Zeiss Batis 18/2.8 Review

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11 Responses

  1. Mike Aubrey says:

    “Special glass” usually means anomalous partial dispersion glass when it’s used without the aspherical. Perhaps they’re blending their ED glass with aspherical elements.

  2. Udo says:

    Thanks for your review! The IQ seems to be excellent, but not as fine as that of the Loxia 21. As I dont’t need the 3mm difference, I will now decide for the Loxia, beside the wonderful Batis 25.
    I’m a little bit disappointed of the Batis 18 haptic -as you are. It feels not as solid as the Batis 25, and far away from the Loxias.

    • Thank you, for the comment. I found Batis 18/2.8 and 25/2 to have essentially same build quality with a possible difference of the amount and weight of used glass. It is not easy for producers, market is shrinking,, they need to recycle target groups by bringing new and better products. There is no sense to build lenses for centuries, when digital technology is evolving this fast. On the other hand, in order to compete with smartphones and tablets, users are asking for smaller and lighter. This is where Zeiss positioned their Batis line, trying to penetrate main stream market segment, for both beginners and enthusiasts. There is no reason to be afraid that Batis lenses will stand some more aggressive use, but I would afraid to put them in a serious professional use as most wedding or reportage photographers are literally abusing their tools.
      I also like Loxia 21/2.8 little bit better, but honestly, I am splitting hair there…
      Cheers,
      Viktor

  3. LoWo says:

    Thank you for the review which helped me to make the decision to buy the expensive lens. I already have got some very special photos of my children, and the photos are quite hard, if not impossible, to get with a MF lens like Loxia 21 (imagine manual focusing a 5yo boy). I would also suggest to anyone who owns this lens: buy an extra lens cap, because mine is gone.

  4. neil says:

    Thanks Victor, I am eagerly awaiting my Batis 18mm from B&H. Excellent review and terrific photographs, all very useful info. Great job. Neil

  5. Wynand says:

    Very interesting…. I was about to pull the trigger but now I’m unsure. This is a very expensive lens (for me anyway!) I use a Sony A7s and them 95% for 4K video work and therefore mostly focusing manually…. I’m not sure if autofocus from the Batis 18mm will even be good in low light?? What now? Go for the 21mm Loxia or maybe the 25mm Batis …. Real question is – will the Batis 18mm produce on the A7r doing video (manual and or autofocussing??).

  6. Hi Wynand,
    Batis 18 works in manual focus mode very well, but it is different experience than when using fully mechanically lens. That being said, some photographers prefer focus by wire (electronically coupled). If you have any other native Sony FE lens, you probably already know if it works for you, if not, you should try it (renting or at least in the shop) before you make decision.
    I would suggest to consider focal length as a key difference between Zeiss lenses. Difference between 18.21 and 25mm is quite significant IMHO and because other optical qualities are rather similar (very good), it should be on the top of the priority list. Good news is that you won’t make mistake choosing any of the Zeiss E mount lenses.
    Cheers,
    Viktor

  7. Mike Aubrey says:

    Lots of distortion for the Loxia, but according to the datasheets, even uncorrected it’s still better than the original C/Y 21mm f/2.8 that first set the standard for Zeiss’ high quality ultra-wides. So that, itself, is pretty impressive!

  8. David says:

    Good article.

    Wondering if the Milvus 18mm offers better optically quality than the Batis 18mm on an A7 (for landscape, architecture work) .. granted Milvus is heavier, but if better all round for landscape, astro – then perhaps worth adapting it for sony A7 (weight aside) ?

  1. May 30, 2016

    […] our reviews of Zeiss Loxia 21/2.8 and Zeiss Batis 18/2.8, we mentioned several times also Batis 25/2. It was about the time, to give it its own review space […]

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