p.14 #7 · Reduced: Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 APO ($1,899)
I'm still waiting mine... My dealer says I'm first one on the queue nationally but the first batch arriving in Sweden is only due, at best, May 22 and he's not feeling very confident about that.
Where's all the photos from those that already have it though?
p.14 #8 · Reduced: Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 APO ($1,899)
nampramos wrote:
I'm still waiting mine... My dealer says I'm first one on the queue nationally but the first batch arriving in Sweden is only due, at best, May 22 and he's not feeling very confident about that.
Where's all the photos from those that already have it though?
Germany has theirs.
1st in US will get theirs Friday the 12th or Monday 15th
i can ship you one before the 22nd if you want (and probably cheaper let me know - PM me)
p.14 #12 · Reduced: Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 APO ($1,899)
nampramos wrote:
Well, depends how you look at it.
Very limited stock and in very few countries.
I am referring to the two well known stores in NY, the ones folks refer to most of the time. For sure, that it wasn't the case for every single Zeiss Batis prior to 135mm and I know that for a fact since I experienced that myself. I am not talking the lens nor Zeiss down but just observing.... So, the stock is not that limited here this time around.
p.14 #13 · Reduced: Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 APO ($1,899)
I mean, 135 is a more specialized focal length, and the extra $500 vs. the other Batis prices is probably making a difference. I'm tempted by this lens but both those factors have kept me from pulling the trigger, so far.
p.14 #14 · Reduced: Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 APO ($1,899)
Here is a comparision of the Batis, Leica and ZF.2 at f/8 and nearly infinity distance. Focus was on the clock of the church tower. Processing in LR: manual WB, contrast +50, whitepoint +50, saturation +20, sharpening 50/0.7/50/0, everthing else on default value.
ZF.2 and Batis are nearly identical regarding contrast and resolution with the ZF.2 showing warmer colors and the Batis being more neutral. The Leica has at f/8 nearly identical resolution but much lower contrast.
Please click on the links to flickr and use the full sizes images for comparison.
Altogether I would say: at close distances the ZF.2 is clearly the best lens, stopped down at infinity the Batis is as good as the ZF.2. The (very small) Leica is better at infinity than at close distances and has lower contrast compared to both Zeiss lenses at all distances. I will probably keep both the Batis and ZF.2 for now and sell the Leica.
p.14 #15 · Reduced: Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 APO ($1,899)
@Bobu, Helpful test, Boris! All three are performing well, although the AT135 is suffering from flare (a Leica tradition) coming from the sky. Would be interesting to see the test with the lens front being more deeping shielded. Lens hoods—especially those puny inbuilt ones—can be remarkably ineffective. In general, control of stray light is a CZ specialty, although Sony is doing well these days.
p.14 #17 · Reduced: Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 APO ($1,899)
nampramos wrote:
Boris, if you could only keep one, which one would it be?
It depends on what and where you shoot.
The ZF.2 has the best IQ and is built like a tank. If you shoot in a studio or close to the car I would probably take the ZF.2.
But there is another problem with ZF.2 besides weight. I'm afraid of mounting the camera on a tripod and then putting a 1.2 kg lens on the camera lens mount. Therefore I've always used the aditional Novoflex tripod mount which connects directly to the Novoflex adapter. Problem with this combination is that it's not stable enough. I get significantly more blurred images on a tripod with the ZF.2 (using the Novoflex tripod mount) than with the Leica or Batis (and the camera directly mounted on the tripod).
I travel and hike a lot, like high contrast lenses and sometimes shoot wide open with my lenses. Therefore for me the Batis is the best compromise of the three.
The Leica lens is perfect for long hikes or real climbing trips in the mountains because it is so small and light and still very good for landscape images.
p.14 #18 · Reduced: Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 APO ($1,899)
Visited the pro shop yesterday and found they had the 125/2.8 Batis on display.
Put it on my A7RIi and took some shots of my daughter w/o - both close-in head shots at MFD and 3/4 length. Took similar shots with my 135/3.4 Telyt that I just happen to have in the bag.
Images looked great from the Batis wide open - the Telyt shots, though with less background blur, looked equally sharp wide open.
I do not like the Batis styling of the lens - particularly the flare in diameter at the end of the lens. Lens hood decidedly cheap and not that easy to reverse. The surface of the lens was not that great either. Clearly I'm more of a Loxia kind of guy for my lens external style.
It's not the size of the 135/2 Zeiss, but it is pretty large and fairly heavy - not something I would take on a long trip or up in the mountains (though the rear gasket is very nice).
For around town use, I'm still hoping that Sony or Zeiss comes out with a proper 135/2 native for E mount - either in a Loxia/Batis from Zeiss or a G-master from Sony. Then the ZF.2 can find a good home with someone else as I slowly get rid of my F-mount lenses.
p.14 #19 · Reduced: Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 APO ($1,899)
And here are some images from the quick snaps in the pro shop of my daughter.
Near MFD, wide open, 1/20s (!)
First one is the full frame, second 100% crop with my minimal sharpening right out of ACR (apparently the 135/2.8 Batis profile was automagically applied by ACR).
Passes the eyelash test - and I got a self portrait/photo bomb in there too
p.14 #20 · Reduced: Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 APO ($1,899)
John, you have a tolerant daughter. Re the Batis, we can safely assume reasonable sharpness theses days, but what about handling and impressions of weight?
