Lens maker Meike has released the the latest iteration of its full frame ‘Mix’ series 85mm f/1.4 portrait lens – it’s perfect for portrait and events, and won’t break the bank.
Sponsored. Perfected via feedback from Meike’s global community of photographers, the new 85mm f/1.4 II is a second-generation optic designed for full frame system cameras (Sony E-mount, Nikon Z mount and L-Mount).
Competitively priced at £499/$569, this new lens doesn’t stint on quality. It offers a true APO (apochromatic) optical design capable of resolving high resolutions, plus an upgraded Hyper STM AF motor, delivering faster, quieter autofocus (AF).
Furthermore, the focal length and fast aperture combination is ideal for portrait and wedding photography and the lens’ resolving power makes it the ideal partner for today’s high-resolution full frame cameras.
For portrait photographers, the construction of the lens elements, including 11-blade aperture, produces a beautifully creamy ‘bokeh’ effect, sharply defining a subject against a defocused background for images that pop.
And while some large-aperture portrait lenses are plagued by chromatic aberration/purple fringing, that’s not the case with Meike’s second generation 85mm f/1.4 lens. By contrast it delivers astonishingly clean images even at the widest aperture.
Getting clean images straight out of the camera when shooting weddings, commercial portraiture or dramatic back-lit set ups automatically speeds up your workflow.
Owners of the Meike 85mm f/1.4 II no longer need to waste hours manually correcting colour fringing in post-production, saving time and money.
Isolating a subject from a background so the viewer is automatically drawn to the most important element/s in the shot is one of the key creative goals for portrait and wedding photographers. Thanks to its 11-blade circular aperture, the Meike 85mm f/1.4 II can transform point lights into perfectly rounded bokeh highlights.
Avoiding an ‘onion ring’ effect that is a tell-tale sign of cheaper third-party optics, not to mention harsh geometric edges, the optical construction of one XA Super Aspherical Lens, three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lenses and three high refractive index lenses ensure the inner structure of each bokeh ‘ball’ is remarkably smooth and clean.
Displaying a soft fall-off, Meike’s latest lens can deliver a ‘buttery smooth’ transition – from the biting sharpness of the focal plane to the de-focused background – providing images with a distinct, high-end cinematic look.
Following feedback from photographers, this new release also features a new physical Aperture Lock switch on its manual aperture ring. Plus, to match the aesthetic of different camera bodies, users can choose from three colours: Classic Black, Minimalist White, plus a stylised Black and White ‘panda’ option.
So to sum up, the Meika 85mm f/1.4 II isn’t just a budget lens, but a premium optical powerhouse – without the premium price.
To find out more and place your order, click here.
