Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8, rivals the Sigma 135mm Art before it even starts shipping

These days it seems that 135mm lenses are everywhere. After Sigma’s release of 135mm F/1.8 DG HSM Art lens, now Zeiss has their Batis 135mm f/2.8 ready for preorders. I was surprised (to say the least) by the price of Sigma’s lens, no matter the gorgeous photos it takes. However, now it becomes clear where they got the inspiration from. The new Zeiss 135mm lens has many god sides for sure, but it comes with a really high price tag!

Zeiss Batis 135mm f/2.8 is available at the incredible price of $2000. To compare, Canon EF 135mm f/2 costs $1000, while Nikon 135mm f/2 is quite close to Sigma, with the price of $1390. Sigma 135mm F/1.8 DG HSM Art lens costs $1400, so you can conclude two things. First, it seems that Sigma doesn’t really consider Nikon and Canon to be competitors to their Art lenses anymore, given the price of the 135mm f/1.8. And second, Zeiss still beats all of them when it comes to the price. $2000 is certainly a lot of money, but let’s see what you get for that amount of cash.

First of all, Zeiss Batis 135mm is the first 135mm AF focal length for Sony’s Alpha 7 system with E-mount. It’s intended for full-frame E-mount mirrorless cameras, but you can use it on APS-C models too. If you do, it will provide the 202.5mm equivalent focal length.

Then, it’s very compact, lightweight and designed to reduce color fringing and chromatic aberrations. It features Zeiss T Anti-Reflective Coating, optical image stabilization, and linear autofocus motor. It’s equipped with OLED display that visualizes the depth of focus. On top of it all, it’s dust- and weather-sealed. Here are the more detailed specs:

Performance
Focal Length	135mm
Aperture	Maximum: f/2.8 Minimum: f/22
Camera Mount Type	Sony E (Full-Frame)
Format Compatibility	35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor
Angle of View	18°
Minimum Focus Distance	2.85′ (87 cm)
Maximum Reproduction Ratio	1:5.3
Elements/Groups	14/11

 

Features
Image Stabilization	Yes
Autofocus	Yes

 

Physical
Filter Thread	Front: 67 mm
Dimensions (DxL)	Approx. 3.19 x 4.72″ (81 x 120 mm)
Weight	1.35 lb (614 g)

Even without reading the specs, I’m sure this is undoubtedly a top quality lens. After all, it’s Zeiss. But in my book, $2000 is simply too much. But of course, I’ll let you decide for yourself if this lens is worth the buck. If you have a (really) deep pocket, you can preorder it here, and the shipping is expected in May 2017.