I think the Loxia wins here. It seems to have a little more micro contrast to it. Im playing with exposure here so maybe not judge color right now. Trying to balance it all out
Okay here is where things get funky for the Batis.
Im going to do the Loxia separate here first. The scene at F2.4 WATCH the lettering unique clothing and gifts. here on the Loxia you see a very slight pink at 2.4 inside the lettering and goes away at 2.8 all CA stuff is turned OFF
Guy, I can't thank you enough for this test, and for uploading all the RAWs.
I've got the Batis and have been thinking about adding the Loxia, because like you, I like having separate AF and MF kits. But at the same time, I'd also want to get some incremental benefit in terms of image quality. On the one hand your test shows what I was expecting -- the Loxia clearly has an edge in microcontrast, lower CA, nicer bokeh. On the other hand, the Batis is no slouch (well, except for the CA, where it is a slouch...).
Though I think I'm nonetheless inclined to pick up the Loxia.
Following these tests, will you be keeping them both?
I do think the Loxia 25 is the best 25 around when you look at the overall quality of the lens. There just is no weak area and if you have one, it would be very hard to give up. The Batis is quite good and having a great AF lens is why I bought it. I had a brief thought of just keeping the Batis but got over that thought fast. The only real issue here is the investment side of it. Lot of money in two 25mm. I’m just going to forget that part. It’s like the Batis 135 I paid full price of 2 grand and I got over that one too. Lol
If it’s a money issue and you need AF the Batis 25 is a great native choice. I do think the GM 24-70 at 24mm would give it a good run at it. That zoom at 24mm is quite good. Given what I’m seeing at F2 on the Batis it’s not really a advantage. It’s okay at F2 but clearly better at F2.5
Guy, Thank you for taking these two popular 25's through the Big Bronco gauntlet. So much easier on the eye to look at these interesting targets/colors of your Big Bronco test images.
At least for these particular samples posted, IMO I do see a bit more micro contrast in the last set of samples going to the Loxia. Somehwat smoother bokeh goes to the Loxia IMO too. Really intersting to see the wider than 25mm Batis frame too. Nothing like a side by side to really see true chracteristics of a set of lenses.
The Loxia 25, almost became my first Loxia. I was impressed with Loxia 25 MTF compared to the already excellent Batis 25 MTF. But after the initial test samples posted here on FM.com, I decided not enough difference to make much of a difference to me and the 25 isn't a particularly must-have FL to my eye, so I stay with the Batis. At least for now.
Also, I like this comment by maestrofilms. "The Batis is quite good at controlling CA, the Loxia is just better."
We really are lucky to have two great Zeiss lines for Sony mirrorless.
I agree we are very lucky. If I had the Batis 25 it’s not easy to give up, I have had it before and it was not easy selling it. You have to have a best in class mentality here and the need or want to sell it for the Loxia. Your giving up AF which for many is not easy to do.
The one thing that is baffling me a little is the bokeh. You would think a F2 Batis would have smoother bokeh than the 2.8 Loxia and not the case. Obviously it’s the lens design here but I do find that quite curious. Also the Loxia the Bokeh balls are rounder and less onion ring which not seeing so much of that. I’ve had the Loxia almost since day one and I have really loved shooting it. I think it’s there best lens in the Loxia line as well as the 21 and 85. It seems certain lines have a best in class with one or two lenses. I think the Batis 135 is there best in that lineup.
I like doing the Big Bronco tests there bloody murder on lenses but like the Rokinon 24mm we have to keep reality in mind too. First we are photographers that create Art and we should not lose sight of that. Resolution is not everything but a piece of the overall package. Big Bronco is a big resolution test but also I gain a lot of other info from it like color, distortion, micro contrast, mid zone, CA and other important factors. I’ve been shooting that wall even when I had my Medium format systems and truth be told these Sony’s keep up with them. The Loxia here hits all the check boxes and if your after this focal length as a very important part of your kit which 25mm is for me than a excellent choice. Many of use old timers grew up on 24mm lenses so our brains are tuned into this focal length. I actually have a harder time with a 21mm, just was not the biggest part of my learning curve over the years.
maestrofilms wrote: MrTMan wroteOn the other hand, the Batis is no slouch (well, except for the CA, where it is a slouch...).This is not really accurate. The Batis is quite good at controlling CA, the Loxia is just better.
CA has never been a big issue with the Batis line.
I think we take that right on over to the Loxia 85 and Batis 85 as well.
GMPhotography wrote:
I agree we are very lucky. If I had the Batis 25 it’s not easy to give up, I have had it before and it was not easy selling it. You have to have a best in class mentality here and the need or want to sell it for the Loxia. Your giving up AF which for many is not easy to do.
The one thing that is baffling me a little is the bokeh. You would think a F2 Batis would have smoother bokeh than the 2.8 Loxia and not the case. Obviously it’s the lens design here but I do find that quite curious. Also the Loxia the Bokeh balls are rounder and less onion ring which not seeing so much of that. I’ve had the Loxia almost since day one and I have really loved shooting it. I think it’s there best lens in the Loxia line as well as the 21 and 85. It seems certain lines have a best in class with one or two lenses. I think the Batis 135 is there best in that lineup.
I like doing the Big Bronco tests there bloody murder on lenses but like the Rokinon 24mm we have to keep reality in mind too. First we are photographers that create Art and we should not lose sight of that. Resolution is not everything but a piece of the overall package. Big Bronco is a big resolution test but also I gain a lot of other info from it like color, distortion, micro contrast, mid zone, CA and other important factors. I’ve been shooting that wall even when I had my Medium format systems and truth be told these Sony’s keep up with them. The Loxia here hits all the check boxes and if your after this focal length as a very important part of your kit which 25mm is for me than a excellent choice. Many of use old timers grew up on 24mm lenses so our brains are tuned into this focal length. I actually have a harder time with a 21mm, just was not the biggest part of my learning curve over the years. ...Show more →
Bokeh! Always a forum debate favorite.I didn't have to do any level of pixel peeping to see the difference in your test images. Either way the difference IMO is not enough to push me to buy one over the other. But duly noted ;-)