Fred Miranda wrote:
Is there an official Zeiss page for the firmware update?
The only thing close to an official statement was a YouTube comment that Hugh Brownstone posted on his video review. He says it's an official statement from Zeiss.
Jesse Evans wrote:
The only thing close to an official statement was a YouTube comment that Hugh Brownstone posted on his video review. He says it's an official statement from Zeiss.
i tried to translate this a couple of days ago here in this forum.
Automatic translate using DeepL:
ZEISS Camera Lenses Hello Nikolas,
We would like to apologize to you for the inconvenience. We are currently working on a software update that will allow you to work in a large focus area with the aperture wide open. You can download the update free of charge from the ZEISS website https://www.zeiss.de/camera.../service/download-center.html from April 2019. We will inform our registered customers about the update by e-mail.
After you have installed the update, the ZEISS Batis 2/40 CF only fades out automatically at preset aperture values between f/2 and f/2.5 with a focus distance between 24 and 65 centimeters - in extreme cases (close-up limit) to a maximum of f/2.8. From an aperture value of f/2.8 upwards, the aperture opening remains unchanged over the entire focus range. In addition, the update improves focus accuracy when using the camera's eye AF function.
We regret that we did not communicate the software specification leading to automatic close-up dipping clearly enough from the beginning. We will do this better in the future - and have, among other things, integrated the information into our product website.
Many greetings
Your ZEISS Camera Lenses Team
ZEISS is currently developing a software update that will allow the Batis 2/40 CF to work within a large focus range with a wide-open aperture. The update will be available to download free of charge as of April 2019 from the ZEISS website. We will notify all registered customers about the update via email.
Once the update is installed, the ZEISS Batis 2/40 CF will only automatically stop down at preset aperture values between f/2 and f/2.5 at a focus distance of between 24 and 65 centimeters – in extreme cases (minimum object distance) to max. f/2.8. With an aperture value of f/2.8 and up, the aperture will remain unchanged across the entire focus range. What’s more, the update will enhance the focus accuracy when using the camera’s eye AF function.
Answered by ZEISS CAMERA LENSES on Mar 1, 2019
Such a tough choice - to return the Sigma 40 I just got and buy the Batis again. The Sigma is fantastic and sharp as anything I've seen, but I like the character of the Batis better.
I'd really love to have the Batis 40 but I'll be waiting until someone I can believe tells us the eye-af is fixed. Of course when that happens, it will likely be hard to get, as it was when it was first released, before its issues became widely known.
saxguy wrote:
Such a tough choice - to return the Sigma 40 I just got and buy the Batis again. The Sigma is fantastic and sharp as anything I've seen, but I like the character of the Batis better.
You know you want it but history teaches us that as soon as Zeiss and Sigma cover a certain FL, Sony will come up with something better (see the GM 135mm).
And, even better, it looks like it will be completely normal from 65cm to infinity; whereas the original firmware started stopping down if you were at f2 as soon as you focussed closer than infinity!
This means we will have circular bokeh balls at environmental portrait distances when wide open, which combined with functional eye AF starts to make it look attractive as a general use lens (it’s big, sure, but quite light.
Presumably the published MTF is correct, since it’s infinity MTF and so there should have been no stop-down.
vdo1 wrote:
You know you want it but history teaches us that as soon as Zeiss and Sigma cover a certain FL, Sony will come up with something better (see the GM 135mm).
Possibly better in image quality...but much heavier to the point it would not make my bag when traveling. There are many aspects of a lens one needs to consider when deciding if one is better than the other.
vdo1 wrote:
You know you want it but history teaches us that as soon as Zeiss and Sigma cover a certain FL, Sony will come up with something better (see the GM 135mm).
Dunno guys but I’ve seen recent moves to clear out stocks of FE 35/2.8 and 55mm. From Massdrop sale to local brick and mortar store chains having the 35mm on sale including their demo samples. Something is coming, either the new firmware fixes the Batis 40mm for good, or there is something else coming around (or inbetween) these FLs.
vdo1 wrote:
Dunno guys but I’ve seen recent moves to clear out stocks of FE 35/2.8 and 55mm. From Massdrop sale to local brick and mortar store chains having the 35mm on sale including their demo samples. Something is coming, either the new firmware fixes the Batis 40mm for good, or there is something else coming around (or inbetween) these FLs.
Wouldn't it be odd to see a 40mm GM without even a hint of it coming being reported anywhere?
vdo1 wrote:
Dunno guys but I’ve seen recent moves to clear out stocks of FE 35/2.8 and 55mm. From Massdrop sale to local brick and mortar store chains having the 35mm on sale including their demo samples. Something is coming, either the new firmware fixes the Batis 40mm for good, or there is something else coming around (or inbetween) these FLs.
Here is the price history of those two lenses. As can be seen, the price jumps around all the time.
saxguy wrote:
Wouldn't it be odd to see a 40mm GM without even a hint of it coming being reported anywhere?
IIRC Sony suggested that they’ll have 12 new lenses this year, even if half of those would be APS-C, there’s still place for them to surprise us every two months or so.....
vdo1 wrote:
Yeah, but it’s not a daily event that Henrys puts the demo samples of the 35 on sale at all their stores at once.
Maybe they are not moving. Pretty expensive lens for a 2.8 35mm. I definitely would not pay retail price for the lens. I got mine at a good deal on B&S here.
Just looked. B&H does not have any sale on the 35 2.8.
Also checked a few Canadian online stores. The lens is $998...no sales.
chez wrote:
Maybe they are not moving. Pretty expensive lens for a 2.8 35mm. I definitely would not pay retail price for the lens. I got mine at a good deal on B&S here.
Just looked. B&H does not have any sale on the 35 2.8.
Also checked a few Canadian online stores. The lens is $998...no sales.
but history teaches us that as soon as Zeiss and Sigma cover a certain FL, Sony will come up with something better (see the GM 135mm). 
