Conclusion

The Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 is simply a superb ultra-wide prime lens. It's not the smallest optic, but you soon get used to its size, and it's light enough not to be a burden.

Aside from some minor distortion and more noticeable falloff, image quality as a whole is very good, with sharpness being particularly impressive. Build quality is a match for the lens' performance, and we welcome the inclusion of full weather sealing, though the intriguing electronic focus distance scale is unlikely to be an essential feature for most shooters.

Competition in this sector is slim though, with the Sony/Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS being the only other full-frame E-mount that'll go as wide as the Batis 18mm, and it'll put a similarly large dent in your bank balance. But until a more accessibly-priced ultra-wide FE-mount lens becomes available, you'd better start saving for a Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8 if you favour outright sharpness over the Sony FE 16-35mm's focal length flexibility.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	4.5
Features	3.5
Ease-of-use	5
Image quality	4.5
Value for money	3.5