On syntomic regulators I: constructions

We show that classical Chern classes from higher ($p$-adic) $K$-theory to syntomic cohomology extend to logarithmic syntomic cohomology. These Chern classes are compatible -- in a suitable sense -- with addition, products, and $\lambda$-operations. They are also compatible with the canonical Gysin sequences and, via period maps, with logarithmic \'etale Chern classes. Moreover, they induce logarithmic crystalline Chern classes. This uses as a critical new ingredient the recent comparison of syntomic cohomology with $p$-adic nearby cycles and $p$-adic motivic cohomology.