If you’re a full-frame, Sony E-mount shooter on a funds, Hong Kong-based lensmaker Meike has just the factor for you. The new Meike 85mm f/1.8 prime lens contains autofocus assist and blows its sole direct rival out of the water relating to pricing.
While the Meike 85mm f/1.8 FF STM’s focal size and aperture make it ideally suited to full-frame, it would in fact additionally work on sub-frame E-mount our bodies. For Sony’s APS-C shooters or when utilizing an APS-C crop on a full-frame physique, it would yield an efficient focal size of 128mm.
The new lens is accessible now. Meike
Who it’s for
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Thanks to its medium telephoto focal size and vibrant f/1.8 most aperture, the Meike 85mm f/1.8 will likely be significantly attention-grabbing to portrait shooters. As properly as portraiture, Meike can be aiming the brand new lens at architectural and panorama pictures.
The solely direct rival for Meike’s new lens is the Tokina atx-m 85mm f/1.8 FE Plus, which launched in 2020. Less direct rivals are the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN | Art, Sony FE 85 mm f/1.4 GM, and the Samyang AF 85mm f/1.4 FE which can be offered because the Rokinon AF 85mm f/1.4 FE.
Build high quality
Unfortunately, whereas it listed a barrel diameter and weight, Meike hasn’t said a barrel size for its new lens. As we’ll see in a minute, although, it’s seemingly round three inches in size with a 3.1-inch diameter and weighs 13.6 ounces. That’s just a bit smaller than the Tokina, which has the identical barrel diameter however is 3.7 inches lengthy and weighs 22.8 ounces. And not surprisingly, all the f/1.4 lenses are even bulkier.
The lens will not be weather-sealed however given the value level, that shouldn’t be shocking. Meike
Meike additionally missed stating the fabric used to assemble its lens barrel, which is cleanly designed with just two bodily controls. Up entrance is the handbook focus ring, and behind it, you’ll discover a focus mode selector swap on the left aspect of the lens barrel. Just as in its Tokina rival, there’s no weather-sealing right here. You’ll must step as much as the Rokinon, Samyang, Sigma, or Sony for that, but it surely’s an omission that’s very straightforward to miss given the Meike’s funds price ticket.
The entrance of the lens barrel is threaded to just accept 67mm filters and equipment. The lens is firmware-upgradable through a micro USB port which is to be discovered neatly hidden inside its metallic lens mount.
A Micro-USB port is hidden within the lens mount. Meike
Focusing
Just just like the Tokina and Sigma, Meike has opted for a extra budget-conscious, stepper motor-driven autofocus system for the 85mm f1.8 FF STM. The Rokinon, Samyang, and Sony, in the meantime, use linear ultrasonic motors which usually present larger efficiency. Focusing is feasible to a minimal distance of two.8 toes for a most magnification of 0.13x.
Optical design
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The purpose for the lens’ affordability can seemingly be present in its optical formulation. For one factor, with just 9 parts in six teams, it’s the only of the group. The Tokina has one additional component and group, whereas the Rokinon, Samyang, and Sony add two parts and teams apiece. By far probably the most advanced is the Sigma, although. With 15 parts in 11 teams, it’s nearing double the complexity of the Meike.
The optical formulation consists of 9 parts organized in six teams. Meike
But that’s not the entire story of this lens’ worth. It’s additionally value noting that in case you look within the firm’s again catalog, this isn’t its first 85mm f/1.8 with 9 parts in six teams, and all the opposite primary specs look to line up properly as properly. That suggests the brand new E-mount 85mm f/1.8 FF STM has inherited its design largely or totally from the sooner 85mm f/1.8 AF for Canon EF and Nikon F-mount DSLRs.
Of course, tweaks *may* have been made to the optical formulation. Certainly, Meike mentions improved colours due to dual-sided, multi-layer coatings on lens parts for this optic, one thing it didn’t state for both DSLR lens. And whereas the textual content has the texture of a considerably doubtful translation, it additionally seems to recommend the entrance lens component sports activities a mud and smudge-resistant coating.
Aperture
The Meike 85mm sports activities a 9-bladed aperture. Meike
Meike has opted for a nine-bladed aperture iris for the 85mm f/1.8, which is identical variety of blades utilized by the Rokinon, Samyang, and Tokina. Both the Sigma and Sony lenses have two extra blades, and their 11-bladed apertures ought to yield rounder bokeh, particularly when stopped down considerably.
The lens helps digital aperture management and permits a minimal aperture of f/22. It’s the one lens to take action, with the Rokinon, Samyang, Sigma, Sony, and Tokina all restricted to a minimal aperture of f/16.
Pricing & availability
The lens is much extra inexpensive than its different AF-capable rivals. Meike
Available instantly, the Meike 85mm f/1.8 FF STM lens is priced at just $199.99. That makes it way more inexpensive than its nearest rivals on the identical focal size, the Tokina 85mm f/1.8 and Samyang 85mm f/1.4, which each checklist at proper round $500. The Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 is available in at $530, whereas Sigma and Sony’s equivalents are a lot pricier at $1,199 and $1,799.99 respectively.
That makes the Meike hands-down probably the most inexpensive AF-capable 85mm for full-frame E-mount, as of this writing.
Meike 85mm pattern Images
Meike has supplied the next pattern photos exhibiting the brand new lens in use.
https://www.popphoto.com/news/meike-85mm-f1-8/
