First Meike 85mm f/1.8 GFX Review
Meike 85mm f/1.8: B&H Photo / Amazon
攝陸PhotoLandHK just posted the first review of the Meike 85mm f/1.8 for Fujifilm GFX. The review is in Mandarin, so I have posted a translated copy of the review below.
Overview
The reviewer tests the highly anticipated Meike AF 85mm f/1.8 STM for the Fujifilm G-mount. Priced extremely competitively, this lens brings a fast f/1.8 aperture and reliable autofocus to the GFX medium format system. It serves as a fantastic, budget-friendly alternative to Fujifilm’s native GF 80mm f/1.7.
Build & Features
- Extremely Lightweight: Weighing in at only 406g, it is exceptionally light for a medium-format f/1.8 lens [02:46]. It’s significantly lighter than the Fuji GF 80mm f/1.7 and feels very similar in weight and balance to the compact GF 63mm f/2.8 [10:49].
- Weather Sealing: The lens features a dust- and water-resistant design, giving peace of mind when shooting in light rain [02:19].
- USB-C Firmware Updates: It includes a built-in USB-C port right on the lens mount for quick and easy firmware upgrades [02:09].
- Controls: The lens features a smooth, clickless aperture ring and an AF/MF switch on the barrel.
- Minor Mount Quirk: The reviewer noted that the lens mount fit feels a bit tight when initially attaching it to the camera body [02:27]. They hope Meike refines the mount tolerance in future production runs.
Autofocus Performance
- Fast and Silent STM Motor: Unlike some older native Fujifilm GF lenses that utilize Linear Motors (LM) and can suffer from noisy, slower focusing, the Meike uses a Stepping Motor (STM). Tested on the GFX100 II, the autofocus was found to be very snappy, completely silent, and highly capable for continuous AF (AF-C) [10:07].
- Great for Older Bodies: The reviewer notes that this fast focusing system even helps boost the AF experience on older, slower-focusing GFX bodies like the GFX 50S and 50R [14:39].
Image Quality & Bokeh
- Outstanding Sharpness: The lens provides excellent center sharpness even when shot wide open at f/1.8, and the background separation (bokeh) is gorgeous and perfectly suited for portraiture [11:03].
- Close Focusing: It has a minimum focusing distance of around 0.85m, making it highly versatile for getting tight portraits or shooting cafe and product photography [12:55].
Drawbacks
- Lens Flaring: The primary optical weakness noted in the review is its susceptibility to lens flares (glare/ghosting) when shooting directly into harsh sunlight or strong artificial light sources [13:18]. The reviewer highly recommends keeping the included lens hood attached at all times to mitigate this.
- Chromatic Aberration: While native lenses like the GF 80mm f/1.7 have superior lens coatings, the Meike can occasionally show slight color fringing (chromatic aberration) in extremely high-contrast situations, though it is quite manageable [13:36].
Final Verdict & Value
At just 2,290 RMB (approx. $315 USD), this lens costs a fraction of native Fuji GF glass [15:05]. The reviewer considers it a “must-buy” gateway lens for budget-conscious GFX users, dramatically lowering the barrier to entry for medium format shooters who want shallow depth of field portraits without breaking the bank.
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