Every photographer loves a good 85mm lens. This focal length flatters and gives portraits a depth that no smartphone camera can match. The new Meike 85mm f1.8 SE Mark II, priced at $229.99, aims to fix some of those issues. It’s lighter than it appears and feels slightly more refined in the hand. Meike claims it’s sharper too. Rumored to release in November 2024, it finally arrived a year later in Z, L, and E mounts.
An Improvement, Not a Reinvention
We had expected this edition to be released a year ago, but here it is, a whole 12 months later. This new version of the original 85mm f/1.8 from Meike, their first autofocus lens, retains the same aperture range of f/1.8 to f/16. Now, though, you have 11 elements in 7 groups, down from 8. The 11-blade diaphragm represents an improvement over the previous 9-blade design, which will help achieve smoother bokeh. Buyers will appreciate that the minimum focus distance has dropped to 0.65 meters from 0.9 meters. The lens still features a 62 mm filter thread, and it now weighs 369 grams, a 17-gram reduction.
Do We Need Another 85mm?
Take a pic of anyone with an 85mm lens and you’ll instantly be reminded of why this focal length remains popular. It beautifully compresses backgrounds, isolating subjects without making them look flat. When wide open, this lens provides that smooth separation between the subject and the scene that everyone wants in their portraits. Everyone loves how they look when they see pictures of themselves taken with this focal length. It’s great for headshots, half-body pics, and full-length shots too. And this is probably why there are so many of them available from almost every lens manufacturer these days.
Meike is competing against some strong rivals. 7Artisans and TTArtisan have established their design style, and both offer great prices. Viltrox has become what Sigma was during the DSLR era: a solid third-party option (probably my favorite of the mirrorless era). Their lenses are not only affordable but also reliable, consistent, and visually appealing. The new Meike 85mm f1.8 Mark II lens may fit somewhere in between all these brands’ offerings. The new edition of the lens appears to have improved technically. Visually, I can’t say it has a unique quality that would make a photographer like me choose it even when they don’t need to.
If Meike wants to stand out, it must do more than just create affordable versions of existing lenses. They need a strong identity of its own. Maybe in how it renders the photos themselves, not just how it looks on the outside. Currently, that identity seems to be missing from their lenses. However, the 85mm f1.8 Mark II shows that Meike listens, adjusts, and improves. This is how brands like this develop. Slowly but surely, as long as they are open to feedback and criticism.
Tech Specs
Meike claims that this version has less chromatic aberration, better image quality, and faster focusing speed. Time will tell just how much the Mark II has improved over the previous edition. At this price point, I’m surprised the original one is still listed on their website. It might be a good first 85mm purchase for anyone who wants to get this focal length on a tight budget.
Images seen in this article have been supplied for use by our Meike reps