Verdict

Lenses like the Zeiss Milvus 25mm f/1.4 are always going to polarise opinion. For some photographers, the ability to call upon optics of such high quality is worth the premium over more mainstream alternatives. Couple this lens with a high-resolution pro DSLR and you’ll be able to make huge prints that are jam-packed full of detail, with the minimum of effort in post-processing.

However, for many others, it’s just not very practical. Super-sharp manual-focus fast primes for DSLRs face an almost existential problem: what’s the point when the camera itself makes it near-impossible to focus them accurately enough at large apertures? Most users will prefer the experience of shooting with autofocus lenses instead.

But that’s the point really; Zeiss lenses are for the kind of serious photographer who really understands their advantages and limitations, and knows how to get the most out of them. For that sort of user, the Milvus 25mm f/1.4 is a genuinely superb choice.