ZEISS Batis 2.8/18

Testers found it sharp in the centre from f/2.8 and very good across the frame once stopped to f/5.6-8, with low lateral colour, little spherical aberration and mild distortion for an 18mm. Flare and ghosting resistance is good, and the linear-motor AF is quiet and accurate, which is all an ultra-wide needs.

The main criticisms are strong vignetting on full frame at f/2.8 and extreme corners that lag behind the centre wide open. Several reviewers also judged the launch price high for an f/2.8 lens, and pointed out that the light weight comes partly from plastic internal parts.

Owners like how small and light it is for an 18mm with filter threads, and many use it as a travel and hiking landscape lens on A7-series bodies. The rendering and colour are often described as typical ZEISS: contrasty and clean.

The usual complaints are the dark corners wide open, the rubber focus grip attracting dust and scuffing, and focus-by-wire manual focus that some find less precise than a mechanical ring. The OLED display divides opinion; some never use it.