Zeiss Batis 85 1.8 on the A6300 / APS-C

[CE3]

Since the majority of the photos I found online while researching this lens were shot on A7 bodies, I thought I'd start a thread for anyone to share photos shot with this lens on APS-C. I just received my copy yesterday, so here are a few quick test shots I fired off this morning. I'll post more soon and will possibly be shooting some portraits with it this weekend.

These were all quickly and lightly processed in ACR and Photoshop. I can share some straight out of the camera and 100% crop shots as well, but this isn't meant to be a super technical (at least on my part).

 

[erikstarck]

I use it as a light weight and compact 135ish type of combo and love it!

























@erikstarck

 

[dankwok]

Thank you guys! I was looking exactly for this, and posted a new thread a few months ago asking for samples produced by this combo, but didn't get much response. I appreciate you sharing the images!

 

[CE3]

I'm doing my niece's senior portraits this year. Here are a few from our first session with the Batis 85. There are still soo many good shots from this session to get to + more to take. This lens renders portraits beautifully, which makes processing fun but choosing favorites difficult.

 

[dankwok]

All very nice, #3 is my favorite. Thanks for sharing!

 

[SideshowSurfer]

Very nice pics, thanks for sharing everyone, looks like a great combo!

 

[holin]

Looks good. It foregoes the bokeh swirl that's sometimes distracting on FF and in that is imho even better than FF.

Can you take a shot of the combo itself? How does it balance on the camera?

 

[CE3]

All very nice, #3 is my favorite. Thanks for sharing!

 

[CE3]

Looks good. It foregoes the bokeh swirl that's sometimes distracting on FF and in that is imho even better than FF.

Can you take a shot of the combo itself? How does it balance on the camera?

It's my heaviest e-mount lens but still a pretty light setup on the A6300, especially when compared to heavier DSLR combos or the Sony GM 85 (820 grams vs. 475). Weight is nicely distributed and about the same as the camera body. Not a chore to carry around.

 

[holin]

Looks good. It foregoes the bokeh swirl that's sometimes distracting on FF and in that is imho even better than FF.

Can you take a shot of the combo itself? How does it balance on the camera?

It's my heaviest e-mount lens but still a pretty light setup on the A6300, especially when compared to heavier DSLR combos or the Sony GM 85 (820 grams vs. 475). Weight is nicely distributed and about the same as the camera body. Not a chore to carry around.

Thanks! That doesn't look too bad. With the hood on it's pretty much the same as a Samyang 35 mm f/1.4, without hood, which does get quite front heavy. I'm waiting for the renewed, or relabeled, Sigma Art 85 mm, which they'll probably show at Photokina, but the Batis will likely end up being a better proposition on E mount. The GM is priced way out of reach..

 

[CE3]

Here's a little set from the park. I'll be posting some more portraits next.

 

[chironNYC]

This is a picture of Malachy taken last week with my new Batis 85 on an a6300 while I was testing the new lens and while Malachy was briefly willing to pose. The only PP that I recall doing on it was to move the clarity slider in Lightroom all the way to the left (minus 100). I liked the way this seemed to mix Malachy's hair with the light while leaving his left eye quite sharp.




Sony a6300 Batis 85mm 1/320 sec at f/2.8 ISO 5000 EV+1

 

[dankwok]

Got my Batis 85 a couple of weeks ago, and just want to contribute to this thread to add more samples from this combination.

So far, I really like this combo, especially for portraits. It will probably be my go-to lens for portrait (as long as space allows it) from now on

















--
-Daniel

 

[CE3]

Got my Batis 85 a couple of weeks ago, and just want to contribute to this thread to add more samples from this combination.

So far, I really like this combo, especially for portraits. It will probably be my go-to lens for portrait (as long as space allows it) from now on







--
-Daniel

These are excellent, Dan! Looking forward to seeing more. I think this lens is a perfect fit for you

Looking at the few senior portrait shots I posted, I'm not happy with my processing in a some of them, but I'm going to get back to working on those photos over the next month and will share some of my finished favorites they're ready. We did multilple sessions over the summer and fall, and I literally have a few thousand pictures to go through. I only used the Batis 85 and 50 1.8.

 

[jonnyrocket]

This is a great thread! I'm also interested in an 85mm lens for my a6500 for pet photography and I am currently interested in the Basis 85 1.8 and the G Master 85mm 1.4. Anyone has compared this two on a APS-C Sony camera?

 

[chironNYC]

This is a great thread! I'm also interested in an 85mm lens for my a6500 for pet photography and I am currently interested in the Basis 85 1.8 and the G Master 85mm 1.4. Anyone has compared this two on a APS-C Sony camera?

Here are two pet photographs. The first shot is with the Batis 85mm. The second shot is with the Sony 90mm, which is not the lens you asked about, but one you might be interested in and a wonderful lens, as is the Batis.





Malachy with Batis 85mm on a6500




Merlin with Sony 90mm on a6500

 

[jonnyrocket]

This is a great thread! I'm also interested in an 85mm lens for my a6500 for pet photography and I am currently interested in the Basis 85 1.8 and the G Master 85mm 1.4. Anyone has compared this two on a APS-C Sony camera?

Here are two pet photographs. The first shot is with the Batis 85mm. The second shot is with the Sony 90mm, which is not the lens you asked about, but one you might be interested in and a wonderful lens, as is the Batis.


Malachy with Batis 85mm on a6500


Merlin with Sony 90mm on a6500

Thanks! They are both great photos!

I previously thought about the 90mm 2.8 but ruled it out due to the AF not being as fast as the Basis 85mm. I have never tried any of these lenses but many reviewers mentioned that the 90mm 2.8 wasn't very fast at AF. i guess that makes sense since most macro lenses are not very fast at AF.

cheers!

 

[dankwok]

These are excellent, Dan! Looking forward to seeing more. I think this lens is a perfect fit for you

Looking at the few senior portrait shots I posted, I'm not happy with my processing in a some of them, but I'm going to get back to working on those photos over the next month and will share some of my finished favorites they're ready. We did multilple sessions over the summer and fall, and I literally have a few thousand pictures to go through. I only used the Batis 85 and 50 1.8.

Thanks CE3! Look forward to seeing more from you as well!

 

[mfuadj]

May i aska very noob question..

Usually when you are using this 85mm (127.5mm equivalent) lens for apsc.. in most situations usually how far do you need to be from the subject to get the shot?

I never use any lens of this focal length so im a bit curious.

 

[chironNYC]

May i aska very noob question..

Usually when you are using this 85mm (127.5mm equivalent) lens for apsc.. in most situations usually how far do you need to be from the subject to get the shot?

I never use any lens of this focal length so im a bit curious.

If you were about 15 feet away from a person, you would get a head and shoulders shot.