Quality on the A7RIII is simply stunning at every aperture and any distance. I wish it was a bit smaller and lighter (being f/2.8) but don't regret buying mine at all. It makes such a great landscape and nature lens, effectively giving you the mid-range of a 2.8/70-200mm at half the size/weight and higher quality. One thing worth highlighting is the relatively close focus capability, which adds to the versatility of the lens, particularly as the balance of sharpness and blur at close range is absolutely gorgeous. In fact, it was Dustin's beautiful close focussed images of woodland that persuaded me to add this lens to my kit (thanks Dustin). I now have four Batis lenses. They are a joy to shoot on the A7 cameras and every one is exceptional.
Excellent review (as always)! Just a note, I took this lens with me to Iceland for a trip focused upon shooting landscape. I opted for this lens over the 70-200 f/4 G that I also have with some hesitance (prime vs zoom travel issue), but rationalizing that I could reach 200mm by switching to APS-C mode on the A7RIII if necessary. I actually thought I wouldn't need it that much and would probably be shooting more on the wide end. As it turns out, I definitely used this lens and focal length quite a bit for the incredible landscapes and, to my surprise, this produced some of the sharpest and best photos of the trip with beautiful color and contrast. I was glad to have had the opportunity to become more comfortable with shooting a telephoto prime with this lens over the week and can say that the quality is just top notch. The stunning Icelandic landscape was served well with this stunning prime telephoto lens. It's a keeper and can't wait to use it more frequently.
Thank you for the review Dustin - All the best for your home! Also - a shoutout to B&H and Sony Electronics!!! - Please, please give Dustin a Sony A7Rii (or A9!) for his reviews are excellent and most unbiased anyone can come across!
Very informative review. Congratulations. I have the Zeiss Batis 85mm and I am very satisfied. The 135mm must be equally good. A pro quality lens. For the e-mount cameras there are many Sony Zeiss lenses which are actually not Zeiss lenses. However the full format Zeiss Batis, the APS-C format Zeis Touit and the exceptional full format manual Zeiss Loxia series are all real Zeiss lenses for e-mount cameras. From my experience Zeiss lenses have the best contrast which can't be measured like sharpness, distortion or vignetting. Canon and Nikon are frightened by the superiority of Zeiss. That's why they don't permit Zeiss autofocus lenses for their cameras. On the other hand Sony which is Japanese too is open minded. Germans were always exceptional with lenses. Zeiss had a dark past during WWII and was divided to east and west Germany. Zeiss is Nice with a high Price.
I didn't add the 2.8/135 to my kit until very recently and I think you missed ONE SIGNIFICANT ISSUE with the lens. It tends to not focus to infinity when pointed at distant landscapes. This is not an issue at smaller apertures, but it softens the image a bit at larger apertures. Of course this can be overcome by going to M or DMF mode then manual turning the focusing ring to "force" the lens to infinity, but it is uber annoying. I want to be able to lift and snap a scenic shot without having to change focus modes or live with the annoying red contrast peaking indication all the time and losing continuous AF by leaving the camera in DMF mode. It is not minor; you can definitely see it in two identically exposed shots -- one with forced infinity and one on AF. Maybe they can fix this with a new firmware, but as for now (August 2020) there is no firmware update from Zeiss for the 2.8/135 (the only one available for the Batis line is for the 2/40 CF). -- Otherwise, the lens is optically flawless and I basically carry it instead of the 1.8/85 Batis these days because i goes to about 1:5 magnification instead of 1:8 for the 18/85. Basically, it is not quite as fast but every bit as sharp and aberration free as an Otus 1.4/100 with which it shares a similar 14 elements / 11 group optical design.
Hi Dwight, I can't report that as an issue as I didn't see it in my tests. That sounds like something you may need to take up with Zeiss, as that is not a typical issue.
Dustin Abbott really ok. I've had great success with it. but if you take your finger off the button it will go back to auto focus in AF-C. I've run into that.
Dustin Abbott cool on not liking the ergonomics of A7R ii. You'll or anyone will have difficulties with a cameras system. thanks for a great review. it was still better than most who review Sony's. yours doesn't have bias even though you don't like camera or ergonomics. I'll still be watching for adapting lenses
Dustin Abbott For ergonomics i could find workarounds. I totally don't like their lag at startup, at waking up, the delay in reviewing the pictures, the battery life(people say ok, carry more batteries, which di per se i don't mind, but if you take in account the time you change the battery, the time that the camera wakes up and goes into shooting mode, you lose like 10 seconds at least, and at an event that can be decisive) . Canons works instantly, like they would be only mechanics inside, like a film camera, you almost don't feel the electronic delay. People say also about the shutter and autofocus of the new mirrorless. For me that's a big downside, it seems almost like the shutter takes two long, goes in two steps instead of one. For video, though, mirorrless ergonomics are much better( especially Panasonics, not so much Sony) cause you can film and keep the camera at your eye, the lenses are smaller and lighter, so the pressure on your shoulder is way smaller. I wouldn't have been able to do this with mu 5div like i did it with the Gh5, even if the 5div would have had the high frame rates options. vimeo.com/214452695
really hope u will do more review on sony fe stuff in the future. becos that is what i use. but nonetheless. i still watch your video because they are good n keep me updated with what other brand has. thanks for uploading.
I want this lens, but when I am browsing Batis 135 photos on flickr, I do not find so many impressive pictures even if compared to let’s say to Canon EF-S 55-250. Is it just expensive toy which stays at home most of the time?
That would really depend on the photographer. I certainly got much more magical images with the Batis than I ever did with the 55-250, but I’ll also say that yes, a 135mm prime does often stay home because the focal length is limiting.
I think others are right tho, I understand your house and family comes first but it would pull in so many more viewers and followers if you could keep a Sony around and just review rented len's at least. It's almost impossible to find someone like you who is very unbiased when reviewing this gear especially when pertaining to Sony gear, a lot of RUclips fall into the hype or get over excited and give over the top reviews and hype to validate their purchases. You always remain honest and professional and I trust your opinions. Please just consider it as a favor for the channel as a whole as you are one of a few great sources of information to big purchases.
@@DustinAbbottTWI But you know the Sony 135mm 1.8 GM (which are about the same optical quality as the new Samyang), so how are the Zeiss Batis 135mm 2.8 at aperture 5.6 to 11 for Landscape Photography compared to Sony 135mm 1.8 GM ? The Batis are lighter and have optical stabilizer.
Dustin, only did I stumble on your channel in the last few months and I am thankful that I did. Thanks for your reliably thorough and thoughtful analysis. It’s been a while since the review, but I wonder if you can answer a question. I am in the middle of switching to Sony Alpha from Canon and I currently have an a7riii (to be supplemented with an A7iii soon). I am considering the batis 135 for headshots, but also to fill i the role of a 70-200 for events (by punching into APS-C when needed) until I can swing the 70-200 gm. I am concerned about low light AF. I very often need to shoot speakers and panel discussions at around 1/80th f2.8 at ISO6400 without flash. The camera can easily resolve with acceptable noise at that exposure, can I expect this lens to acquire focus quickly and reliably at those light levels?
Fernando, I don't think you'll have any problems. I find the ability to switch into APS-C mode very useful for events, as with the A7R3 that's enough resolution for that kind of setting. Getting two framing options is fantastic.
Great review as always Dustin and the lens definitely performs like a Zeiss product which is to say excellent. Now I know that Canada switched to the Metric system over 4 decades ago but I'm curious if you set the lens (for your personal use) to Imperial or Metric.
Most of my Canadian friends still use the Imperial measurement system for length measurements although road speeds they generally express in kilometers per hour. I live in the Buffalo metropolitan area in close proximity to the Niagara River and Canada. and often visit the country.
Both are extremely sharp. I think the Batis has more wide open contrast (its actually pretty stunning on the Batis). Bear in mind that I tested the Rokinon on a 6D body - much, much lower resolution.
Dear Dustin, Did you have a chance to compare this Batis 135 to the new 135 1.8 GM. I have a chence to buy a used but mint condition Batis for the half of a new GM's price.
@@DustinAbbottTWI So I tried the GM in a Sony workshop. It is impressive. But comparing the images on the net and also what I saw made a decision. I pick up the Batis for a bit less than 1000USD . It is less than half of the regular price of a new Batis in the only official Zeiss dealer in my Country. I guess Will be happy with this lens. Your review also helped lot.
The rubber focus rings are good for a short period of time but unavoidably they wear by the sun, time and the constant use. All kinds of rubber are oxidized after years or decades and become less elastic and fragile. Lenses can be usable after decades unlike digital cameras. If they rubber rings are user replaceable by official spare rubber rings, there is no problem at all. Otherwise metal focus and zoom rings are much better.
+Achilleas Labrou I've heard this comment before, but I've yet to see any evidence of it though I've used more than a dozen of these lenses, and plenty of them used. That being said, I've got some vintage glass that is 40-50 years old that still looks close to new.
I got my 135mm f/1.8 Zeiss and the LA-EA4 adapter quite some time ago for around US$1200 used. I really can't see the justification to buy this f/2.8 lens for US$2000. As you've described, it won't win awards for AF speed and it hunts when it misses focus, and all the advantages of using a native FE lens flew out of the window...
I also said that I don't really have a frame of reference for AF speed on an A7R II. I'm pretty confident focus speed would be faster than an adapted lens.
:) I am so glad you are not thrown by my gallows/black/Charles Adams type of humor:) But seriously, I know people are a bit "crowd funded" out these days, but there has got to be a way. If the Sony enthusiasts really want you to test and report on these things, there has got to be a way to get you the resources to do so. One thing is for sure, you are a man of honor (among other things), and you would fulfill your end of the bargain if such an arrangement was made for you. In that, I am confident!
I keep telling him this! Tooooo many over the top Sony hyped reviewers and I'm a Sony fan boy for the tech and just from a investment point of view I see the glass and gear holding higher value longer moving forward. But beyond my own reasons and thinking the RUclips community has become toxic and corrupted. Dustin keep its 100% no matter the company or what he shoots! We need more pro unbiased honest reviews!
Quality on the A7RIII is simply stunning at every aperture and any distance. I wish it was a bit smaller and lighter (being f/2.8) but don't regret buying mine at all. It makes such a great landscape and nature lens, effectively giving you the mid-range of a 2.8/70-200mm at half the size/weight and higher quality. One thing worth highlighting is the relatively close focus capability, which adds to the versatility of the lens, particularly as the balance of sharpness and blur at close range is absolutely gorgeous. In fact, it was Dustin's beautiful close focussed images of woodland that persuaded me to add this lens to my kit (thanks Dustin). I now have four Batis lenses. They are a joy to shoot on the A7 cameras and every one is exceptional.
The Batis lenses are special, for sure!
Excellent review (as always)! Just a note, I took this lens with me to Iceland for a trip focused upon shooting landscape. I opted for this lens over the 70-200 f/4 G that I also have with some hesitance (prime vs zoom travel issue), but rationalizing that I could reach 200mm by switching to APS-C mode on the A7RIII if necessary. I actually thought I wouldn't need it that much and would probably be shooting more on the wide end. As it turns out, I definitely used this lens and focal length quite a bit for the incredible landscapes and, to my surprise, this produced some of the sharpest and best photos of the trip with beautiful color and contrast. I was glad to have had the opportunity to become more comfortable with shooting a telephoto prime with this lens over the week and can say that the quality is just top notch. The stunning Icelandic landscape was served well with this stunning prime telephoto lens. It's a keeper and can't wait to use it more frequently.
I'm not surprised by this story, actually. Some "big scenes" are too big for a wide angle lens to do justice to.
Excellent overview and presentation, definitely one of the best reviewers of camera equipment out there. Thanks.
Thanks for the feedback.
Thank you for the review Dustin - All the best for your home! Also - a shoutout to B&H and Sony Electronics!!! - Please, please give Dustin a Sony A7Rii (or A9!) for his reviews are excellent and most unbiased anyone can come across!
I'm afraid your request will fall on deaf ears!
im a sony e mount user, still loves your ef lens reviews, got some adapted lenses after watching your review.
That's great!
Excellent and very thorough review of this new optic. Greatly appreciated Dustin!
+Robert Sherrow My pleasure. It's a special lens.
Very informative review. Congratulations.
I have the Zeiss Batis 85mm and I am very satisfied. The 135mm must be equally good. A pro quality lens.
For the e-mount cameras there are many Sony Zeiss lenses which are actually not Zeiss lenses.
However the full format Zeiss Batis, the APS-C format Zeis Touit and the exceptional full format manual Zeiss Loxia series are all real Zeiss lenses for e-mount cameras.
From my experience Zeiss lenses have the best contrast which can't be measured like sharpness, distortion or vignetting.
Canon and Nikon are frightened by the superiority of Zeiss. That's why they don't permit Zeiss autofocus lenses for their cameras.
On the other hand Sony which is Japanese too is open minded.
Germans were always exceptional with lenses. Zeiss had a dark past during WWII and was divided to east and west Germany.
Zeiss is
Nice with a high
Price.
I didn't add the 2.8/135 to my kit until very recently and I think you missed ONE SIGNIFICANT ISSUE with the lens. It tends to not focus to infinity when pointed at distant landscapes. This is not an issue at smaller apertures, but it softens the image a bit at larger apertures. Of course this can be overcome by going to M or DMF mode then manual turning the focusing ring to "force" the lens to infinity, but it is uber annoying. I want to be able to lift and snap a scenic shot without having to change focus modes or live with the annoying red contrast peaking indication all the time and losing continuous AF by leaving the camera in DMF mode. It is not minor; you can definitely see it in two identically exposed shots -- one with forced infinity and one on AF. Maybe they can fix this with a new firmware, but as for now (August 2020) there is no firmware update from Zeiss for the 2.8/135 (the only one available for the Batis line is for the 2/40 CF).
--
Otherwise, the lens is optically flawless and I basically carry it instead of the 1.8/85 Batis these days because i goes to about 1:5 magnification instead of 1:8 for the 18/85. Basically, it is not quite as fast but every bit as sharp and aberration free as an Otus 1.4/100 with which it shares a similar 14 elements / 11 group optical design.
Hi Dwight, I can't report that as an issue as I didn't see it in my tests. That sounds like something you may need to take up with Zeiss, as that is not a typical issue.
to overide any auto focus mode you can press the inside the af/ael switch while its selected toward af/mf. then if you need readjust focus.
I've often tried that, but without consistent success.
I'm not a big fan of the ergonomics on the a7R II.
Dustin Abbott really ok. I've had great success with it. but if you take your finger off the button it will go back to auto focus in AF-C. I've run into that.
Dustin Abbott cool on not liking the ergonomics of A7R ii. You'll or anyone will have difficulties with a cameras system.
thanks for a great review. it was still better than most who review Sony's. yours doesn't have bias even though you don't like camera or ergonomics.
I'll still be watching for adapting lenses
Dustin Abbott For ergonomics i could find workarounds. I totally don't like their lag at startup, at waking up, the delay in reviewing the pictures, the battery life(people say ok, carry more batteries, which di per se i don't mind, but if you take in account the time you change the battery, the time that the camera wakes up and goes into shooting mode, you lose like 10 seconds at least, and at an event that can be decisive) . Canons works instantly, like they would be only mechanics inside, like a film camera, you almost don't feel the electronic delay. People say also about the shutter and autofocus of the new mirrorless. For me that's a big downside, it seems almost like the shutter takes two long, goes in two steps instead of one. For video, though, mirorrless ergonomics are much better( especially Panasonics, not so much Sony) cause you can film and keep the camera at your eye, the lenses are smaller and lighter, so the pressure on your shoulder is way smaller. I wouldn't have been able to do this with mu 5div like i did it with the Gh5, even if the 5div would have had the high frame rates options.
vimeo.com/214452695
Nice review and congratulation on building your new home.
Thank you very much!
really hope u will do more review on sony fe stuff in the future. becos that is what i use. but nonetheless. i still watch your video because they are good n keep me updated with what other brand has. thanks for uploading.
That will probably only happen if I get a Sony body in the future.
I want this lens, but when I am browsing Batis 135 photos on flickr, I do not find so many impressive pictures even if compared to let’s say to Canon EF-S 55-250. Is it just expensive toy which stays at home most of the time?
That would really depend on the photographer. I certainly got much more magical images with the Batis than I ever did with the 55-250, but I’ll also say that yes, a 135mm prime does often stay home because the focal length is limiting.
Woot been waiting for this review! Thank you!
You're welcome.
I think others are right tho, I understand your house and family comes first but it would pull in so many more viewers and followers if you could keep a Sony around and just review rented len's at least. It's almost impossible to find someone like you who is very unbiased when reviewing this gear especially when pertaining to Sony gear, a lot of RUclips fall into the hype or get over excited and give over the top reviews and hype to validate their purchases. You always remain honest and professional and I trust your opinions. Please just consider it as a favor for the channel as a whole as you are one of a few great sources of information to big purchases.
Almost all of the lenses I review are loaners anyway. I'm afraid dropping three grand on a Sony body isn't in the budget, though.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
How are the Samyang 135mm 1.8 AF and the Sony 135mm 1.8 GM at aperture 5.6 to 11 compared to Zeiss Batis APO Sonnar 2.8 for Landscape Photography ?
I won't know that until I get my hands on the Samyang. Hopefully soon!
@@DustinAbbottTWI But you know the Sony 135mm 1.8 GM (which are about the same optical quality as the new Samyang), so how are the Zeiss Batis 135mm 2.8 at aperture 5.6 to 11 for Landscape Photography compared to Sony 135mm 1.8 GM ? The Batis are lighter and have optical stabilizer.
Dustin, only did I stumble on your channel in the last few months and I am thankful that I did. Thanks for your reliably thorough and thoughtful analysis.
It’s been a while since the review, but I wonder if you can answer a question. I am in the middle of switching to Sony Alpha from Canon and I currently have an a7riii (to be supplemented with an A7iii soon). I am considering the batis 135 for headshots, but also to fill i the role of a 70-200 for events (by punching into APS-C when needed)
until I can swing the 70-200 gm. I am concerned about low light AF. I very often need to shoot speakers and panel discussions at around 1/80th f2.8 at ISO6400 without flash. The camera can easily resolve with acceptable noise at that exposure, can I expect this lens to acquire focus quickly and reliably at those light levels?
Fernando, I don't think you'll have any problems. I find the ability to switch into APS-C mode very useful for events, as with the A7R3 that's enough resolution for that kind of setting. Getting two framing options is fantastic.
Thank you!
Excellent review. Thanks very much!
You're welcome!
Great review as always Dustin and the lens definitely performs like a Zeiss product which is to say excellent. Now I know that Canada switched to the Metric system over 4 decades ago but I'm curious if you set the lens (for your personal use) to Imperial or Metric.
I'm actually an American (living in Canada), so I put it in feet.
Most of my Canadian friends still use the Imperial measurement system for length measurements although road speeds they generally express in kilometers per hour. I live in the Buffalo metropolitan area in close proximity to the Niagara River and Canada. and often visit the country.
Any thoughts on the Batis 135 F2.8 vs the Rokinon 135 f2 for image quality.
Both are extremely sharp. I think the Batis has more wide open contrast (its actually pretty stunning on the Batis). Bear in mind that I tested the Rokinon on a 6D body - much, much lower resolution.
Love your detail reviews. Is the AF any better with the a7r iii?
I'm sure it is. Everything focuses better on the a7R3 compared to the a7R2!
excellent review , thanx
Thanks for the feedback.
Dear Dustin,
Did you have a chance to compare this Batis 135 to the new 135 1.8 GM. I have a chence to buy a used but mint condition Batis for the half of a new GM's price.
I haven't looked at the 135GM yet
@@DustinAbbottTWI Big mistake Sir :)
Only so much time
@@DustinAbbottTWI So I tried the GM in a Sony workshop. It is impressive. But comparing the images on the net and also what I saw made a decision. I pick up the Batis for a bit less than 1000USD . It is less than half of the regular price of a new Batis in the only official Zeiss dealer in my Country. I guess Will be happy with this lens. Your review also helped lot.
It is a used one in mint condition with two month til the end of its Zeiss warranty.
It would be nice if this lens was an f/1.8 or f/2... Many of us use 70-200mm f/2.8 llenses and so have the 135mm focal length faster lens...
That was my main concern, too, as it doesn't provide any unique aperture advantage over zooms. It is obviously much more compact, however.
The rubber focus rings are good for a short period of time but unavoidably they wear by the sun, time and the constant use. All kinds of rubber are oxidized after years or decades and become less elastic and fragile. Lenses can be usable after decades unlike digital cameras.
If they rubber rings are user replaceable by official spare rubber rings, there is no problem at all. Otherwise metal focus and zoom rings are much better.
+Achilleas Labrou I've heard this comment before, but I've yet to see any evidence of it though I've used more than a dozen of these lenses, and plenty of them used. That being said, I've got some vintage glass that is 40-50 years old that still looks close to new.
Dustin have you reviewed the 12-24 mm SONY?
I haven't yet, no.
Thank you, I am considering it for the extreme width for landscape. Thank you, Kevin.
Amazing lens, I only have the Samyang 135 f/2.
That's an excellent lens, though a little harder to focus than this one ;)
I got my 135mm f/1.8 Zeiss and the LA-EA4 adapter quite some time ago for around US$1200 used. I really can't see the justification to buy this f/2.8 lens for US$2000. As you've described, it won't win awards for AF speed and it hunts when it misses focus, and all the advantages of using a native FE lens flew out of the window...
I also said that I don't really have a frame of reference for AF speed on an A7R II. I'm pretty confident focus speed would be faster than an adapted lens.
Much better decision. Don't fall for Zeiss dream deceivers.
Batis > Gmaster
I've not directly compared, but the Batis lenses are certainly strong.
CAD 2,700 ... Makes it easy to put house before gear-lust.
Yep!
Excellent review. Thanks!!!!!
Very wordy review this time :)
Also, make sure to sleep enough you look like you need some time off.
It has been a very busy season. I'll probably look like this until the house gets finished. There's a LOT on my plate right now!
hmmmmm...... "Testing Sony bodies and lenses is the Lord's work, therefore we are doing a special collection today.........."
Let's pass the plate...
:) I am so glad you are not thrown by my gallows/black/Charles Adams type of humor:) But seriously, I know people are a bit "crowd funded" out these days, but there has got to be a way. If the Sony enthusiasts really want you to test and report on these things, there has got to be a way to get you the resources to do so. One thing is for sure, you are a man of honor (among other things), and you would fulfill your end of the bargain if such an arrangement was made for you. In that, I am confident!
I hereby appoint you head usher...
I keep telling him this! Tooooo many over the top Sony hyped reviewers and I'm a Sony fan boy for the tech and just from a investment point of view I see the glass and gear holding higher value longer moving forward. But beyond my own reasons and thinking the RUclips community has become toxic and corrupted. Dustin keep its 100% no matter the company or what he shoots! We need more pro unbiased honest reviews!