For the Sony Alpha user who demands the best – here’s our guide to Zeiss’s incredible Batis lenses
Sony’s E-mount Alpha 7 cameras demand the best of the best when it comes to resolving power. These full-frame juggernauts of shooting produce images and videos of outstanding depth, detail and clarity – so it makes sense they would need lenses to match.
Zeiss stepped up to this challenge admirably, producing its Batis range designed especially for Sony E-mount. Optimised to suit full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Batis lenses provide the kind of corner-to-corner sharpness that Sony users need, housed in a body that can stand up to the rigours and demands of active photographers. Unlike some Zeiss lenses, they can also support autofocus, expanding the user’s options.
It’s hard to know what to give a dedicated Sony photographer, so if you’re shopping for the Alpha 7 snapper who seemingly has everything (whether it’s someone else or yourself, we don’t judge) then give them the gift they’ll never forget: a Zeiss Batis lens.
Stuck for which to pick? Don’t be! Read on as we guide you through the ins and outs of the Zeiss Batis range – with some incredible cashback deals along the way...
1. Zeiss 18mm f2.8 Batis
The widest of the family, the Zeiss 18mm f2.8 Batis offers an angular field of view of 99 degrees, and provides consistently stellar imaging performance across its focal plane. This is largely thanks to the floating elements design, which ensures the lens’ images look great from its closest focusing point right the way through to infinity. The Zeiss optical design comprises eleven elements in ten groups, and makes for the perfect gift for photographers who love landscapes, cityscapes, night skies, architecture and many more genres of photography besides.
2. Zeiss 25mm f2 Batis
Pushing its maximum aperture a little wider than the 18mm, the Zeiss 25mm Batis can open as wide as f/2, expanding the user’s options for low-light shooting and the creation of shallow depth of field. With a minimum focusing distance of just 0.2m, it’s as capable at getting in close as it is for capturing sweeping vistas, and is therefore a great choice for any photographer who likes a lot of options at their fingertips. An OLED display provides information on focusing distance and depth of field, putting lots of useful real-time shooting information at the user’s fingertips.
3. Zeiss 40mm f2 CF Batis
Closer to a general-purpose lens than its wider siblings, the Zeiss 40mm f2 CF Batis delivers that signature Zeiss look, providing crisp quality of images with minimal stray light or reflections thanks toi that sophisticated T* coating. A high-speed f/2 maximum aperture means the lens is solid in low light, and the overall build is designed to prevent the ingress of dust and moisture. If you know someone who likes to shoot a bit of everything, who would appreciate a high-quality lens that also travels well and is easy to pack away for a trip, then you’d have a hard time finding a better option for them than the Zeiss 40mm f2 CF Batis.
Zeiss 40mm f2 CF Batis Lens - Sony E Mount
Thanks to its close focusing distance and fast autofocus, the ZEISS Batis 2/40 CF is ready to capture every unique moment. Its 40mm focal length makes the lens a versatile companion for a whole range of shooting situations. The close focusing distance of 24cm (9.4 inches) and large aperture f/2 enable photographers to integrate the main objects cut-out into a creative shot.
£1,300.00 View
4. Zeiss 85mm f1.8 Batis
This is the fastest lens in the Batis range, which makes a lot of sense when you consider the fact that its 85mm focal length is perfect for portraits. The f/1.8 maximum aperture really allows the user to create strong shallow depth of field, vividly defining their subject against a stylishly blurred background. Wedding shooters will also find it hugely handy, perfect for isolating specific subjects and capturing them in all the glorious quality Zeiss is famous for. The optical image stabilisation system also helps with keeping your shots steady even when shooting handheld, further increasing the lens’s utility in low light.
Zeiss 85mm f1.8 Batis Lens - Sony E Mount
Save £130, was £995
The Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 is a moderate tele lens for Sony's full-frame E-mount compact system cameras. The Batis 85mm is a particularly good choice for wedding photography and portrait shots, offering a fast f1.8 aperture which provides plenty of creative scope to bring out the main subject. The lens elements are made from special types of glass and designed to ensure superior image quality, whilst the optical image stabilisation system means you can capture outstanding images handheld, even under difficult lighting conditions. On the barrel of the lens is an OLED display to show the focusing distance and depth of field, so that you can check the settings are correct and make quick adjustments.
£1,200.00 View
5. Zeiss 135mm f2.8 Batis
The longest lens in the Batis range, this fine example of a telephoto prime is equipped with all the bells and whistles we’ve come to expect from the rest of the range. There’s the speedy autofocus, the Optical Image Stabilisation system, the OLED display with precise depth of field and focusing information, the extensive weatherproofing, the lightweight construction that means the lens is ideal for travel, and a whole lot more besides. The mid-telephoto focal length is hugely versatile, great for portraits, events, weddings and practically anything else you put it to. Not just a great Batis lens – one of the best lenses for Sony E-mount, full stop.
About the Author
Jon Stapley is a professional journalist with a wealth of experience in a number of photography titles including Amateur Photographer, Digital Camera World and What Digital Camera.
