Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 Review – Introduction
When I reviewed the Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2 a few weeks ago, I also referred to the Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 – a lens that, like the Batis 25mm f/2, has been created specially for full-frame mirrorless cameras made by Sony. Having been impressed by the innovative design and optical performance of the first Batis lens to pass through our hands, I’m keen to find out if the Zeiss Batis 85mm f/1.8 is just as good. Will it live up to my expectations as one of the finest medium-telephoto primes for photographers specialising in portraiture, event and wedding photography?
Unlike the Zeiss’s Loxia lenses and the newly announced Milvus lenses for DSLRs, one of the key selling points of the Batis lenses is their ability to offer full autofocus, with a similar focus-by-wire motor as used in native Sony/Zeiss lenses. Although, as we found out when we reviewed the Batis 25mm f/2, there’s a lot more besides the autofocus that makes the Zeiss Batis lenses so special. Before focusing on the handling and image quality, let’s take a closer look at its key features.
