New Batis full size image samples!

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Christian Dandyk posted some great new image samples shot with the new Batis lenses. You can find them here:
Batis 85mm samples on Flickr.
Batis 25mm samples on Flickr.

At first glance the performance looks outstanding! Still wondering if that OLED screen will be something I will get used too :)

Both Batis lenses are now available for preorder in USA and Europe (UK/Germany)
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens in US at Adorama, Bhphoto. In Eu at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
In Europe and Asia the Loxias can be found in Stock via [shoplink 36456 ebay]eBay sellers (Click here)[/shoplink] and Digitalrev (Click here).

28mm and 24-240mm FE review at ePhotozine. 90mm FE review at Focus Numerique.

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ePhotozine reviewed the new 28mm FE lens and writes:

This lens has a lot going for it. It’s capable of delivering high levels of sharpness, it’s compact, relatively lightweight and not too expensive. It’s a shame the aperture has to be stopped down to improve performance towards the edges of the frame, and to reduce chromatic aberrations, but overall the lens performs well. As a result, it should win over many fans amongst those who own one of Sony’s full-frame mirrorless cameras.

28mm FE store links:
US at Amazon, Adorama, BHphotoFocusCamera, Sony US.
Europe at Sony Germany, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, FI, NO, PT.
Asia at Digitalrev, Sony Australia.

ePhotozine also tested the 24-240mm FE lens and writes:

Depending on your expectations of what a lens designed for a compact system camera, that costs over £800 should deliver, will depend on how pleased you are with this lens. For starters, it is neither lightweght, or compact, in fact it is larger and heavier than some similar lenses designed for SLR cameras. Sharpness towards the edges of the frame could be better, as could control of chromatic aberrations and flare. Quicker autofocus and a constant minimum focus distance would’ve been nice features too. If you’re able to overlook these aspects of the lens, in the name of convenience, then this lens will still be able to deliver decent quality images and should make a decent addition to your Sony Alpha FE mount kit bag. However, despite its flaws, it is a good lens, it just maybe doesn’t meet expectations as well as it should in some areas.

Sony 24-240mm FE lens store links:
USA: Amazon, Adorama, BHphotoFocusCamera, Sony US.
Europe: Sony Germany, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, FI, NO, PT.
Asia: Digitalrev, CameraPRO, Sony Australia.

The french review site Focus Numerique tested the 90mm FE macro and writes:

The image quality provided by the Sony FE 90mm f / 2.8 Macro G OSS is very impressive. The images are full of fine details from center to edges, and from f / 2.8 to f / 16. We rarely observed as perfect homogeneity and consistency.

90mm Store links:
In USA at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto.
In Europe at Sony Germany, Sony UK, Sony FR, Sony IT, Sony ES, Sony NL, Sony BE, Sony AT, Sony CH, Sony SE, Sony FI, Sony NO, Sony PT.
In Asia at Digitalrev, Sony Australia.

SAR readers third party lens reviews roundup!

SAFSAR

SAR readers are sharing plenty of adapted Lens test and image samples on our new SonyAlphaForum. If you like to see how third party lenses will work on your E-mount camera check out that list. And if you have some tests to show feel free to post them on the forum!
Sony A7m2 with the Samyang 14mm f2.8 E-Mount lens on SonyAlphaForum.
Tokina AT-X Macro 90mm 1:2.5 test at SonyAlphaForum.
Contax G 45/2 vs the Zeiss Loxia 50/2 and the Sony 55/1.8 on SonyAlphaForum.
A7S + Leica 90mm Summicron on SonyAlphaForum.
Samyang 135mm T2.2 VDSLR ED UMC on SonyAlphaForum.
Minolta MD vs Canon FD 2.8/20 comparison review on SonyAlphaForum.
Sony 70-200G f4 compared to Leica 90mm f2.8 on SonyAlphaForum.
Minolta MC/MD lenses images thread on SonyAlphaForum.
Canon FD lenses images on SonyAlphaForum.
A little 85mm comparison: Minolta 1.7/85, 2/85 and others on SonyAlphaForum.
Using Mamiya 645 medium format lenses on an A7r on SonyAlphaForum.
Minolta for Leica M-Rokkor 90mm f/4 on SonyAlphaForum.
A7S + Voigtlander Nokton 35mm 1.2 on SonyAlphaForum.
Minolta for Leica M-Rokkor 28mm f/2.8 on SonyAlphaForum.
Minolta for Leica M-Rokkor 40mm f/2 on SonyAlphaForum.
Voigtländer 40mm Nokton f1.4 on SonyAlphaForum.
Zeiss ZF.2 25mm f/2 on SonyAlphaForum.
Minolta for Leica M-Rokkor 40mm f/2 on SonyAlphaForum.

New Zeiss Batis short test by Chad Wadsworth.

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Chad Wadsworth (Click here) shared a first impression of the new Batis lenses he tested:

Batis 25mm: Where the FE 28mm is in-your-face sharp, the Batis looks a bit smoother, yet zoom in to pixel peep and bam, there’s the same level of sharpness and micro contrast. The render of the Batis very much reminds me of the ZA 24mm f/2 but without all the field curvature AF issues that were endemic to that A-mount lens.

Batis 85mm: Focus was quick and sure – and dead on accurate. Pixel peeping shows an impressive amount of sharpness and detail at f/1.8. Having previously owned the legendary ZA 85/1.4 I have been anxiously awaiting an FE replacement but was concerned that the lens would be too large or too slow. Again with the Goldilocks reference but the Batis seems to nail it with just the right dimensions, weight and image quality.

You can chat with Chad Wadsworth on his SonyAlphaForum thread (Click here).

Both Batis lenses are now available for preorder in USA and Europe (UK/Germany)
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens in US at Adorama, Bhphoto. In Eu at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
In Europe and Asia the Loxias can be found in Stock via [shoplink 36456 ebay]eBay sellers (Click here)[/shoplink] and Digitalrev (Click here).

New Sony A7s video and tests roundup!


Sony A7s VS Panasonic GH4

Ryan:I shot this feature for /DRIVE run-and-gun style with the Sony A7S a couple months ago. The A7S was rigged with a SmallHD DP4, JuicedLink XLR, Westside AV Sony L battery adaptor and a Movcam cage. Filming took three very long days in direct Arizona sun. The full 27-minute piece was edited and graded in 2 days with Final Cut Pro X. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SwWoTYJp9A

Almos:his a super low light test I did with the sony A7s, testing out how well the autofocus works in very low light at f5.6 for video. I used the stock 28-70FE lens. Let me just say, it works unbelievably well (in addition to the A7S being an unbelievable low light camera, that we already know). I did this test when recording a BTS footage of a band recording in a pitch dark studio. I like it so much I cut it into a Birdman tribute, enjoy :) https://vimeo.com/122160970

Sean:I made this during the Sony/B&H/Philip Bloom event, and was hoping you might share it on your sight: https://vimeo.com/115041588

Danas:Maybe you would like to see and post a short video done with A7s – perfect travel partner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DXPiK6R2Mc

Florian:May I ask your attention a moment to introduce the first film project “WAITING” made in Lisbon. All clips are shot up with sony A7S. This project aims to provide an artistic vision of a city, a country, a place … The films of this project are available in several more or less short formats. Some were processed in time “capsules”, while others have been so longer and documented. https://vimeo.com/123554872

Jannik:I found it to be very easy compared to the conventional way of grading, because the Software seems to handle the footage better. And best of all, it’s free! Here’s the link to my video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCmnuYXl7Gw

Peter:Not a rumour but just sharing my wedding video production shot with a pair of A7S. Quality from these cameras are just amazing! https://www.facebook.com/PETERTAN.Photography/videos/vb.115270480558/10153295662500559/?type=2&theater. Am waiting for A7sII now to buy more!

Sony A7s store links:
Sony A7s in USA/CA at Amazon, Adorama, BHphoto, Sony USA, Sony Canada.
Sony A7s in Eu at Sony DE, UK, ES, FR, IT, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, NO, FI, PL. And Wex UK.
A7s Gariz leather case in [shoplink 27569 ebay]Black (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 27570 ebay]Brown (Click here)[/shoplink], [shoplink 27571 ebay]Red (Click here)[/shoplink] and [shoplink 27572 ebay]Orange (Click here)[/shoplink].

DxOmark tests the Sony FE 24-240mm zoom: “convenient and good value choice”.

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DxOmark (Click here) posted the full Sony FE 24-240mm lens test. They write:

Costing $998, the FE 24-240mm is not very cheap, but packing a massive 10x focal range, Sony’s OSS image stabilization and dust/moisture resistant construction, you get a lot of lens for your money.
While offering a versatile all-in-one solution for wide-angle or long telephoto shots without having to change lenses, the FE 24-240mm is not the strongest optically and ranks in the lower half of our lens database. That said, the image quality delivered by the FE 24-240mm is good for a superzoom, and as we’ve seen in the Sony FE 24-240mm vs Nikon 28-300mm analysis, the Sony is as good in most areas and actually slightly better than the Nikon at the wider apertures.
The FE 24-240mm’s performance is also better at the wider focal lengths between 24-50mm. Zoom in further to the telephoto focal lengths and Sharpness and Transmission start to suffer somewhat, which has affected its overall score. Head-to-head against the $1,498 FE 70-200mm f4 G OSS, the analysis showed that much better performance is available from a dedicated telephoto zoom with more homogenous sharpness across the entire frame. At the wider focal lengths, however, the FE 24-240mm actually displays better edge sharpness than the FE 28-70mm standard zoom, which covers a much shorter focal range. So if you’re looking for a good quality standard zoom with the added versatility of being able to shoot telephoto without changing lenses, the FE 24-240mm is a convenient and good value choice for Sony A7 shooters.

Sony 24-240mm FE lens store links:
USA: Amazon, Adorama, BHphotoFocusCamera, Sony US.
Europe: Sony Germany, UK, FR, IT, ES, NL, BE, AT, CH, SE, FI, NO, PT.
Asia: Digitalrev, CameraPRO, Sony Australia.

Diglloyd tests the new Batis lenses and says the 85mm Sonnar “Rocks”!

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Diggloyd is the first photographer testing the new Zeiss Batis FE lenses. And his first impression is that he is…impressed :)

The Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 Sonnar rocks. What a gorgeous lens (the Zeiss Batis 25/2 also). MUST HAVES for Sony shooters.

Short of Zeiss Otus you’re not going to do any better at 25mm and 85mm on Canon and/or Nikon. And the Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2 surely looks to be a better lens than the [shoplink 36845 ebay]Zeiss ZF.2 25mm f/2 Distagon[/shoplink]. Which raises a nagging question I’ve been wondering about for 2-3 years: when is Zeiss going to raise its wide-angle game in the DSLR arena?

A camera system depends on its lenses, and the Zeiss Batis line now solidly anchors the Sony mirrorless platform. Along with the Sony 28mm f/2 (more review coverage coming) and the Sony/Zeiss 35mm f/1.4 and the prospect of a 50+ megapixel Sony A9, one wonders about Nikon and Canon and Fujifilm as distant runner ups in key markets like travel, landscape, wedding photography, etc. If only Sony would fix is dog excrement service and support.

It’s really amazing we have Zeiss 100% focused on the Sony FE system. With the Zeiss Batis and the [shoplink 36846 ebay]Zeiss Loxia lens line[/shoplink] we have some game changing options in for the Sony FE system. Now Sony it’s your turn to learn from the early FE camera faults and limits and improve them on the future A7 and A9 cameras! P.S.: And please, give us a proper bigger A9 soon!

Both Batis lenses are now available for preorder in USA and Europe (UK/Germany)
Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 lens in US at Adorama, Bhphoto. In Eu at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2.0 lens at Adorama, Bhphoto. In EU at Amazon DE, WexUK. In Asia at Digitalrev.
In Europe and Asia the Loxias can be found in Stock via [shoplink 36456 ebay]eBay sellers (Click here)[/shoplink] and Digitalrev (Click here).