Zeiss Batis 2.8/135 - Review 2022

Zeiss has done a fine job crafting 3rd-political party lenses for the Sony mirrorless system. Some accept filled gaps not covered by Sony'south native glass, like the premium Batis 2.8/18, while others have offered premium options when Sony only had more upkeep-friendly lenses available, like the excellent Batis 2/25. The latest entry, the Batis ii.8/135 ($i,999), falls into the sometime category, and becomes the longest prime number lens available for the Sony arrangement. Thanks to a solid build and excellent marks on our sharpness examination, it's another winner, worthy of our Editors' Choice.

Design

The Batis 2.viii/135 is quite compact given its focal length. It measures iv.vii by iii.ii inches (HD), weights 1.iv pounds, and supports 67mm front filters. The butt is metallic, with a polish rubber focus band, an OLED data display, and a matte black terminate. A reversible lens hood, also metal, is included. The lens is protected from grit and splashes, but similar Sony Blastoff 7 Two bodies and lenses.

The information brandish is something nosotros've seen on other Zeiss lenses. It's especially useful in transmission focus way, equally it displays the set focus altitude, along with your depth of field both in front and behind the field of study for the set distance and aperture. By default information technology only shows up when focusing manually, only you tin can set it to appear at all times if y'all prefer.

Manual focus is an electronic affair. Turning the ring activates a motor that moves lens elements. It doesn't provide the aforementioned tactile feedback that you go from a purely mechanical transmission focus lens like those in the Milvus and Loxia families. I'g happy to report that the 2.viii/135 doesn't lag when focusing manually. You can make more precise adjustments by turning the ring slowly, and rack quickly from close focus to infinity by turning it faster. It's one of the better electronic focus experiences I've had, fifty-fifty without concrete feedback. Likewise, the autofocus motor drives the focusing elements very quickly.

The lens focuses equally close as 2.9 feet (0.9-meter) for a magnification ratio of ane:5.3 life-size. That doesn't put information technology in true macro territory, simply is a pretty skilful working distance for close-up imaging of larger subjects. You lot'll have no trouble shooting tight headshot portraits either.

Optical stabilization is built into the lens. This is a plus if you're pairing information technology with a first-generation Alpha 7 body or one of Sony's APS-C Alpha cameras, which lack in-body stabilization for the most function. If you have an Alpha 7 II model, the lens stabilization works in conjunction with the sensor to stabilize images more effectively than either could on its own. When bracing myself, I was able to capture crisp images at i/iv-2d shutter speed using the Batis and an Alpha 7 Ii—almost 5 stops of stabilization.

Image Quality

I tested the Batis 2.8/135 with the 24MP Alpha 7 II. I've been doing my best to streamline tests on the 42MP Alpha 7R II, merely I didn't have one available during my time with the lens. Considering of this, sharpness numbers are going to be a bit lower than some of the best lenses we've tested with the 7R II.

See How We Test Digital Cameras

At 135mm f/2.8 the lens scores iii,271 lines per picture top on Imatest's center-weighted sharpness test. Epitome quality is just as strong at the edges of the frame equally it is at the center. It's an top-terminate score for a 24MP camera; much higher than the 1,800 lines we look for at a bare minimum.

Stopping down doesn't practice much to change the score—we see 3,269 lines at f/4, 3,292 lines at f/5.6, and iii,266 lines at f/viii. All are close plenty together to be acquired by very slight changes in focus or minor vibration. Diffraction cuts the resolution a very small amount at f/11 (3,125 lines) and f/xvi (3,045 lines). Information technology'due south not a real issue until you get to the minimum f/22 discontinuity (2,607 lines).

We don't know how it volition perform on a 42MP body, but on the 24MP Alpha 7 II y'all really tin can't ask for a sharper lens. Information technology's non optically perfect, even so. There is a slight amount of pincushion distortion, nearly one.1 percent, that draws straight horizontal lines with a slight inward bend. And you get a vignette around photos when shooting broad open—at f/2.8 the corners lag behind the heart by -ii.8EV. It's not a abrupt change, but rather a gradual fall-off that also extends to the sides of the frame, which are 1.5 stops dimmer. At f/4 the corners are -1.5EV off of the center, and at f/5.vi in that location'south a more than reasonable -1EV deficit. At narrower apertures the vignette is completely gone.

Portrait photographers may appreciate the vignette look. If yous don't similar it and shoot in JPG you tin enable an in-camera correction to compensate for information technology. Raw shooters can plough to an editing application like Adobe Lightroom CC to compensate for the autumn-off. Distortion tin be removed using the same methods.

Conclusions

The Zeiss Batis 2.8/135 captures images with stunning sharpness, offers prototype stabilization with any Sony mirrorless bodies, and boasts a sturdy, all-weather build. Its imperfections—some dimness at the corners and edges of the frame, and modest distortion—are easily remedied via in-photographic camera corrections or during a normal Raw processing workflow. Information technology also fills a gap in the Sony lineup, as the longest prime offered previously was the Sony Iron 100mm F2.8 STF GM OSS, a more specialized lens with an apodization filter that smooths backgrounds, but as well limits light-gathering capability. If y'all're a fan of prime lenses and are looking for a meaty, moderate telephoto lens for your total-frame Sony mirrorless camera, the Batis ii.8/135 is an outstanding performer, and an Editors' Choice.

Source: https://sea.pcmag.com/lenses/14939/zeiss-batis-28135

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