Fast and super wide, the new autofocus Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 E-mount lens is coming soon
posted Thursday, April 14, 2016 at 12:39 PM EDT
In news that should excite Sony E-mount photographers who have been looking for an autofocus super wide-angle lens, Zeiss has launched a new 18mm f/2.8 E-mount Batis lens. Compatible with Sony's full-frame E-mount mirrorless cameras, the new Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 lens is an ideal choice for landscape, astrophotography, and architectural subjects and is the world's shortest full-frame fixed focal length lens with autofocusing capabilities.
Zeiss' product manager of camera lenses, Dr. Michael Pollman, says of the new lens, "The Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 follows on from the highly successful first two focal lengths the Zeiss Batis 2/25 and the Zeiss Batis 1.8/85. In spite of the extremely wide angle, we have succeeded in adapting the image quality of the Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 perfectly to the two lens types…With the Zeiss Batis 2.8/18 customers can now enjoy the super wide-angle full-frame lens they've been waiting for."
The super-wide angle lens features eleven elements in ten groups. Four of the elements are aspheric on both sides and the remaining seven are constructed from "special types of glass," according to Zeiss' information. With a "Floating Elements" design, the lens promises a high-level of optical performance across the entire focal plane.
Along with the two previous Zeiss Batis lenses, the new Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 lens includes an small built-in OLED display to show focal distance and the depth of field, depending on the sensor of the camera the lens is attached to. The display is designed to be easily read in all lighting conditions as well.
With a "fast, quiet" autofocus drive, Zeiss claims that the lens will provide quick and sharp focus, while allowing photographers to easily manually focus using the rubberized focus ring. In addition to the rubberized ring, the lens also includes dust and weather sealing.
This super wide-angle lens will be available starting in May for $1,499 USD. You can help support our site by preordering it through one of our trusted affiliates below:
For the full list of specifications, see our page about this lens. High-resolution sample images captured with the lens are available at Zeiss' Flickr page.
(Seen via Sony Alpha Rumors)