Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame & APS-C)

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Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens review with samples (Full-frame & APS-C)

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Күн бұрын

Let's put this legendary Zeiss lens through its paces and see if it's worth its rather high asking price, and see about some of its features.
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All pictures taken by me on Sony a7R II and a5100 cameras.
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Пікірлер: 100

@Quickst3p 3 жыл бұрын

I have to say, the focusing scale (for reading the hyperfocal distance) is something I really miss having on my mirrorless lenses. You don't need it very often, but when you do it's invaluable in my opinion.

@1fareast14 3 жыл бұрын

Especially the numbers instead of ambiguous markings :)

@ahmonon4352 3 жыл бұрын

I own this lens since 2017, actually this is my favorite lens for some unsure reasons. It was little bit slow focusing on my old Sony A72, but it flies with A73 if I set to AF-C.

@mvabiv 3 жыл бұрын

Good to know. Ty

@HesselFolkertsma 3 жыл бұрын

@@mvabiv Since the third generation Sony bodies, I've noticed I don't change back to AF-S anymore. Especially with back-button autofocus enabled, there's little reason to do so anymore. Well, just one: to enable contrast-AF in 1:1 enlarged view.

@thinkpadx60 Жыл бұрын

I just got this lense today to pair with my A7iv so hope it flies too

@andreigold161 3 жыл бұрын

The lens can also display the focus distance when using AF - and this is actually very handy as can be used as a distance meter of sorts when doing location scout work, ive adopted the 25mm for this purpose as i can quickly tell the size (almost exactly) of any given room or space

@BIbiVstf3sx 3 жыл бұрын

i have been waiting for this one! thank you! ( ihave the batis 25 and i am very satisfied by tis af speed and rendering

@networm64 3 жыл бұрын

Very nice review as always Chris! I wish we could see a comparison with the Sony 85 1.8 half the price of this luxury lens or the higher priced 1.4 GM lens! Hopefully those lovely GM primes appear on your great reviews soon

@backfilms1953 3 жыл бұрын

I love the classic Carl Zeiss all metal lens

@joaovtaveira 3 жыл бұрын

Optical stabilization "on" and "off" are swapped.

@joaovtaveira 3 жыл бұрын

@Kobe Davian and what the *uch has that to do with my comment?

@Gani99 3 жыл бұрын

Great review as always... Loved it..

@warrenbarnes9653 3 жыл бұрын

I own this lens and I love it. I use it as a 135mm equivalent on my Sony APS-C bodies, including and especially the ones without IBIS. It is extraordinary sharp and has those great Zeiss colors and contrast. It is sufficiently compact to balance well with my APS-C camera bodies. My only criticism is that I find its bokeh to be very busy - not smooth at all. Still, it is perfect for my use at indoor concerts and outdoor portraits. I highly recommend it, despite the high cost.

@apexyao8931 3 жыл бұрын

You don’t need to watch this video. JUST GO BUY THIS LENS! This is the best lens I’ve ever bought!

@vikmanphotography7984 3 жыл бұрын

It's good. Just not price competitive.

@focuspulling 3 жыл бұрын

This was the extremely rare case of Zeiss caving in and adding in-lens stabilization as appropriate at this long focal length. Sony has mostly abandoned including that feature (to a chorus of grumpy stills photographers who think it compromises image quality), even though its cinema cameras lack IBIS. It's one of the biggest cost-cutting, greedy scams in the lens manufacturing biz. This is my go-to lens for portraits and interviews.

@RealRaynedance 3 жыл бұрын

Aren't cinema cameras usually on tripods or gimbals? (Yes, I do know it's useful to have IBIS for entirely handheld video and having the option to turn it off, which is why I care as much as I do about it outside of using vintage lenses for stills.)

@focuspulling 3 жыл бұрын

@@RealRaynedance Less than half the time these days in the most revered "indie" films and even big-budgeted films. Although it's in decline, we've all been cursed with a hipster/slacker/woke aesthetic that sloppy = cool and diverse. Image stabilization at least lessens the pain of that style to vomit-averse levels.

@RealRaynedance 3 жыл бұрын

@@focuspulling Fair reasoning.

@RickMentore 3 жыл бұрын

I long suspected that technology have left these Zeiss lenses behind. I have seen videos where the Sony FE 85mm F1.8 tested better than this Zeiss. Fascinating that Zeiss still maintains their original asking price.

@HesselFolkertsma 3 жыл бұрын

OSS, weather sealing & T* coating costs extra, as well as the OLED screen. The price doesn't seem that strange to me for a premium feeling product.

@tigerheaddude 3 жыл бұрын

@@HesselFolkertsma true, but the main purpose of a lens is the picture it takes, and as things stand now, it's falling behind a bit

@HesselFolkertsma 3 жыл бұрын

@@tigerheaddude yes and a Pinhole also takes pictures. But once you want an enclosure and lens mount , you pay more. That is my point, you’re paying for good performance and extra tech.

@tomrhardwick 3 жыл бұрын

Great review Chris. I've owned this lens for three years and I just adore it. I have a much more modern AF Samyang 50/1.4, but this lens is just better in every way. I love the OLED DoF scale, finding it so useful for close-up work. I love the integrated shape of the hood, and would contradict you somewhat in that I feel it should be a permanent fixture on this lens. I too use it on my A7RII and it's my go-to lens; light, fast, sharp, stabilised, swoopy looking. My previous 85/1.8 was the Canon, and I was BLOWNAWAY when I first saw what this Batis can do. When feeding the 42.4 mp sensor you can treat it like a zoom back in Photoshop, cropping into images in an unbelievable way.

@Samson1 3 жыл бұрын

You should review old lenses from the 70s and 80s at some point, like the Canon FDs, Olympus F.Zuiko, Nikon and Pentax. It could be fun!

@Sysopx86 3 жыл бұрын

this or the sigma 85mm f1.4 dg dn?

@patrickmckeag3215 3 жыл бұрын

There's also the Viltrox 85mm f1.8 FE which I own and is good enough for me. Here in Canada it's 1/3 the price of the Zeiss although without the pedigree of course.

@robertcudlipp3426 3 жыл бұрын

Given the almost obscenely high prices of these lens, which are almost promoted as top of the list mainstream, as opposed to Leica, it would be very interested to know how many units of each lens Zeiss Batis actually sell. Unlike Leica, am not sure "who/what" Zeiss actually is. They allow so many of the Sony apsc system lens to bear a combination of the Zeiss & Sony names, that I am never sure what input Zeiss actually have in relation to these lens? Any hard knowledge out there?

@Robin_Polarstern Жыл бұрын

I hat some massiv focus issues with the sigma Art dg dn 85mm. With the Batis 100% of the shots are focus and sharp

@marklong691 3 жыл бұрын

Happy New Year Chris, thanks for another great review

@aldente2011 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this video. Just noticed the subtitle at 01:30 should have read OIS 'OFF' and at 01:35 OIS 'ON'. I love this lens.

@raphaelcoelho1557 3 жыл бұрын

The Batis line is focused in video. That is why it has large ring and fly by wire avoiding reaching a limit and shaking the camera. At movies it is normal to use manual focus. Also the ultra wide ones the led showing complete DOF information is fantastic for astrophotography

@Olppa 3 жыл бұрын

Not very good at video since it focus breaths a lot.

@tommygee4262 3 жыл бұрын

good to see you again!

@muratbasc8302 3 жыл бұрын

I would prefer this lens over sigma 85/1.4

@JamesClark1991 3 жыл бұрын

Why??

@networm64 3 жыл бұрын

@@JamesClark1991 maybe for lovely Zeiss colors which are kindda unique

@JamesClark1991 3 жыл бұрын

@@networm64 😂😂🤦🏻‍♂️

@networm64 3 жыл бұрын

@@JamesClark1991 lol I didn't mean to be sarcastic, watch Dustin Abbot's reviews of Batis lenses

@johnadams3038 3 жыл бұрын

When you getting the GM35 for reviewing? I ordered but still would be nice to see your take on it :)

@nicholasplant3992 Жыл бұрын

It is now £755 on Amazon UK. The Batis 25mm is £699 on Amazon UK. Are they the best at that price point?

@CabalMNCapella 3 жыл бұрын

Literally just been looking at this lens!

@elise3455 3 жыл бұрын

That's a pretty impressive low aperture (f/16, f/22) performance.

@lyaxedm1825 3 жыл бұрын

Yes but nobody is going to shoot in those apertures with that lens

@elise3455 3 жыл бұрын

@@lyaxedm1825 Perhaps, but it is quite convenient for a few occasions: 1. Good DOF for 'macro' photography (which the lens is somewhat suited for with the closer than average focusing distance) 2. Spontaneous long exposures (f/22 for when you're not carrying ND filters with you)

@lyaxedm1825 3 жыл бұрын

@@elise3455 0.8m for minimum focusing distance is nowhere near useful for macro tho

@elise3455 3 жыл бұрын

@@lyaxedm1825 Note the quotation marks. Macro-esque photos.

@watch4joygroup441 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this review

@BuildingCenter 3 жыл бұрын

If you don’t mind manual lenses, there’s an Opteka 85mm 1.8 that used to be about US$100. I have it and love it. Super-creamy bokeh, if that matters. No chromatic aberration that I’ve noticed, nor any coma in astro shots. It’s almost unbelievable when I think about it against my Zeiss, Sony, Voigtlander glass. Shit. I gotta go shoot it.

@Aznpro323 3 жыл бұрын

I was seriously contemplating between this lens and the Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 but ultimately went towards Sony because of the cost. Although this is still a leans I hopefully can have in my collection

@maxwiltshire6159 3 жыл бұрын

Chris, what are those dark grey rectangular things (look like stickers of some sort?) that I keep seeing on lenses in your reviews? I've never noticed them anywhere else and tryig to work out what they are is puzzling me! P.s. great video - looks like a fabulous lens; the portrait shots have beautiful punch and contrast.

@christopherfrost 3 жыл бұрын

They cover up the lens hire company's logo stickers

@maxwiltshire6159 3 жыл бұрын

@@christopherfrost Ah, and here I was thinking you just had a vast library of lenses to play with!

@christopherfrost 3 жыл бұрын

Haha, absolutely not! I'd need to be a much richer man hehe

@npvids Жыл бұрын

Do I need this lens if I own Sigma 100mm dg dn macro?

@charlesgarton9297 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, my partner and I love your reviews and always look out for your 'highly recommended ' recommendations. I wondered if you could look at the Fuji 10-24mm. They have brought out an updated version and I'm wondering if it would still be a good idea to buy the earlier (and cheaper) version? Very best wishes, Charles

@MLA50 3 жыл бұрын

Great video very informative! There was purple fringing in the center wide open but you didn't indicate that.

@thanhang6987 3 жыл бұрын

How about batis 40 f2 cf?

@srijonmondal8842 3 жыл бұрын

Please review the tamron 28-200mm

@specialfoodie 3 жыл бұрын

Christopher the best

@alexandrah.4244 3 жыл бұрын

I use the Sony 85mm 1.8 .for half the Price. Do you think that the Zeiss BATIS is better ?

@williamhindle4366 Жыл бұрын

I had the Sony FE 85mm f1.8 for less then a year and got the chance to trade it in towards the Zeiss (used in excellent condition with a box), where I paid in $150. On my A7R3, it’s extremely sharp (sharper wide open then the Sony), feels more solid then the Sony and has image stabilisation. However, I felt that the Sony focused faster and eye focus was a bit more effective on the Sony. I wouldn’t say it’s worth double the price, but in my case upgrading to it was a no-brainer.

@CosminMuresanTrainspotting 3 жыл бұрын

Please 24mm f1.4 GM!

@bleuebloom 3 жыл бұрын

And the 20 and 35 GM, we rlly need his reviews lol, the 17364629 videos that came out yesterday on the 35mm f/1.4 GM are nowhere near as good as Chris’s reviews

@chamithathukorala1985 3 жыл бұрын

Would you please try next time zeiss 40mm f2 ❤️❤️❤️

@HesselFolkertsma 3 жыл бұрын

I personally found this lens to be excellent.

@christopherfrost 3 жыл бұрын

One day, yes

@JayMacroPhotos 3 жыл бұрын

Hi, curious if you had any plans to review Voigtlander APO-LANTHAR 50mm f/2?

@christopherfrost 3 жыл бұрын

Maybe one day

@guidoserrano2629 3 жыл бұрын

Would you recommend the Batis primes over the G master?

@bozmundarts2614 3 жыл бұрын

This one for price and size convinience. At least for myself.

@Eihei 3 жыл бұрын

It's good, but considering it's pretty much twice the price of Samyang 85/1.4 it simply doesn't make sense.

@bikingmoments 3 жыл бұрын

See comparisons. Samyang falls way behind at corner IQ. Also, that’s what you should expect for any ‘premium’ alternatives - to spend 3 times money for 20% improvement..

@Eihei 3 жыл бұрын

The difference is negligible, especially since the corners will be out of focus in every photo anyway. The most important thing is that Samyang doesn't have CA issues. If you compare it to the Batis, yes - batis is really sharp but has a very slight purple fringing in the center, where it actually matters. Also for the price of Batis you can get the newest small Sigma 85/1.4 which is in completely different league.

@bikingmoments 3 жыл бұрын

@@Eihei No Samyang has its weaknesses. I personally own a 35mm f1.4 Samyang. Its AF frequently freezes which is quite annoying; it cannot stay focused at AF-C mode. Tbh I wouldn’t buy another Samyang based on these unpleasant experiences...

@DQmanglocQ 3 жыл бұрын

@@bikingmoments 35mm is one of there first af lenses. 85mm is native like autofocus

@Eihei 3 жыл бұрын

@@DQmanglocQ yep. 85mm is actually more reliable than Sony GM.

@robertcudlipp3426 3 жыл бұрын

Whatever the imaging qualities of this lens, it's ultra high cost, compared to numerous other high quality 85mm lens simply means that I will look elsewhere.

@MdAminuzzaman 3 жыл бұрын

U r biased, didn't mention the purple fringing....

@cvasqueza321 3 жыл бұрын

Hey I love your page and your reviews on lenses are very on point. I was wondering if you could review or are going to eventually review the Nikon 14-30 F4 and Nikon 24-200 F4-6.3.

@avenegas0691 3 жыл бұрын

Way too EXPENSIVE for a single Sony lens... You can buy a very nice DSLR Entry Digital Camera with the same amount of money -lens and some extra gadgets included.

@vedadrokkor 3 жыл бұрын

Now please test the Sony FE 85 1.8. It is better than the Batis in my opinion and I've had both. Cheaper new than Batis used.

@christopherfrost 3 жыл бұрын

I already have. I found the Batis to be very slightly sharper (I think)

@lorenzogattaldo3764 3 жыл бұрын

@@christopherfrost The Batis is sharper and shows punchier contrast indeed, even more so at close range. Moreover it has better control of CA.

@metphmet 3 жыл бұрын

@@lorenzogattaldo3764 As a consequence it has a very nice colours rendition .It is also a fantastic lens on APS-C . Batis lenses are a bit overpriced. I buy them as second end.

@diegorivera2711 3 жыл бұрын

Oh, no! First again! Taking the 🍒.

@christopherfrost 3 жыл бұрын

I don't know how you do it! :-)

@vikmanphotography7984 3 жыл бұрын

Zeiss= relying on their name recognition and an attractive exterior to sell overpriced lenses that are just average

@marcellperina 3 жыл бұрын

The 50mm begs to differ but i agree on this particular lens, the sony fe and samyang variants just make this lense obsolete and overpriced

@vikmanphotography7984 3 жыл бұрын

@@marcellperina the 50mm also has the luxary of competing against few alternatives. Of the autofocus FE 50mm 1.4s, you've got: -An older samyang with bad AF -Sigma ART very good but massive and AF optimized for SLR (I own this) Wow. I can't think of any more. I might be missing some but even I thought that list was longer when I started it.