Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 CF
Announced September 25, 2018
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 CF is a versatile, weather-sealed prime that excels in sharpness and close-focusing capabilities for street and travel photography. That said, the lens carries a premium price and exhibits performance quirks like light loss at close distances and inconsistent autofocus behavior in certain conditions.
Weighted from 19 reviewer scores
Pros
- Versatile close-focusing ability
- Excellent image sharpness and optical performance
- Fast, silent, and accurate autofocus
- Robust, weather-sealed build quality
- Lightweight and portable design
Cons
- High price point
- Inconsistent autofocus performance
- Light loss and aperture changes at close focus
- Physical design issues including rubber grip and hood
- Significant focus breathing
- Launch price $1,299 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 40mm f/2
- Mount & coverage Sony E Full-Frame
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 24 cm (0.3x)
- Filter thread 67mm
- Weight & size 361g (12.7 oz) · 91 x 93 mm (3.58 x 3.66 in)
Expert Reviews
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[P]erformance comes in a sleek-looking and well-sealed package that is comparably light and small. But the lens is not without flaws. The most obvious being the quality of its Bokeh compared to faster rivals and the light gathering power of its f2 focal ratio.
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Quite simply, the Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 CF is a wonderful standard lens for Sony full-frame mirrorless users.
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If you don’t value close focus, you might be just as happy with one of the other options, but if you could use a lens that does a little bit of everything, you really should consider the Zeiss Batis 40mm F2 CF. It is the new “Swiss Army Knife” of Sony FE lenses.
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The Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 CF is really, really a nice lens to handle, and the image quality, well, if this lens cost $500 or $600 or so, then I'd be pretty happy, but considering the lens's actual price, it's a disappointment.
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The Zeiss Batis 2/40 CF is an optically very capable but quite expensive lens with issues a lens at this price shouldn’t have.
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Thus the new Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 CF lens justifies its price tag and it has that extra quality that makes it an Editor's Choice.
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The Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 is an outstanding short-standard prime lens.
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The Zeiss Batis 2/40 CF is a moderate wide-angle lens with near macro focus and crisp optics, but loses light when working close.
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If 40mm is not your thing, then that's too bad, because this is one of the best standards that you can get for your Sony Alpha.
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So who should get what lens? If you're looking for a general walk-around lens, maybe for vacation or for some street shooting, and you're at a toss between the 35 and the 40mm, I would say go for the 40mm.
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[O]verall I love how light they are and I love the image quality that you can get out of these lenses for photos and video.
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If you do street or travel photography, you want to carry light, and you already have an A7, A7R, or S1, 2, or 3, the Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 CF is almost a no-brainer.
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If you're looking for a prime lens and at 35-50mm range for the Sony E-mount autofocus, you can do eye tracking, all that kind of stuff, the Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 CF should be on your list.
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I do think that lens is a solid piece of equipment that can give you some really, really cool results.
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Now, all these photos were also shot with the Sony A7 III and the A7R II straight out of the camera, so the Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 CF is something that I would highly recommend, especially if you want something that's nice and versatile.
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This lens is so easy to recommend if you've got a Sony camera. The actual image quality is amazing, the quality of the lens is great, it sits so well on there.
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While you’ll get the most value out of it on a camera with tight pixel pitch (like the 60-megapixel Sony a7R IV or the APS-C format a6400), it can make the most of any body you put it on.
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So this lens, this Zeiss Batis 40mm f/2 CF lens, can make you feel that way. It provides you the joy of the craft; it reminds you the reason why you grab the camera.
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I fell in love with the versatility and performance of the Zeiss Batis 2/40 CF, and would highly recommend it.
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