Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 Lens For Sony E Mount
Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 The super wide-angle lens for a new era. A very large field of view and fast autofocus combined with protection against dust and splashes for reliable photography in any weather: this is the ideal full-frame lens for landscape, astrophotography, and architectural photography. The very large field of view of this super wide-angle lens is perfect for creative shots with unusual perspectives. Consistently excellent image quality right to the corners makes this lens ideal for the challenges of landscape, astrophotography, and architectural photography. The Zeiss Batis autofocus lenses have been specifically designed for Sony's mirrorless full-frame cameras. They have been tailored to create a compact, lightweight system with the camera that does not compromise on performance. The lenses are fully compatible with all E-Mount cameras and offer not only fast, quiet autofocus but also protection against dust and weather. For creative photography, the innovative OLED display shows distance and depth of field to ensure that the focus area can always be perfectly adjusted. The high-precision prime lenses of the Zeiss Batis family provide flawless imaging thanks to their completely revised optical design. The legendary Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating, combined with over 125 years of experience in lens development and the latest technologies, ensures that every moment captured with a Zeiss Batis lens delivers that exceptional Zeiss look.
Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 The super wide-angle lens for a new era. A very large field of view and fast autofocus combined with protection against dust and splashes for reliable photography in any weather: this is the ideal full-frame lens for landscape, astrophotography, and architectural photography. The very large field of view of this super wide-angle lens is perfect for creative shots with unusual perspectives. Consistently excellent image quality right to the corners makes this lens ideal for the challenges of landscape, astrophotography, and architectural photography. The Zeiss Batis autofocus lenses have been specifically designed for Sony's mirrorless full-frame cameras. They have been tailored to create a compact, lightweight system with the camera that does not compromise on performance. The lenses are fully compatible with all E-Mount cameras and offer not only fast, quiet autofocus but also protection against dust and weather. For creative photography, the innovative OLED display shows distance and depth of field to ensure that the focus area can always be perfectly adjusted. The high-precision prime lenses of the Zeiss Batis family provide flawless imaging thanks to their completely revised optical design. The legendary Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating, combined with over 125 years of experience in lens development and the latest technologies, ensures that every moment captured with a Zeiss Batis lens delivers that exceptional Zeiss look.
Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 The super wide-angle lens for a new era. A very large field of view and fast autofocus combined with protection against dust and splashes for reliable photography in any weather: this is the ideal full-frame lens for landscape, astrophotography, and architectural photography. The very large field of view of this super wide-angle lens is perfect for creative shots with unusual perspectives. Consistently excellent image quality right to the corners makes this lens ideal for the challenges of landscape, astrophotography, and architectural photography. The Zeiss Batis autofocus lenses have been specifically designed for Sony's mirrorless full-frame cameras. They have been tailored to create a compact, lightweight system with the camera that does not compromise on performance. The lenses are fully compatible with all E-Mount cameras and offer not only fast, quiet autofocus but also protection against dust and weather. For creative photography, the innovative OLED display shows distance and depth of field to ensure that the focus area can always be perfectly adjusted. The high-precision prime lenses of the Zeiss Batis family provide flawless imaging thanks to their completely revised optical design. The legendary Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating, combined with over 125 years of experience in lens development and the latest technologies, ensures that every moment captured with a Zeiss Batis lens delivers that exceptional Zeiss look.
Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 The super wide-angle lens for a new era. A very large field of view and fast autofocus combined with protection against dust and splashes for reliable photography in any weather: this is the ideal full-frame lens for landscape, astrophotography, and architectural photography. The very large field of view of this super wide-angle lens is perfect for creative shots with unusual perspectives. Consistently excellent image quality right to the corners makes this lens ideal for the challenges of landscape, astrophotography, and architectural photography. The Zeiss Batis autofocus lenses have been specifically designed for Sony's mirrorless full-frame cameras. They have been tailored to create a compact, lightweight system with the camera that does not compromise on performance. The lenses are fully compatible with all E-Mount cameras and offer not only fast, quiet autofocus but also protection against dust and weather. For creative photography, the innovative OLED display shows distance and depth of field to ensure that the focus area can always be perfectly adjusted. The high-precision prime lenses of the Zeiss Batis family provide flawless imaging thanks to their completely revised optical design. The legendary Zeiss T* anti-reflective coating, combined with over 125 years of experience in lens development and the latest technologies, ensures that every moment captured with a Zeiss Batis lens delivers that exceptional Zeiss look.
in 29 offers
The lowest price for Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 Lens For Sony E Mount right now is $652.80 at Unique Photo, compared across 22 retailers.
The all-time low was $648.03 on 10 May 2026 — today's price is 1% above the lowest ever. This is at or near its all-time low — a good time to buy.
Prices last updated 6 Sept 2026.
Last updated at 06/09/2026 02:41:27
ZEISS Batis 18mm f/2.8 for Sony E Mount Mirrorless Cameras, Black
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
ZEISS Batis 18mm f/2.8 for Sony E Mount Mirrorless Cameras, Black
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Used Good Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 AF lens for Sony Full Frame E-Mount Cameras
Delivery $41.67
Used Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 AF lens for Sony FE - Excellent Condition
Delivery $41.67
Used Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 for Sony E - Like New
Delivery $34.73
Open Box Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 AF lens for Sony Full Frame E-Mount Cameras
Delivery $41.67
Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 AF lens for Sony Full Frame E-Mount Cameras
Delivery $41.67
Refurbished - Zeiss Batis 18mm f2.8 Sony FE Mount (Excellent)
Free delivery between Tue – Wed
Zeiss Batis 18mm f2.8 - Sony E Mount | Secondhand
Delivery $9.95
Zeiss Batis 18mm f2.8 - Sony E Mount | Secondhand
Free delivery
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
Once you acquire one of the Zeiss Batis lenses and shoot/video with them, it is very difficult to consider other lenses. They are sharp, the autofocus is very fast (especially for video with the A7III), and the overall look they generate is very distinct.The 18mm is great for gimbal use (video), and that is my main use for it. Yes, you have to get a step closer in most situations...but the trade-off is being able to go wider than usual when in tight spaces.For shooting stills, the distortion is minimal and easily corrected in Lightroom or Photoshop. If you level the 18mm Batis lens horizontally and vertically, your LR and PS work will be kept to a minimum.Buy any of the Batis lenses with confidence that you are getting as good a quality of lens and construction ... MoreOnce you acquire one of the Zeiss Batis lenses and shoot/video with them, it is very difficult to consider other lenses. They are sharp, the autofocus is very fast (especially for video with the A7III), and the overall look they generate is very distinct.The 18mm is great for gimbal use (video), and that is my main use for it. Yes, you have to get a step closer in most situations...but the trade-off is being able to go wider than usual when in tight spaces.For shooting stills, the distortion is minimal and easily corrected in Lightroom or Photoshop. If you level the 18mm Batis lens horizontally and vertically, your LR and PS work will be kept to a minimum.Buy any of the Batis lenses with confidence that you are getting as good a quality of lens and construction as possible for shooting with the Sony E-mount.Having earned a living with a camera for three decades and using a lot of lenses/mounts, I can say that these Batis lenses are lifetime-keeper-quality lenses, in my book.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
This is just an amazing lens. Little distortion, f2.8, light weight, accepts filters (77mm) and extremely sharp from corner to corner.I tried the 16-35 f4 zoom lens which is about the same price but opted instead for this lens for a couple of reasons:1. The Batis IQ is sharper, better IQ2. Much lighter & smaller than the zoom lens, great for travel.3. f2.8 is great for astrophotography and interior architectural shots. The 16-35 f2.8 is much heavier and also $700 more expensive.I already own the 24-105 F4 so I don't really need anything in the 24-35mm focal length. I find 18mm a great UWA focal length that balances distortion & that great wide angle feel.Dislikes: The lens cap is terrible. I changed it to the Sensei 77mm Screw-In Metal Lens Cap ... MoreThis is just an amazing lens. Little distortion, f2.8, light weight, accepts filters (77mm) and extremely sharp from corner to corner.I tried the 16-35 f4 zoom lens which is about the same price but opted instead for this lens for a couple of reasons:1. The Batis IQ is sharper, better IQ2. Much lighter & smaller than the zoom lens, great for travel.3. f2.8 is great for astrophotography and interior architectural shots. The 16-35 f2.8 is much heavier and also $700 more expensive.I already own the 24-105 F4 so I don't really need anything in the 24-35mm focal length. I find 18mm a great UWA focal length that balances distortion & that great wide angle feel.Dislikes: The lens cap is terrible. I changed it to the Sensei 77mm Screw-In Metal Lens Cap (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/806932-REG) which is very rugged and will protect your expensive glass quite well. Furthermore, it is a screw-in cap so it won't fall off accidentally.Finally, if you are looking for a top-notch UWA lens, look no further. It is quite expensive but the quality is unmatched by any other less expensive lens. A terrific less expensive alternative would be the Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 FE. I owned it and produces great results. I sold that lens in order to pay for this one. I don't miss the 4mm, I actually prefer the 18mm focal length and the gain in sharpness across the frame is a sweet bonus.
originally posted on bhphotovideo.com
I'm mostly a prime lens shooter and my last remaining zoom was the Sony FE 16-35 f/4, an excellent piece of glass. Since my collection of primes had grown to include the Zeiss Loxia 35 and Batis 25, I found most of my work with the FE 16-35mm to be in the 16-20mm range. When the reviews were so positive after the release of the Batis 18mm, I decided to give the lens a try knowing that it would really have to deliver in order to dethrone my wide-angle zoom. It did. Seeing is believing came to mind my first time out with this lens on a Sony a7R II. Across-the-frame sharpness is already decent wide open at f/2.8, but it gets amazing between f/4 and 8. When I compare images from the wide-angle zoom, the difference is striking. From individual blades of grass in the ... MoreI'm mostly a prime lens shooter and my last remaining zoom was the Sony FE 16-35 f/4, an excellent piece of glass. Since my collection of primes had grown to include the Zeiss Loxia 35 and Batis 25, I found most of my work with the FE 16-35mm to be in the 16-20mm range. When the reviews were so positive after the release of the Batis 18mm, I decided to give the lens a try knowing that it would really have to deliver in order to dethrone my wide-angle zoom. It did. Seeing is believing came to mind my first time out with this lens on a Sony a7R II. Across-the-frame sharpness is already decent wide open at f/2.8, but it gets amazing between f/4 and 8. When I compare images from the wide-angle zoom, the difference is striking. From individual blades of grass in the foreground or the wood grain of a weathered park bench, the details reach another level of sharpness. Distortion is very well controlled, but as with any ultra wide-angle lens, it's best to keep people and vertical lines (trees, buildings, etc.) away from the edges of the frame when possible. An Adobe LR profile for this lens is now available when needed. Did I mention the color rendering? The Batis 18mm has beautiful rich colors that you expect from a Zeiss lens and were also a notch above the very competent FE 16-35, IMHO. Yes, this lens is a bit larger in diameter than the Sony wide-angle zoom requiring a 77mm filter size instead of a 72mm, but the Batis 18mm is 36% lighter and very well balanced on the Sony a7R II or a7 II, both on and off a tripod. I also found the manual focus of the Batis to be very responsive and accurate. I'm partial to the OLED display and overall design of the Batis lenses and speculate that a former Audi design guru is working at Zeiss. Pros: incredible IQ, color pop, responsive AF, balance on camera, stylish build, weather sealing, Cons: none, other than I had to purchase 77mm filters Many thanks to B&H customer service for their excellent support
| Focal Length | 18mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22 |
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Lens Format Coverage | Full-Frame |
ZEISS Batis 18mm f/2.8 for Sony E Mount Mirrorless Cameras, Black
Free delivery
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
ZEISS Batis 18mm f/2.8 for Sony E Mount Mirrorless Cameras, Black
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Used Good Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 AF lens for Sony Full Frame E-Mount Cameras
Delivery $41.67
Used Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 AF lens for Sony FE - Excellent Condition
Delivery $41.67
Used Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 for Sony E - Like New
Delivery $34.73
Once you acquire one of the Zeiss Batis lenses and shoot/video with them, it is very difficult to consider other lenses. They are sharp, the autofocus is very fast (especially for video with the A7III), and the overall look they generate is very distinct.The 18mm is great for gimbal use (video), and that is my main use for it. Yes, you have to get a step closer in most situations...but the trade-off is being able to go wider than usual when in tight spaces.For shooting stills, the distortion is minimal and easily corrected in Lightroom or Photoshop. If you level the 18mm Batis lens horizontally and vertically, your LR and PS work will be kept to a minimum.Buy any of the Batis lenses with confidence that you are getting as good a quality of lens and construction ... MoreOnce you acquire one of the Zeiss Batis lenses and shoot/video with them, it is very difficult to consider other lenses. They are sharp, the autofocus is very fast (especially for video with the A7III), and the overall look they generate is very distinct.The 18mm is great for gimbal use (video), and that is my main use for it. Yes, you have to get a step closer in most situations...but the trade-off is being able to go wider than usual when in tight spaces.For shooting stills, the distortion is minimal and easily corrected in Lightroom or Photoshop. If you level the 18mm Batis lens horizontally and vertically, your LR and PS work will be kept to a minimum.Buy any of the Batis lenses with confidence that you are getting as good a quality of lens and construction as possible for shooting with the Sony E-mount.Having earned a living with a camera for three decades and using a lot of lenses/mounts, I can say that these Batis lenses are lifetime-keeper-quality lenses, in my book.
This is just an amazing lens. Little distortion, f2.8, light weight, accepts filters (77mm) and extremely sharp from corner to corner.I tried the 16-35 f4 zoom lens which is about the same price but opted instead for this lens for a couple of reasons:1. The Batis IQ is sharper, better IQ2. Much lighter & smaller than the zoom lens, great for travel.3. f2.8 is great for astrophotography and interior architectural shots. The 16-35 f2.8 is much heavier and also $700 more expensive.I already own the 24-105 F4 so I don't really need anything in the 24-35mm focal length. I find 18mm a great UWA focal length that balances distortion & that great wide angle feel.Dislikes: The lens cap is terrible. I changed it to the Sensei 77mm Screw-In Metal Lens Cap ... MoreThis is just an amazing lens. Little distortion, f2.8, light weight, accepts filters (77mm) and extremely sharp from corner to corner.I tried the 16-35 f4 zoom lens which is about the same price but opted instead for this lens for a couple of reasons:1. The Batis IQ is sharper, better IQ2. Much lighter & smaller than the zoom lens, great for travel.3. f2.8 is great for astrophotography and interior architectural shots. The 16-35 f2.8 is much heavier and also $700 more expensive.I already own the 24-105 F4 so I don't really need anything in the 24-35mm focal length. I find 18mm a great UWA focal length that balances distortion & that great wide angle feel.Dislikes: The lens cap is terrible. I changed it to the Sensei 77mm Screw-In Metal Lens Cap (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/806932-REG) which is very rugged and will protect your expensive glass quite well. Furthermore, it is a screw-in cap so it won't fall off accidentally.Finally, if you are looking for a top-notch UWA lens, look no further. It is quite expensive but the quality is unmatched by any other less expensive lens. A terrific less expensive alternative would be the Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 FE. I owned it and produces great results. I sold that lens in order to pay for this one. I don't miss the 4mm, I actually prefer the 18mm focal length and the gain in sharpness across the frame is a sweet bonus.
I'm mostly a prime lens shooter and my last remaining zoom was the Sony FE 16-35 f/4, an excellent piece of glass. Since my collection of primes had grown to include the Zeiss Loxia 35 and Batis 25, I found most of my work with the FE 16-35mm to be in the 16-20mm range. When the reviews were so positive after the release of the Batis 18mm, I decided to give the lens a try knowing that it would really have to deliver in order to dethrone my wide-angle zoom. It did. Seeing is believing came to mind my first time out with this lens on a Sony a7R II. Across-the-frame sharpness is already decent wide open at f/2.8, but it gets amazing between f/4 and 8. When I compare images from the wide-angle zoom, the difference is striking. From individual blades of grass in the ... MoreI'm mostly a prime lens shooter and my last remaining zoom was the Sony FE 16-35 f/4, an excellent piece of glass. Since my collection of primes had grown to include the Zeiss Loxia 35 and Batis 25, I found most of my work with the FE 16-35mm to be in the 16-20mm range. When the reviews were so positive after the release of the Batis 18mm, I decided to give the lens a try knowing that it would really have to deliver in order to dethrone my wide-angle zoom. It did. Seeing is believing came to mind my first time out with this lens on a Sony a7R II. Across-the-frame sharpness is already decent wide open at f/2.8, but it gets amazing between f/4 and 8. When I compare images from the wide-angle zoom, the difference is striking. From individual blades of grass in the foreground or the wood grain of a weathered park bench, the details reach another level of sharpness. Distortion is very well controlled, but as with any ultra wide-angle lens, it's best to keep people and vertical lines (trees, buildings, etc.) away from the edges of the frame when possible. An Adobe LR profile for this lens is now available when needed. Did I mention the color rendering? The Batis 18mm has beautiful rich colors that you expect from a Zeiss lens and were also a notch above the very competent FE 16-35, IMHO. Yes, this lens is a bit larger in diameter than the Sony wide-angle zoom requiring a 77mm filter size instead of a 72mm, but the Batis 18mm is 36% lighter and very well balanced on the Sony a7R II or a7 II, both on and off a tripod. I also found the manual focus of the Batis to be very responsive and accurate. I'm partial to the OLED display and overall design of the Batis lenses and speculate that a former Audi design guru is working at Zeiss. Pros: incredible IQ, color pop, responsive AF, balance on camera, stylish build, weather sealing, Cons: none, other than I had to purchase 77mm filters Many thanks to B&H customer service for their excellent support
At f/2.8 max, this design needs to be what you would consider usable wide open for night skies. For an 18mm lens that's a tall order, but both the Zeiss MTF data and various opinions suggested that it would be a good choice for night sky work, including corner image detail. My sense after very carefully testing two samples using distant city lights at night as a stand-in for stars is that they are just not quite good enough. The four corners of each sample were fairly similar to one another, way more so than a typical Samyang lens, at least in the 14mm f/2.8 manual focus model if not most of theirs or perhaps not (I hope) their more recent models. However not one of the eight corners was what you would call sharp and at 100% they were all fairly ugly or ... MoreAt f/2.8 max, this design needs to be what you would consider usable wide open for night skies. For an 18mm lens that's a tall order, but both the Zeiss MTF data and various opinions suggested that it would be a good choice for night sky work, including corner image detail. My sense after very carefully testing two samples using distant city lights at night as a stand-in for stars is that they are just not quite good enough. The four corners of each sample were fairly similar to one another, way more so than a typical Samyang lens, at least in the 14mm f/2.8 manual focus model if not most of theirs or perhaps not (I hope) their more recent models. However not one of the eight corners was what you would call sharp and at 100% they were all fairly ugly or worse.At f/5.6, in daylight, the results are superb and the built-in camera corrections for accurate viewing on a Sony body plus the corrections in various raw converters for distortion, falloff and lateral C.A. are very nice features which make this a great choice for that kind of use (for many daytime uses, or for night uses where extreme quality to the corners isn't important).The way the focussing system works has never been well explained in any review that I've seen. First, it is truly precise, offering more precision than needed to very precisely hit fine focus. Second, rotation of the ring causes all three distance displays to operate in close synchrony, one on the lens and two in the camera. Third, when the displays are not responding to a fresh, very slow rotation of the focussing ring, it means that no focus adjustment at all is being done. You can do ten slow rotations in a row if the system doesn't wake up and zero movement of the elements occurs. So you have to understand that the rotational control system includes wake-up and sleep functions in response to your touch. Third, given sufficient rotational speed (slow will do it but very slow will not) it awakens. Then after stopping, it remains awake for something like 1 second, allowing you to continue from where you were, without the interruption of a little nap, if you're quick. All in all it's a very well-conceived method to manually focus with great accuracy and convenience -- more accurate than most lenses these days, certainly more accurate than nearly all other AF lenses. I found accurate infinity focus to be spanned by three to four indicated units of focus readout. In the case of the Batis 25, which I decided to keep, the point at which the infinity symbol is first displayed was perfect for infinity focus. In the case of the Batis 18, however, true infinity focus occurred a step or two beyond where the infinity symbol first appears, at least for these two samples. That makes it more problematic to achieve perfect infinity focus in the dark.The official falloff at the most extreme corners is ~2.25 stops. Basically content very near the corners is 2.0 stops darker. The auto correction cuts that in half, but with subject matter where this degree of light starvation causes noticeable harm (very dark areas) this is more than we would like. During the day, the corrected results, with 1.0 or so stops of falloff after correction strike me as beautifully balanced for a single-frame composition/exposure, being just about ideal as a default center to corner result, intensity wise. Rather like a tasteful dodging and burning job.But for night skies when you're stitching frames together, it's not so good, or when you want to avoid extra noise in the shadows. The two stops is real and it hurts. Still, all in all I am a fan of the design philosophy of this lens, where Zeiss chose to use fewer elements of more exotic types to achieve high performance in a lens with less weight and smaller size. It is a very light lens and it's really pretty small too. I like it very much but it didn't fulfill the need that I bought it for so I returned both samples.
The lens worked as expected for 3 years.It was cared for and used on a regular basis.One day the lens started doing some funky noise while focusing. Quick google research showed abundant complaints of the same issue with this model (some had it after a couple of days, some after a couple of weeks...). Apparently, there are issues with the focus motor design.The only repair center for ZEISS GEAR is in US/KY. Sent my lens and after a month I received no information from Zeiss.Their customer service number does not work. No emails replied...NOTHING.I DO NOT RECOMMEND any Zeiss product, considering the price and the ridiculous customer service.Do your research and you will find abundant issues with the design of this lens and the lack of response from Zeiss ... MoreThe lens worked as expected for 3 years.It was cared for and used on a regular basis.One day the lens started doing some funky noise while focusing. Quick google research showed abundant complaints of the same issue with this model (some had it after a couple of days, some after a couple of weeks...). Apparently, there are issues with the focus motor design.The only repair center for ZEISS GEAR is in US/KY. Sent my lens and after a month I received no information from Zeiss.Their customer service number does not work. No emails replied...NOTHING.I DO NOT RECOMMEND any Zeiss product, considering the price and the ridiculous customer service.Do your research and you will find abundant issues with the design of this lens and the lack of response from Zeiss customer service.
As others have noted, the front lens cap falls off easily; and the rear lens cap is a smooth cap without ridges making it a bit harder to remove as you swap lenses. Therefore, I recommend that you buy the Sensei 77mm Center Pinch Snap-On Lens CapBH# SELC77 ($4.45) for the front of the lens, and theSenseiBody and Rear Lens Cap Kit for Sony E-MountB&H#SELCRBCSN($4.95) when you place your order for this lens. The Sensei caps are inexpensive, but very good. Another thing you may wish to buy is a lens case for this lens, as Zeiss supplies none with the lens. Because the lens is wider than it is tall , it is tough to find a snugly fitting case. The stated width and height of this lens are 3.94 x 3.75 (100 x 80 mm). However, after you get the lens caps that I recommend in ... MoreAs others have noted, the front lens cap falls off easily; and the rear lens cap is a smooth cap without ridges making it a bit harder to remove as you swap lenses. Therefore, I recommend that you buy the Sensei 77mm Center Pinch Snap-On Lens CapBH# SELC77 ($4.45) for the front of the lens, and theSenseiBody and Rear Lens Cap Kit for Sony E-MountB&H#SELCRBCSN($4.95) when you place your order for this lens. The Sensei caps are inexpensive, but very good. Another thing you may wish to buy is a lens case for this lens, as Zeiss supplies none with the lens. Because the lens is wider than it is tall , it is tough to find a snugly fitting case. The stated width and height of this lens are 3.94 x 3.75 (100 x 80 mm). However, after you get the lens caps that I recommend in the first paragraph, the lens with caps will be actually be 3.94 x 3.15 (100 x 95 mm). I tried the following cases for this lens. TheRuggard Lens Case 5.0 x 3.5 (Black)BH# RULCY15X3 is only an inch or so too tall, but the diameter is 1/2 too narrow. The lens will fit in that case, but you have to apply a fair amount of force, compressing the foam sides of the case, to insert the lens into it. TheLowepro Lens Case 9 x 13cm (Black)BH# LOLC913 is too narrow. The inside diameter of the instance of this product that I received was actually 7cm. TheLensCoatLensPouch (Small Wide, Black)B&H#LELCLPSMWBK is a soft padded vinyl pouch with a cinch strap for the top. It is a perfect fit for the lens, but it does leave the cinch hole at the top, and may not provide the padded enclosure that you might wish for a lens that is this fine, and this expensive. ThePearstone Onyx 100 Lens Case (Black)BH# PEOLC100B is a padded case that is a perfect fit for the diameter of the lens, but it is 2 inches too tall. Nonetheless, this is the case that I am keeping for the Zeiss Batis.
This lens is the perfect wide-angle lens for Sony's A7 series. Why? Aside from its sharpness, it's very lightweight. When I saw the lens online it looked heavy, which would be very front heavy on a lightweight body, but instead the lens is super lightweight - due to its plastic body.The lens cap is a bit tricky to put back on, but if you remember NOT to squeeze the tabs you'll find it snaps into place without much fuss. Only squeeze the tabs to remove it.The backlit LCD readout on top of the lens only turns on when the camera is in manual focus mode. The LCD becomes a digital focusing scale.The lens mounts to the Sony A7RIII without any play or movement.I haven't yet done a full test of it's astrophotography abilities since we have been heading into a full ... MoreThis lens is the perfect wide-angle lens for Sony's A7 series. Why? Aside from its sharpness, it's very lightweight. When I saw the lens online it looked heavy, which would be very front heavy on a lightweight body, but instead the lens is super lightweight - due to its plastic body.The lens cap is a bit tricky to put back on, but if you remember NOT to squeeze the tabs you'll find it snaps into place without much fuss. Only squeeze the tabs to remove it.The backlit LCD readout on top of the lens only turns on when the camera is in manual focus mode. The LCD becomes a digital focusing scale.The lens mounts to the Sony A7RIII without any play or movement.I haven't yet done a full test of it's astrophotography abilities since we have been heading into a full moon. But in the next 7-10 days I'll give that a test as well.
I picked up a Sony a7r2 beginning of 2017 with a GM 24-70mm lens n took pix of the solar eclips n 5 natinal parks along the way. I was happy with my gear until my buddy lend me his Zeiss Batis 18mm f2.8 n i took it out to Joshua Tree National Park with another buddy n took pix of the Milky Way. Wow, after that nite, i knew i had to hav mine own Zeiss Batis. After i got my own Batis 18mm i lend it to my daughter when she studied abroad in Singapore n took amazing pix. The clincher is when i brought it to iceland n shot pix of aurora borealis n the pix were just mind blowing. I'm just a guy with ZERO PHOTOGRAPHY TRAINING who just enjoy takng pix but my aurora pix now are on 4 different walls in my 4 different friends' houses.My daughter is graduating from college in ... MoreI picked up a Sony a7r2 beginning of 2017 with a GM 24-70mm lens n took pix of the solar eclips n 5 natinal parks along the way. I was happy with my gear until my buddy lend me his Zeiss Batis 18mm f2.8 n i took it out to Joshua Tree National Park with another buddy n took pix of the Milky Way. Wow, after that nite, i knew i had to hav mine own Zeiss Batis. After i got my own Batis 18mm i lend it to my daughter when she studied abroad in Singapore n took amazing pix. The clincher is when i brought it to iceland n shot pix of aurora borealis n the pix were just mind blowing. I'm just a guy with ZERO PHOTOGRAPHY TRAINING who just enjoy takng pix but my aurora pix now are on 4 different walls in my 4 different friends' houses.My daughter is graduating from college in 2019 n guess what she wants for graduation...yup, a Sony Zeiss Batis 18mm f2.8. It has arrived from B&H n is now waiting to take pix that will be hung next to a university diploma.My wife n i r heading out to Japan in 4 days n my Batis will b going with us. I must admit to 1 downside to having the Zeiss Batis 18mm f2.8...i need more walls in my house.
I mounted the lens on a Sony A-7R iii. The lens was very sharp in the center and maintained that sharpness except at the extreme edges if you were shooting a scene in the landscape mode. At 100%, the edges looked reasonably sharp but upon blowing the image up a bit more, I could see some fall-off. However, adding some additional sharpness at the extreme edges was easy with the adjustment brush in Adobe Camera Raw. Contrast and color renditions were excellent and I didn't find vignetting to be an issue at the time of day I was doing my tests. I chose mid-afternoon because I wanted to do my test shots in strong light. I know there can be some vignetting with this lens in lower light situations but that is also an easy fix in Adobe Camera Raw. In sum, this is a very ... MoreI mounted the lens on a Sony A-7R iii. The lens was very sharp in the center and maintained that sharpness except at the extreme edges if you were shooting a scene in the landscape mode. At 100%, the edges looked reasonably sharp but upon blowing the image up a bit more, I could see some fall-off. However, adding some additional sharpness at the extreme edges was easy with the adjustment brush in Adobe Camera Raw. Contrast and color renditions were excellent and I didn't find vignetting to be an issue at the time of day I was doing my tests. I chose mid-afternoon because I wanted to do my test shots in strong light. I know there can be some vignetting with this lens in lower light situations but that is also an easy fix in Adobe Camera Raw. In sum, this is a very fine lens and the slight fall-off in sharpness at the extreme edges was not a deal breaker for me, particularly at its price.
I've now owned both the Voigtlander 15mm and Zeiss 18mm lenses for a while. The Voigtlander is a manual focus lens and you need to buy dedicated ND filters for it as my Nisi system will not mount to it. I loved shooting the Voigtlander. BUT, because of the enormous depth of field at this focal length, it's easy to bump the focus ring while hiking and not realize you're out of focus. After loosing a bunch of shots due to poor focus, I bought the Zeiss which has autofocus (and works with Nisi). It is a great lens. Set and forget. But I have to say I really miss that 15mm focal length of the Voigtlander. I will keep both lenses but probably still carry the Voigtlander for that special focal length. The Zeiss is a great lens too but for me, I wish they had a 15mm version.
| Focal Length | 18mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Minimum Aperture | f/22 |
| Lens Mount | Sony E |
| Lens Format Coverage | Full-Frame |
