Let’s be honest 90% of photography in this digital age is editing. With that smooth bokeh people should have no problem making these photos from a $195 lens look like they came out of a $1900 lens.
Nice review. I’ve had this lens a little over a month now and have done a couple client shoots with it. For portrait work it performed flawlessly for me. The image quality also held up very well on the images I cropped in on.
Thanks for the feedback. Pointing the lens into direct lighting wouldn't make much impact, it's only side lighting really, but I'll bear this in mind for future tests!
Another awesome review and even better video and photos! There is budget and then there is cheap but if you really need a super cheap lens I guess it would get the job done. 😊
I'm a fan of your work, but there is one point where I don't exactly agree with your test results. I think these cheap 85mm lenses can have sluggish focus. It may be fine for some posing, but barely. I tried working with dancers and I realised I need a faster AF. My question is: would it make sense to pick a 75 mm lens instead, for example ttartisan or a Tamron. They are niche, but they are this kind of affoardable alternative that seems more universal while still doing well in portraiture. What do you think?
Just found out about this lens on amazon and I'm pleased to see that a lense like this one is nice. I don't own a sony body yet, but coming form nikon and buying used lenses, I tend to think that switching to sony is clearly a bing jump in prices to have some good lenses. Since I'm not a pro, and shooting only for passion, it's great to find some budget friendly lenses, making photography more affordable.
Re: the Meike lens. One thing I’ve never seen mentioned in reviews - so it may or may not be particular to my copy of the lens - is that when shooting with Electronic First Curtain Shutter turned on, there is a gradient shadow (in horizontal orientation) in the top 1/4-1/3 of the frame, increasingly so, at speeds 1/1000 and higher. This is exacerbated by smaller apertures, as well. This does not occur with full-mechanical shutter, nor with full-electronic shutter. A consolation: if shooting outdoors at wide apertures (and therefore faster speeds), it’s best to shoot with full-mechanical shutter, since EFCS causes “bokeh” to look choppy or distorted.
@@TomCalton Brother tom! im looking at the Viltrox85 and just found i can get the Meike85 for half of the price where i am. I know you reviewed both, in different comparisons Thoughts? do you think there would be much differ thanks in advance
I've been trying to get hold of Yongnuo test samples for ages but every time I get somewhere they let me down at the last minute. I think it might be because I'm based in the UK. Fingers crossed we can work something out with them soon.
2:36 Either you labeled it wrong, or looked at the wrong footage. The labels and what you say are opposite. 3:12 Not sure if it was purposely made to be lighter/brighter, so the labels are more readable(?), but it doesn't work for us night owls that get blasted with the brightness. lol. Possibly try darker, or blur yourself... or maybe the lightness was a mistake. Either way, thank you for the review!
2:28 and 2:32 I would rather have the best bokeh with less sharpness than the best sharpness with worse bokeh. I'm referring to the Canon RF 85mm f2 which is very sharp and has HORRIBLE bokeh and costs a lot. I have the Canon R6II and I only have the RF50mm f1.8. I think the aesthetics of the RF85mm f2 are HORRIBLE! And the RF85mm f1.2 costs the same price as a Sony A7M4 + FE 85mm f1.8. So, I'd rather have two cameras with both lenses than buy just one RF85mm f1.2.
Nope, she's not my wife. We just enjoy working with Georgia and we tend to shoot a number of videos in one day to save time and cost. Hence why there's often a bunch of videos with her in them followed by a bunch of videos with Katey or another model in them.
2:37 - FINALLY, someone doing this kind of testing to understand how loud the lens is with continuous fire. Thank you!
Let’s be honest 90% of photography in this digital age is editing. With that smooth bokeh people should have no problem making these photos from a $195 lens look like they came out of a $1900 lens.
Nice review. I’ve had this lens a little over a month now and have done a couple client shoots with it. For portrait work it performed flawlessly for me. The image quality also held up very well on the images I cropped in on.
@@visionz_n_media is it worth the money? Im going to buy this instead from viltrox
Gawd the Meike 85mm is STUNNING! Glad i came across this, saved a ton of money!
Glad you found the video helpful! Thanks for the comment
when the chinese lens makers copy an old lens formula an just update the coatings they can put out a good lens.
Considering George's beard, might have to switch to animal AF for better accuracy.
🤣
Thanks for your test. Always great to have so many options for Sony, and of course budget options.
My pleasure - thanks for watching 😁😁
It would be super nice if you included the flare test 3:45 without & with the hood.
Thanks for the feedback. Pointing the lens into direct lighting wouldn't make much impact, it's only side lighting really, but I'll bear this in mind for future tests!
Did they make a firmware update for the Meike lens
Another awesome review and even better video and photos! There is budget and then there is cheap but if you really need a super cheap lens I guess it would get the job done. 😊
For $200 I think you get what you pay for. I've tested worse lenses that cost 3-4x this one. More please Meike!
Great review. Crazy that this was all filmed down the road from me lol
I'm a fan of your work, but there is one point where I don't exactly agree with your test results. I think these cheap 85mm lenses can have sluggish focus. It may be fine for some posing, but barely. I tried working with dancers and I realised I need a faster AF. My question is: would it make sense to pick a 75 mm lens instead, for example ttartisan or a Tamron. They are niche, but they are this kind of affoardable alternative that seems more universal while still doing well in portraiture. What do you think?
@tomcalton nice review, thank you. I'm wondering if there was firmware after all, and did improve the AF issues? Thanks!
Yeah I was looking at the comments wondering the same thing lol
Just found out about this lens on amazon and I'm pleased to see that a lense like this one is nice.
I don't own a sony body yet, but coming form nikon and buying used lenses, I tend to think that switching to sony is clearly a bing jump in prices to have some good lenses.
Since I'm not a pro, and shooting only for passion, it's great to find some budget friendly lenses, making photography more affordable.
Re: the Meike lens. One thing I’ve never seen mentioned in reviews - so it may or may not be particular to my copy of the lens - is that when shooting with Electronic First Curtain Shutter turned on, there is a gradient shadow (in horizontal orientation) in the top 1/4-1/3 of the frame, increasingly so, at speeds 1/1000 and higher. This is exacerbated by smaller apertures, as well. This does not occur with full-mechanical shutter, nor with full-electronic shutter.
A consolation: if shooting outdoors at wide apertures (and therefore faster speeds), it’s best to shoot with full-mechanical shutter, since EFCS causes “bokeh” to look choppy or distorted.
Meike 85mm f1.8 seems great. But now TTArtisan has come out with a 75mm f2 that's compact. Has anyone tried both? How do they compare?
Fabulous, I am getting one for my Sony a7M4, budget one for a beginner
Enjoy!
Loved the video😊 I am buying the Sony FE 1.8 after watching all your 85mm lens videos😊 Super helpful ❤
Awesome, glad you found them useful! Thanks for the comment 🙂
@@TomCalton Brother tom! im looking at the Viltrox85 and just found i can get the Meike85 for half of the price where i am.
I know you reviewed both, in different comparisons
Thoughts? do you think there would be much differ
thanks in advance
Does the Autofocus works in Sony A6000? hope i will get answers. thank you.
It works
Great review as alyways. You should have few times more subscribers with such good quality content, just wtf?
Thanks Patrick, I appreciate it. Feel free to help spread the word by liking and sharing!
Curious about the TTArtisan 75mm f2. I’m always looking for lenses that are easy to carry around. Has anyone tried it? How’s it compared to Meike?
Yongnuo has released an updated version of 85 1.8 DF DSM, looking forward to more tests from you!
I've been trying to get hold of Yongnuo test samples for ages but every time I get somewhere they let me down at the last minute. I think it might be because I'm based in the UK. Fingers crossed we can work something out with them soon.
Does the Meike lens hood cause vignetting
Hey Türkiye'den selam.
I want to buy it for Sony a7iv but it is not in the compatibility list ? and Why is Melike still out of stock?
Viltrox better then this?
People wants the cheap lens to work better than the expensive ones lol.
200 bucks lol it’s an amazing lens for that price
Does it do a great job on Sony A6400?
Thanks for this video. Question, I'm new to photography and thinking about buying this lens. Does the Meike zoom to 85mm or is it locked at 85mm?
Its a prime so its locked at 85mm.
There
Great video
Any alternative for a cannon camera ? Plz and thx
I just bought the Meike 85 but the pictures are still blurred and the manual mode doesn’t work cause when i use the ring it zooms in , any suggestions
is this the same with the meike 85mm for fuji x mount?
Good image quality @$200 or very good image quality for 3X the price.
Me thinks Meike.
what effect gave you the film grain edit please?
Im confused you said sony but on the screen is shown meike 2:37
This or tokina 85mm 1.8?
Tokina. No doubt!
2:36 Either you labeled it wrong, or looked at the wrong footage. The labels and what you say are opposite.
3:12 Not sure if it was purposely made to be lighter/brighter, so the labels are more readable(?), but it doesn't work for us night owls that get blasted with the brightness. lol. Possibly try darker, or blur yourself... or maybe the lightness was a mistake.
Either way, thank you for the review!
Yes, good spot, that is a mistake. The labels should be the other way around.
2:28 and 2:32
I would rather have the best bokeh with less sharpness than the best sharpness with worse bokeh. I'm referring to the Canon RF 85mm f2 which is very sharp and has HORRIBLE bokeh and costs a lot. I have the Canon R6II and I only have the RF50mm f1.8. I think the aesthetics of the RF85mm f2 are HORRIBLE! And the RF85mm f1.2 costs the same price as a Sony A7M4 + FE 85mm f1.8. So, I'd rather have two cameras with both lenses than buy just one RF85mm f1.2.
The meike looks like a 1.6 rather than an 1.8
The bokeh is amazing for just $200!
For 100$ i'll give it a try:))
Is that model your wife? Asking because I often see her as main model in your videos
Nope, she's not my wife. We just enjoy working with Georgia and we tend to shoot a number of videos in one day to save time and cost. Hence why there's often a bunch of videos with her in them followed by a bunch of videos with Katey or another model in them.
@@TomCalton oh, okay
I’m dissapointed on Meike’ AF and its sharpness… but what can I say… its super cheap!
200 dollars... wow
great Bokeh!
I know, right!?
Шта?