Side note I sold my MC-11 last night and I really think I’m done with adapted lenses. I truly think for me at least there is no need unless I was using a TSE type lens. We are certainly at the point where Sony, Zeiss, Tokina, CV , Loawa have the field pretty well covered and I want EXIF now. I only have one non EXIF and that’s the Loawa 15 which I shoot a lot so I can deal with one. Besides that I really like this lens. It’s a keeper
LBJ2 wrote:
Hello Juha: Check your SPAM folder just in case. I always receive a "ZEISS: Thank you for registering" email confirming my Zeiss lens registration, and extended warranty period along with a registration number. From the way the registration email reads, you will need the registration number, so you may want to contact them directly to follow up. Here is the contact info they sent to me:
"Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us:
Thanks for the detailed info! Nothing from Zeiss in Spam (I used my Gmail address for the registration and checked all folders). I'll try to run the registration once more and if it doesn't result in any response I'll drop them an e-mail query. Hopefully it works out somehow.
Update: The 2nd try to register showed that the lens is already registered (I guess it got through on the first try 2 weeks back), but since I never received the acknowledgement e-mail including registration number, I sent an e-mail to that Zeiss e-mail address asking about it.
Update2: Zeiss replied to my e-mail in about 1h, confirming my original registration with the registration number. Good customer service Thanks again!
GMPhotography wrote:
Side note I sold my MC-11 last night and I really think I’m done with adapted lenses. I truly think for me at least there is no need unless I was using a TSE type lens. We are certainly at the point where Sony, Zeiss, Tokina, CV , Loawa have the field pretty well covered and I want EXIF now. I only have one non EXIF and that’s the Loawa 15 which I shoot a lot so I can deal with one. Besides that I really like this lens. It’s a keeper
Been thinking this myself lately. With all the FE, GM, Zeiss Batis/Loxia and now the GM 100-400 + 1,4x TC, lenses we have access too now, I am pretty much enjoying the native FE mount life and not missing anything.
But will probably never give up my adapters, the possibilities to explore lenses outside of the FE system is just too compelling for me.
So funny enough, out of the blue I got registration confirmation emails from Zeiss today, for a couple of lenses that I had registered a long time ago (one was over a year ago) for which I’d never previously received the confirmation emails.
I can’t imagine it would be a coincidence, after we were just discussing it. I have to think that they either read the forums here, or that Juha’s enquiry triggered it.
Either way, another great example of their customer service and responsiveness.
Post your thoughts on the TS-E 135. I am intrigued by this lens.
rico wrote:
Guy is probably pretty busy right now. I'll answer for him since we conversed on this topic recently, and shoot portraits the same way. He likes to have the entire face in focus, including the nose and ears. Back of the head and trailing shoulders can fall off. Especially for corporate, one eye in focus and a blurry blob for a nose doesn't work. For myself, portraiture at f/1 is simply ridiculous! For head-and-shoulders or tighter, I'm set on FF 135mm or longer, and acceptable aperture is f/8. The b/g will be nicely blurred, but not melted into a puddle, and sharpness is maintained if the subject shifts thanks to the working DOF.
In related news, I ordered a Sigma MC-11 and Canon 135/4L TS-E from B&H, so expect some, ahh, intriguing studio portraits soon. I might even open up to f/5.8!...Show more →
I have a feeling many 135mm lenses will be announced for the E-mount next year.
Probably a 135mm f/1.8 GM and a Samyang 135/2 AF FE. Still, the differential for the Batis is IQ + light weight. The new lenses may come close in IQ but will very likely be bigger and heavier.
Fred Miranda wrote:
I have a feeling many 135mm lenses will be announced for the E-mount next year.
Probably a 135mm f/1.8 GM and a Samyang 135/2 AF FE. Still, the differential for the Batis is IQ + light weight. The new lenses may come close in IQ but will very likely be bigger and heavier.
But faster.... . Seriously though, the Batis would be a great travel 135mm lens.
Honestly I’m trying to stay away from more weight. The other sticky point can they actually beat the Batis. The Batis is so darn good. It would be really hard to give it up
GMPhotography wrote:
Honestly I’m trying to stay away from more weight. The other sticky point can they actually beat the Batis. The Batis is so darn good. It would be really hard to give it up
No, don't give it up but get and use both depending on what your need for that particular application. To me they are different enough to justify owning both. I haven't made any move to do it ..... yet though but we live only once .
135mm F2.8 is the same speed as the midrange of my 70-200 GM. I read somewhere that Zeiss can’t make a 135mm F2.0 cheap enough to sell. Even Canon charges $5600 for their 200 mm F2.0.
The best expedient seems to be the compact EF 135mm F2.0 which takes a 1.4x TC very well for a 189mm F2.8.
AGeoJO wrote:
But faster.... . Seriously though, the Batis would be a great travel 135mm lens.
It's definitely nice to have the option to shoot at wider apertures, especially when the subject is further from the camera.
I used to shoot full body portraits with my 200/1.8L and that's a nice look. The Batis 135/2.8 may not be the best choice in this case but it's doable depending on the background.
I see it as a terrific landscape lens as well. It's absolutely amazing to the corners from wide open and 600 grams is not too much to carry with me everywhere.
SoundHound wrote:
135mm F2.8 is the same speed as the midrange of my 70-200 GM. I read somewhere that Zeiss can’t make a 135mm F2.0 cheap enough to sell. Even Canon charges $5600 for their 200 mm F2.0.
The best expedient seems to be the compact EF 135mm F2.0 which takes a 1.4x TC very well for a 189mm F2.8.
From my discussions with a couple of Zeiss reps, Zeiss had several internal discussions over F2.8 vs F2 for the Batis 135. F2 was indeed a serious consideration. The decision to go with F2.8 was further confirmed with early consumer tests where photographers were given a choice between Milvus 135/2 and Batis 135/2.8 and the majority chose the Batis 135 2.8. Ultimately sales will determine if F2.8 was the right decision or not.
Personally, I wanted F2. But once I started using the Batis F2.8, I forgot all about F2.
Fred Miranda wrote:
It's definitely nice to have the option to shoot at wider apertures, especially when the subject is further from the camera.
I used to shoot full body portraits with my 200/1.8L and that's a nice look. The Batis 135/2.8 may not be the best choice in this case but it's doable depending on the background.
I see it as a terrific landscape lens as well. It's absolutely amazing to the corners from wide open and 600 grams is not too much to carry with me everywhere.
LBJ2 wrote:
From my discussions with a couple of Zeiss reps, Zeiss had several internal discussions over F2.8 vs F2 for the Batis 135. F2 was indeed a serious consideration. The decision to go with F2.8 was further confirmed with early consumer tests where photographers were given a choice between Milvus 135/2 and Batis 135/2.8 and the majority chose the Batis 135 2.8. Ultimately sales will determine if F2.8 was the right decision or not.
Personally, I wanted F2. But once I started using the Batis F2.8, I forgot all about F2.
For marketing purposes, they should've compromised at f/2.4!
MrTMan wrote:
So funny enough, out of the blue I got registration confirmation emails from Zeiss today, for a couple of lenses that I had registered a long time ago (one was over a year ago) for which I’d never previously received the confirmation emails.
I can’t imagine it would be a coincidence, after we were just discussing it. I have to think that they either read the forums here, or that Juha’s enquiry triggered it.
Either way, another great example of their customer service and responsiveness.
I also got the official registration confirmation mail for my Batis 135mm today even though I already got a reply to my query with the same registration number earlier this week. Seems like they started clearing the stuck registrations
SoundHound wrote:
135mm F2.8 is the same speed as the midrange of my 70-200 GM. I read somewhere that Zeiss can’t make a 135mm F2.0 cheap enough to sell. Even Canon charges $5600 for their 200 mm F2.0.
The best expedient seems to be the compact EF 135mm F2.0 which takes a 1.4x TC very well for a 189mm F2.8.
Fred Miranda wrote:
Post your thoughts on the TS-E 135. I am intrigued by this lens.
Lens arrived this frigid Chicago afternoon.
I ripped into the box, and spent the next half hour getting frostbite—this thing is a 1.1kg hunk of metal.
Even the control dials are metal.
I initially thought it was standard Utsunomiya product, but now realize it's made by another division: Canon Hydraulic and Iron Foundries. I had to wipe off a layer of coal dust before mounting the lens.
I looked hard at the Batis for its optical performance, but I need tilt/shift rather than fast f/2.8 apertures and AF. The MC-11 is well built, but the resulting front-heavy load is a test for the A7ii mount. I wish Sigma had included a tripod foot.
I'll report fully in a fresh thread, but my capsule assessment is big thumbs up. It's outright freaky to have tilt and shift movements dialed in while shooting 135mm handheld at 1/15sec. Bokeh fore and aft look smooth as silk, bokeh balls are onion free (no aspheres), circular aperture, crazy sharp into the corners (for some definition of corner). Most importantly, there's no LCA to my casual eye, and no defocus fringing. I value that level of correction for tabletop and macro.
Thanks again! 
. Seriously though, the Batis would be a great travel 135mm lens.
