p.2 #1 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
This is great news. Sony have the 28/2, which does look quite appealing, but I bet the 25/2 is absolutely stellar. I can't wait to try one out.
I was going to get the CV 12/5.6 and the 21/1.8 to complement my C/Y 28/2.8, but I am going to have to think about things a little more. Perhaps the 25/2 would cover 99% of my wide angle needs.
p.2 #2 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
One or both of these may prove to be irresistible for many a7 users. It also might signal the full flowering of the a7 series as top rank enthusiast cameras, nothing else has anything like this, augmented by Sony's expanding lineup. And new high Mp bodies soon for a complete ramp up in the series, and from mid year on it's seriously close enough to get by with native lenses at the very top.
State of the art AF CZ, a smaller version of the Otus line, great weight/finish at a very competitive price. The specs are all you could hope for. These will be special, look at the glass types and mix, and the complexity - Zeiss really mean business at the top end of the FE hierarchy. Many high end 85s are 5-6 element designs, so they pulled out all stops here. The 'B85' is 11/8 and the Otus 85 is 11/9. A high tech Sonnar 85mm with AF/IS, nine blades and very likely full manual focus (not FBW)! Yes, edward, show us the MTF. ;-)
They look gorgeous. 'New Pro Era.'
What's the 'OLED' display? =
"The full-frame autofocus Batis lenses have built-in OLED screens that can display information like depth of field or the distance of the focal plane from the camera. Zeiss calls the displays an "absolute highlight — an innovation that is currently unparalleled in camera lenses."
p.2 #5 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
philip_pj wrote:
The 'B85' is 11/8 and the Otus 85 is 11/9. A high tech Sonnar 85mm with AF/IS, nine blades and very likely full manual focus (not FBW)!
The fact that they went to the trouble to put a digital display on the lens to display the focus distance instead of just putting a little window though to the focus barrel like every other non-fbw lens strongly suggests to me that is it focus by wire.
There's nothing definitive in the official press release but when it says things like "the lenses also support manual focusing"...
p.2 #6 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
I just read that , Matt - FBW. Too bad. Doesn't really hold anyone back with the other Sonys so it's a small drawback. For me stabilisation and AF at this 85 FL are very attractive options, with that high end spec...
p.2 #7 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
The Touit series are all focus by wire, so I wouldn't be surprised if the Batis series are also focus by wire. Indeed, focus by wire lenses give you a longer focus throw than lenses with a AF clutch, like the Nikon AF-S lenses, so I actually prefer focus by wire, to any other AF lenses wrt. manual focus. The only lenses that are really superior to focus by wire, IMHO, are old manual Nikon Ai lenses and some Leica R lenses.
p.2 #8 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
Sweet lenses. Funny, people have been complaining about the size of Fuji 56/1.2 and 16/1.4, lenses that are directly comparable regarding fov and light gathering capabilities but seem even compact compared to these two. I expect the Batis lenses to be excellent and the prices seem reasonable to me. Mirrorless is becoming stronger and stronger.
p.2 #9 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
Actually I think the OLED screen is genius. The only thing I don't like about good implementations of FBW is that you can't see the focus distance. This fixes that. I can set my lens to 3 metres or whatever by the screen. Brilliant.
p.2 #11 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
Phillip Reeve wrote:
meh, why not stick with the Loxia line and keep them fully manual? The Touit line already flopped more or less.
But is of course great to see more lenses for the FE mount and new designs with very interesting technical data that is
The Touit line flopped mostly because the performance wasn't there.
Neither of the original Touit's were bad lenses (in fact both the 12 and 32 were rather good), but with the Fuji equivalents outperforming them noticeably for less money and the Sony 35/1.8 being almost as good, IS and significantly cheaper than the 32, they just couldn't justify their cost.
Essentially they quickly gained a rep for not living up to the Zeiss name. People expected more and Zeiss delivered less.
If the Batis line delivers performance comparable to the Loxia and ZA lenses in E mount, they've got a winner. And they just hit the largest glaring hole in E mount, the 85 (which Sony has been teasing now for 2 years without delivering).
p.2 #12 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
mawz wrote:
The Touit line flopped mostly because the performance wasn't there.
Neither of the original Touit's were bad lenses (in fact both the 12 and 32 were rather good), but with the Fuji equivalents outperforming them noticeably for less money and the Sony 35/1.8 being almost as good, IS and significantly cheaper than the 32, they just couldn't justify their cost.
Essentially they quickly gained a rep for not living up to the Zeiss name. People expected more and Zeiss delivered less.
If the Batis line delivers performance comparable to the Loxia and ZA lenses in E mount, they've got a winner. And they just hit the largest glaring hole in E mount, the 85 (which Sony has been teasing now for 2 years without delivering)....Show more →
It's going to be interesting to see just how well the 85/1.8 performs given the "compromise" of AF+OIS.
p.2 #14 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
Tariq Gibran wrote:
It's going to be interesting to see just how well the 85/1.8 performs given the "compromise" of AF+OIS.
exactly. I would like to see how Zeiss answers the OIS IQ compromise.
Anyway, I will wait for the review and more importantly, the similar two lens discount deal like the Touit
p.2 #15 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
CZ will know plenty is riding on the optical quality of this pair. The other day they expressed ongoing commitment to FE so we will presumably see many more from these - now two - Zeiss ranges.
My guess is they waited to see the market reception to FE, then pulled the trigger on a more extensive development program. Good, as they are a vital link in the system's appeal to the high end market. It explains Sony's macro being released next in that FL range, rather than the FE 85/1.8.
p.2 #18 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
Batis, a genus of flowering, salt tolerant plants.
mcbroomf wrote:
Did you see at ~ 3 secs into the video the photog carrying an A7 + lens over his back on a tripod in pouring rain I wonder if it worked afterwards?
p.2 #19 · Zeiss "Batis" AF lens line to be released for FF E-mount
twoeye wrote:
Specs form Adorama:
Zeiss Batis 85mm 1.8 Mirrorless Specifications
Focal length85mm
Aperture rangef/1.8
Elements/Groups11 lens elements in 8 groups,
3 lens elements made from low dispersion glass
Diagonal Field of View29 degree
Close Focus0.8m / 2.6"
Filter Size67mm
Dimensions L x W4.1 x 3.2" / 105mm x 81mm
Weight16.8 oz / 475g
Not very small, but the weight is OK.
I want both
No not small but the 85mm is about ~20% larger while being ~20% faster than the Leica 90mm f/2.0 AND it has OSS & AF so I think the size is reasonable—assuming the performance lives up to the Zeiss moniker. Very tempting...
I wonder if it worked afterwards?
I expect the Batis lenses to be excellent and the prices seem reasonable to me. Mirrorless is becoming stronger and stronger. 
exactly. I would like to see how Zeiss answers the OIS IQ compromise.