Zeiss Up The Front - Sony In The Rear

Gotta Sony camera with an E mount? Wanta new 25mm f:2 lens?

Come in and have a look at the new Zeiss Batis lens that has just hit the Sony shelf. Like much of the boutique Zeiss glass, it is in a plain barrel - this is a style reaction to some of the multi-banded offerings from other manufacturers. The peculiar little flair seen at the front flange of some of these is designed to integrate with the lens hoods to provide a smooth contour. That, and it recalls the bow structure of the IJNS KIRISHIMA. At least they didn't put a chrysanthemum on the lens...

Well, it also has another new feature - what starts out as a transparent panel with a black backing on the top of the lens lights up and turns into an LCD screen the gives the focusing information. Very next century.

Quality? Zeiss Distagon quality. Ask Hasselblad and Contarex users what this does.

Weight? Moderate. Not feather, but not anvil.

Big, Fast And Heavy - Mitacon For E-Mount

If thou hast a Sony E-mount camera and wouldst see in the dark, hie thee hence and look at the Mitacon f:0.95 lens that has just arrived.

It be called the 50mm f:0.95 Speedmaster and presenteth itself in what may well be the most imaginative case we have yet seen. Even the Japanese - normally the masters of packaging - have not done something as artistic as this. Definitely not a cardboard box that you toss in the bin...

The lens itself is well-built. It is of the HLS design and features an aperture ring without click stops - I think this is deliberate so as to allow easier use during video work. The focusing mechanism is slow, but steady.

The price is moderate, considering the remarkably large maximum aperture of 0.95. Combined with the sort of extended ISO capability of some of he Sony cameras, this should make low-light shooting even more practical.

In-store right now. (Available here) Videographers please take note.