C 16mm T1.9 |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 16mm |
| Mount Options | Sony E / Leica M |
| Maximum Aperture | T1.9 |
| Minimum Aperture | T16 |
| Format Coverage | Full Frame |
| Optical Construction | 15 Elements in 11 Groups |
| Angle of View | 96° Horizontal / 73° Vertical / 106° Diagonal |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.16m / 6.3in |
| Focus Rotation | 210° |
| Front Diameter | 67mm |
| Filter Thread | M62 × 0.75 |
| Iris Blades | 16 |
| Length (E Mount) | 79.3mm |
| Length (M Mount) | 69.6mm |
| Weight (E Mount) | 490g |
| Weight (M Mount) | 467g |