1 Presentation
    1.1 Specifications
 2 Optical performances
    2.1 Sharpness
    2.2 Vignetting , chromatic aberrations , distortion, flare, sunstars
    2.3 Bokeh/ Color rendition - Bokeh 
 3 Video
 4 Comparison with other 85mm F1.8
 5 Sample of Photos 
 6 Conclusion (English)
     Like this：

All photos, taken with Sony A7RV / A1 are available in full size (61/50Mpix) in the following Flickr album suivant：Meike 85mm F1.8 Pro

1 Presentation

1.1 Specifications

• Weight：390g
• Price：340 $
• Aperture：F1.8-F16
  
• Length ：90mm
• Filter：62mm
• 9 blades aperture
• Buttons ：AF/MF
• Aperture ring with click
• Minimal focusing distance : 85 cm
• Lens hood
• USB C port for firmware upgrade

The Lens has a medium size and is light weight.
Build quality is good. There is an aperture ring wit click and a A position to control it via the body.
The lens firmware can be upgraded via a USB C port ( frmware v24 during my tests).

AF performance

• AF is relatively fast, accurate in general. I had a few issues at F4. In burst mode it loose focus.when the subject come close (<3m) and fast.
• Eye AF / Tracking is working very well.
  

2 Optical Performances 

 The tests were mainly made on a Sony A7RV, with its 61 Mpix

2.1 Sharpness

• In the centre : the sharpness is very good and even excellent in some cases and become excellent as of F2.8, outstanding at F5.6
• In the corners :sharpness is good at 1.8 and excellent as of F4
• Globally a very good performance

Centre

Corners

Close distance

Same performances at close distance

Sharpness at long distance

• In the centre very good sharpness at F1.8 and excellent as of F2.8
• Corners are very good at f2.8 and excellent at F5.6
  

centre F5.6 & centre F1.8 corner F1.8 & corner F5.6 full size F2.8 & F5.6   F1.8 & full size

Sharpness for portraits

• The sharpness is very good to excellent wide open and excellent as of F2.8 and skin rendering is very good

F1.8 F1.8 F2.8 F4 F1.8 F2.8 F4

2.2 Vignetting , chromatic aberrations , distortion, flare,sunstars

• Vignetting is strong at F1.8 and disappears at F5.6 only
• Distortion is very low
• Chromatic aberrations are very low
• Resistance to flare is relatively good
• At F13 we can get some sunstars

not corrected

corrected

 

F1.8

F1.3

F16

2.3 Bokeh / Color rendition - Bokeh

• The Bokeh balls are very good wide open but you see the 9 blades as of F2.8
• The background blur is very nice and soft
• Color rendition is very good
  
• Contrast is very good.
  
  

F1.8

F2

F2.8

F4

F5.6

3 Video

• In video we get very nice results in term of sharpness, Bokeh, background blur . The color rendition is very good
• The aperture ring is unfortunately with clicks for video
• AF is good globally
• Focus breathing is very low

4 Comparison with other 85mm F1.8

The closest competitor for the are the7 Artisans 85mm F1.8 (299$), the Meike 85mm F1.8 STM(200$), AstrHori 85mm F1.8  (276$) the Yongnuo YN85mm F1.8S DF DSM (345$) and the Viltrox 85mm F1.8 PFU RMBH STM which at 380 euros are 1.5x more expensive than the Meike! The reference being the Sony FE85mm F1.8 (600 euros) almost 3 times more expensive

Meike 85mm F1.8 Pro

7 Artisans 85mm F1.8

Yongnuo 85mm F1.8

AstrHori 85mm f1.8

Viltrox 85mm F1.8 

Meike 85mm F1.8 STM

Sony 85mm F1.8

Specifications

From a specifications perspective the Meike Pro a little bit above the average price, it has an average weight, its min focusing distance is quite long, the build quality is a bit below the average. Only the Meike Pro and 7 Artisans have an aperture ring.

Sharpness

The Meike Pro is the 3rd best just after the Sony and Zeiss Batis and a little bit better than the 7 Artisans and Viltrox.

Background Blur & Bokeh Balls

• The 7 Artisans has the best bokeh balls shapes thanks to its 11 blades followed by the Viltrox 85mm F1.8 PFU RMBH STM, Sony FE85mm F1.8，then the AstrHori and at the end the
  Meike 85mm F1.8 STM and Meike 85mm F1.8 Pro, the Yongnuo YN85mm F1.8S DF DSM is the least good one
• For Background blur softness the 7Artisans , the Viltrox 85mm F1.8 PFU RMBH STM，Meike 85mm F1.8 STM and the Yongnuo YN85mm F1.8S DF DSM &the Meike Pro are ven
  close ,the less good one being the Sony FE85mm F1.8
• The Color rendering is very good on most of them but the Viltrox 85mm F1.8 PFU RMBH STM is maybe a tiny bit better to my taste, the 7 Artisans is good but not very good to my taste

Meike 85mm F1.8 Pro

7 artisans 85mm F1.8

AstrHori 85mm F1.8

Meike F1.8 STM

Yongnuo F1.8

Viltrox @F1.8

Portraits

• All lenses are very good for rendering portraits, with a little preference for the Meike Pro and the Viltrox.

5 Sample of Photos

In real life ,the results obtained are very good.

6 Conclusion

The Meike 85mm F1.8 Pro (340$) is a very good well balanced lens. Very good to excellent sharpness, very good bokeh balls wide open and soft background blur, very good AF in most cases , very good color rendition, good build quality , reasonable size and weight, good ergonomics with its aperture ring with click, low focus breathing.

On the improvements point : AF for fast moving subjects, strong vignetting, long min focusing distance and bokeh ball shape as of F2.8.

Compared to the cheaper Meike 85mm F1.8 STM (200$) it has improved on most of the points.
Recommended

Pros

• Very good sharpness in the centre as of F1.8 and excellent as of F2.8
• Consistent lens from centre to corners (corners only one grade lower at fast aperture)
• Good AF in most situations
• Smooth blurry background
• Good build quality
• Good ergonomics with aperture ring with click
• LOW CA
• Very good color rendition
• Contrast
• Low focus breathing

Average

• Size
• Weight
• Price
• Resistance to flare
• AF in burst mode
• Bokeh ball shape as of F2.8
• Long min focusing distance

Cons

• Vignetting

 

Written by Sony Alpha