Meike has announced the second generation of its 85mm f/1.4 Mix lens for full-frame cameras. According to the manufacturer, the revision is largely based on feedback from photographers worldwide. The new version is aimed at users of Sony E, Nikon Z, and L-Mount cameras looking for a fast portrait lens with autofocus. The lens is available for a price of $569 and offers some functional improvements over the previous model.
The optical system of the lens is designed to be compatible with high-resolution sensors of modern camera systems. The manufacturer states that the design supports high detail sharpness.
A focus is on the correction of optical aberrations. Thanks to the apochromatic construction, chromatic aberrations and color fringing at high-contrast edges are greatly reduced even at the open aperture of f/1.4. This simplifies post-processing of portraits and wedding photos, as manual color corrections are less frequently necessary.
For image composition, the lens features a circular aperture with eleven blades. This ensures soft background blur and smooth bokeh circles in the out-of-focus areas of the image. An aspherical lens is also intended to reduce nervous structures in the bokeh circles.
A new stepping motor is used for focusing. This motor is said to be quieter and faster than the previous generation, which is beneficial for both photography and video recording.
A significant change concerns the ergonomics of the Meike 85mm f/1.4 II. The lens now has a physical lock for the aperture ring to prevent accidental adjustment of the aperture during operation. Additionally, the aperture ring is de-clickable, allowing for stepless exposure control during video recording.
As for technical details, the Meike 85mm f/1.4 II Mix offers solid features for everyday use. The optical construction comprises 15 lenses arranged in 11 groups, including an aspherical element to reduce aberrations.
The minimum focusing distance is 0.81 meters, which is a practical value for a portrait lens of this class. The filter diameter is a standard 77 millimeters, allowing common screw-on filters to be used without issue.
With a weight of around 650 grams, the lens remains relatively compact despite the high speed. Additional features include a programmable function button on the barrel and a USB port for firmware updates to keep the lens compatible in the long term.
The Meike 85mm f/1.4 II is offered in three different color variants to visually match different camera systems. In addition to a classic black version, there is a white version and a two-tone variant combining both colors.
The lens can be purchased from the official Meike shop. It is also listed on Amazon.
