Zeiss Adds Ultra-Wide Angle 18mm f/2.8 to the Batis Lens Line
It’s a great day for lens lovers. First, Meyer-Optik resurrects the Trioplan f2.9/50, and now Zeiss is joining the fray by debuting the widest full-frame fixed focal length E-mount lens with autofocus: the Batis 18mm f/2.8.
Featuring a 99° diagonal field of view, this 11-element, 10-group lens draws on Zeiss’ Distagon optical design to capture a whole lot of info per frame, allegedly keeping image quality high throughout.
It joins the previously released Batis 25mm f/2 and 85mm f/1.8 lenses, bringing the total number of Batis lenses to three and making it an incredibly versatile, high-quality lens line indeed.
“With the expansion of the ZEISS Batis family of lenses, we are offering creative and discerning photographers yet another professional tool,” says Zeiss product manager Dr. Michael Pollmann. “With the ZEISS Batis 2.8/18 customers can now enjoy the super wide-angle full-frame lens they’ve been waiting for.”
Like the previous two lenses, one of the more gimmicky (yet still extremely useful) features of the lens is the OLED display on the lens itself. This display shows focus distance and depth of field, adapting automatically to the camera sensor you’re using.
Additional features include “fast, quiet autofocus drive with linear motors”—which promises to keep the subject in sharp focus for you when you’re not using the rubberized focus ring to set the focus yourself—and dust and weather sealing so you can use the lens in multiple environments without worry.
The Batis 18mm f/2.8 is already available to pre-order today at an MSRP of 1,500 (both Euro and USD) excluding applicable taxes. Zeiss plans to ship the lenses out starting next month.
To read more about this lens, find out what makes it special, and see sample images, check out the official announcement for yourself on the Zeiss website here.
