I also rent quite a bit, (thank you Lensrentals!). I am buying new lenses slowly and renting quite a bit in between. As new lenses are released, I rent them a few times to see if I like them and how much I'll use them. The hard part is needing to buy lenses I need for commercial work vs. wanted to buy the lenses I love for personal work. It's a very different mix. My Canon system for the past ten years or so was all owned. Now with Sony the transition is to rent first then buy as practical. The 135 Batis is a perfect example of a lens I have no need for for my commercial work, but would love one for my personal travel. I'm tempted to sell my Canon 70-200 for the Sony, but the mixed reviews make me very hesitant, so I will definitely rent it a few time first to see if it's good enough. But it still won't be a substitute for the 135 Batis.
There is also hope that Sony will release a 135f2 along with a 35mm f2 in the near future . But a huge 135mm f2 lens wouldn't interest me at all. May as well have the zoom in that case IMO.
I went through this same dilemma with the Batis 135 vs the 70-200 2.8. Still want the Batis at some point as I love both my Batis 18 & 85, but I just needed the zoom lens for indoor sports and other stage performance stuff. It will also see use with a 1.4 TC for racetrack season I'm guessing. It autofocuses quick and is sharp enough in the middle for what it's being used for.
All that being said....the Batis 135 will probably be my next lens when one comes along on the B&S boards for a price that I know I can get back out of it later if it's not being used enough. More than once in the last few months I wished I had one in the bag.
stevesanacore wrote:
I also rent quite a bit, (thank you Lensrentals!). I am buying new lenses slowly and renting quite a bit in between. As new lenses are released, I rent them a few times to see if I like them and how much I'll use them. The hard part is needing to buy lenses I need for commercial work vs. wanted to buy the lenses I love for personal work. It's a very different mix. My Canon system for the past ten years or so was all owned. Now with Sony the transition is to rent first then buy as practical. The 135 Batis is a perfect example of a lens I have no need for for my commercial work, but would love one for my personal travel. I'm tempted to sell my Canon 70-200 for the Sony, but the mixed reviews make me very hesitant, so I will definitely rent it a few time first to see if it's good enough. But it still won't be a substitute for the 135 Batis.
There is also hope that Sony will release a 135f2 along with a 35mm f2 in the near future . But a huge 135mm f2 lens wouldn't interest me at all. May as well have the zoom in that case IMO....Show more →
DavidBM wrote:
2/135 = huge I’m afraid, at least if its good....
If their current SLR version is a good indication, a future Samyang 135/2 AF has the potential to give the Batis a run for its money. But as you wrote, it'll likely be bigger and heavier.
On the other hand, Samyang is such a copy-cat that I don't doubt they will repeat a 135/2.8 AF for half the price instead.
Fred Miranda wrote:
If their current SLR version is a good indication, a future Samyang 135/2 AF has the potential to give the Batis a run for its money.
The Rok135 is world-champion glass in a Tupperware barrel. The plastic is brittle and thin, especially around the filter ring, and flare control...well, there isn't any. They could double the lens price with those problems addressed and I would buy it again! Samyang actually has the 135/2 as part of their Xeen line, but it's really big and expensive in keeping with the cine market. In it's current consumer form, I find the flare problem hard to avoid, even with hood.
rico wrote:
The Rok135 is world-champion glass in a Tupperware barrel. The plastic is brittle and thin, especially around the filter ring, and flare control...well, there isn't any. They could double the lens price with those problems addressed and I would buy it again! Samyang actually has the 135/2 as part of their Xeen line, but it's really big and expensive in keeping with the cine market. In it's current consumer form, I find the flare problem hard to avoid, even with hood.
I never tried the Rokinon 135/2 and it's unfortunate that it's not well-built. Have you tried any of the new Sammy AF version lenses? Do they follow the same trend?
Fred Miranda wrote:
Have you tried any of the new Sammy AF version lenses? Do they follow the same trend?
No personal experience with their AF releases for FE mount, although I carefully perused the 50/1.4 owner postings and images on FM. While I had high hopes for that prime, and could overlook reports of a noisier AF motor, the LCA appeared plainly awful: rather like the Canon EF 50/1.4 and other double-Gauss designs from across the 20th Century. I don't feel that Samyang has the engineering or manufacturing depth to join the first rank of optical suppliers. However, the same was once said of Sigma, and look where they are now! The Rok135 remains an epic achievement, and performs perfectly in low-key environments, so I expect Samyang to improve.
rico wrote:
No personal experience with their AF releases for FE mount, although I carefully perused the 50/1.4 owner postings and images on FM. While I had high hopes for that prime, and could overlook reports of a noisier AF motor, the LCA appeared plainly awful: rather like the Canon EF 50/1.4 and other double-Gauss designs from across the 20th Century. I don't feel that Samyang has the engineering or manufacturing depth to join the first rank of optical suppliers. However, the same was once said of Sigma, and look where they are now! The Rok135 remains an epic achievement, and performs perfectly in low-key environments, so I expect Samyang to improve. ...Show more →
I'm getting a Samyang 35/1.4 FE next week and will report back on its build quality.
Yes for me, love it however I have not taken many. I had the Zeiss 135/2 and it was the best lens that I have ever had. Not the most used but the best. The Batis is every bit as good, just 2.8 vs. 2 and of course I can use it without a tripod. Some holiday shots of boys and the typical, its cold out, I take whatever is in the house photo.
I have never, ever read a lens manual. But I wanted to change the Lens DOF display from meters to feet so I pulled it out. Done. And you can also select if you want the display in AF, Manual, Both, or off... It is not something that I use often but it is a nice add.
I got the Batis 135/2.8 a few weeks back but its been really frigid here in the North East with temperatures in the single digits and down to -19 in the mornings so I haven't been out to shoot much. Hope that changes soon so I can get out and do some shooting with it. So far with the limited us I am very happy with its size and quick AF speed. I am a Zeiss and Batis fan so I'm very happy how it fits into the family with my 18, 25, and 85. If I could only get a 35 my primes for my Sony kit would be complete. Maybe a 40mm would be the best. I am very happy with the 55mm f/1.8 as well but 35 is my favorite focal length when not doing portraits.
As far as price I got lucky that for Xmas B&H had the $300 discount again. Still expensive but I am happy with it so we will see how it goes.
There has been post after post of the Batis selling new at $1,499 here is a screenshot from B&H I just took, what are you guys talking about?
The lens is super sharp and renders very nicely and the second lightest lens I own and I own them all.
I am not a fan of Batis lenses with the smooth focus ring, no AF/MF switch or focus hold and short throw for MF and I sold the other three. But his lens is really good.
I will probably get the Sony because I will want to use it for portraits as well if the bokeh is dreamy and has the features like the rest of their lenses do. I don't mind the weight becaue it is not a lens I will use much. It is still going to be smaller smaller and probably 12 to 13 ounces than a 70-200GM though and faster.
As you can see whoever keeps mentioning the Batis 135 as being heavy is in la la land it's teh second lightest serious lens for a Sony FF.
Zeiss produce lenses they know people will 'come around to' in time, because of their inherent, deeper qualities. It's a mindset that comes after so long in the business. In this, they are really the photographer's friend, even if s/he does not know it for a few years yet.
My Batis 135 is definitely a keeper.
While the 135 f2 Apo Sonnar was a nice lens, with beautiful rendering at close / medium distances, it had slightly less bite at infinity. It was also heavier and bulkier, which made it stay home a lot. Also in that FL, AF is a plus - even though the focus by wire of the Batis makes it less than desirable for applications where MF is needed (I miss the precise, predictable feeling of the true MF of the Classic lens).
All in all, the Batis will be a lot more present in my bag for those moments when that FL makes sense (it's one of my favorite ones). The slight trade-off between headshot poetics / rendering (due to f2 vs f2.8 and different type of contrast for OOF areas) and strong, consistent performance across focusing distances and aperture range + the portability, makes perfect sense, for me. Also, whenever I choke on the price, I remember this is a true, modern APO lens, with these characteristics, and that is really hard to find (and for my kind of shooting, requiring tricky lightning conditions and a lot of post, this is really valuable). I also consider the significantly reduced focus breathing, compared to the Classic 135f2 version, as a real bonus for those moments when I need to stack focus.
. But a huge 135mm f2 lens wouldn't interest me at all. May as well have the zoom in that case IMO.
