The new Zeiss Batis 135mm f2.8 is here…and it’s pricey!

Zeiss just unveiled the fourth lens in its Batis line-up. After the 2.8/18mm, 2/25mm and 1.8/85mm, the new 135mm f2.8 is a medium telephoto lens designed for portraits.

Like the other Batis lenses, it features weather-sealing, a fast and silent autofocus motor and an OLED display on the barrel that gives you information about the focus distance and depth of field.

Like the 85mm, the 135mm includes optical stabilization. The lens has an APO Sonnar design with 14 elements in 11 groups and according to Zeiss gives a beautiful bokeh and near zero chromatic aberration. The minimum focus distance is 74cm.

The Batis 135mm f2.8 will be available in May 2017 but don’t expect it to be cheap: at $2000, £1750 and €2000, it is the most expensive Zeiss lens for the E-Mount system to date. Below you can see all the official specs.

  • Focal length: 135 mm
  • Aperture range: f/2.8 – f/22
  • Lens Elements / Groups: 14 / 11
  • Optical image stabilisation: Yes
  • Focusing range: 0,87 m (2.86 ft) – ∞
  • Free working distance: 0,74 m (2.4 ft) – ∞
  • Angular field* (diag. / horiz. / vert.): 18° / 15° / 10°
  • Diameter of image field: 43,3 mm (1.7′′)
  • Flange focal distance: 18,0 mm (0.71′′)
  • Coverage at close range (MOD)*: 125 x 185 mm (4.9 x 7.3′′)
  • Image ratio at MOD: 1:5.3
  • Filter thread: M67 x 0,75
  • Entrance pupil position (behind the image plane): 6,9 mm (0.27′′)
  • Rotation angle of focusing ring (inf – MOD): Focusing not mechanically coupled. Rotation angle depending on rotation speed.
  • Diameter max. (with lens shade): 98 mm (3.9′′)
  • Diameter of focusing ring: 81 mm (3.2′′)
  • Length (without lens caps): 120 mm (4.7′′)
  • Length (with lens caps): 133 mm (5.2′′)
  • Weight (without lens caps): 614 g (1.35 lbs)

*referring to 36 mm format