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When I take my dog for a walk, photography is never the focus. Most of the time, I just shoot a quick 30-second video with my phone. That’s why the two pictures of my dog are just snapshots, although they were taken in the morning when the light was still nice. I’ve had the Batis 40/2 for several years now. From the very beginning, I noticed that it can render beautiful light situations out of camera much more realistically than other lenses I’ve used over the years when the light feels uniquely beautiful, soft, and filled with great colors. It can also create extreme micro-contrast, making small details in the image stand out and appear very three-dimensional. This happens without me having to do much in Lightroom, and that’s something I truly appreciate about the Batis 40/2. In poor lighting, all lenses can produce unappealing images. However, the Batis 40/2 can make it even worse. In the summer, around 12:30 p.m., it’s not exactly the best time for a photographer to go outside. Yet, if you do decide to use the Batis 40/2 during this time, the contrasts can be quite daunting, and it’s something you have to tame. The images can sometimes appear extremely unharmonious out of camera due to the extreme and harsh contrasts, affecting not just the bokeh but the entire picture. This can require significant adjustments in Lightroom. When you push the shadows to the max in Lightroom, significantly reduce the contrasts, and decrease the clarity for softer contrast edges, you suddenly end up with a very appealing image. With other lenses, such adjustments would typically result in a rather low-contrast image. It sounds extreme, but it takes less than 30 seconds. In recent days, I've compared the Batis 40 a bit with the 50mm F1.4 ZA, which I've had since the beginning. I’ve always appreciated the ZA for its colors, contrasts, and especially for its very vibrant and natural skin tones. I also liked the extremely smooth, gradual transition to blur in the ZA. I noticed that the Batis 40 is not comparable to the ZA. The colors and contrasts of the Batis are much more pronounced out of camera. Moreover, the difference between f2 in the Batis and f1.4 in the ZA didn’t seem to play such a significant role in isolating the subject. Rather, I felt that the subject stood out more through the colors and contrasts in the Batis image. I have an Akita Inu. The white fur reflects a lot of light, similar to a polar fox. The dog is usually the brightest object in the image, and I have to be careful not to overexpose it. The higher the contrast, the more the dog stands out in the picture. For me, sharpness isn't as critical as it is for some other photographers. I've never felt that the sharpness and resolution of the Planar with 42 MP were insufficient. Still, the Batis plays in a different league, as one would expect from a modern lens. I always feel confident shooting at f2 because the sharpness is already good. At f2.8, there’s an extreme leap in sharpness and resolution. Beyond f2.8, I can hardly notice any difference. The Batis is said to be around the level of the 65/2 Apo Lentar in terms of sharpness and resolution. Of course, there are lenses today that are even sharper and have better resolution, such as the 50 and 35 GM. This is relevant for some people.
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