Meike’s New 85mm f/1.8 Lens For Canon

credits: Meike

The Meike 85mm f/1.8 SE Mark II has been released for Canon EF mount, with more EF optics for Canon's EOS DSLRs supposedly on the way. The lens is a full-frame design and matches the core specs of the Sony E and Nikon Z versions that have already been on the market for a while. At 369 grams, it is relatively lightweight for an 85mm f/1.8, and it keeps a fairly compact profile while still offering autofocus and electronic communication with the camera.

Optically, the lens uses an 11-element, 7-group construction and features an 11-blade aperture, which should help produce smooth, rounded background blur. Minimum focusing distance is 0.65 meters, making it usable for classic head-and-shoulder portraits but also for slightly tighter framing when needed. Autofocus is driven by an STM stepping motor, which is designed to be quiet and smooth, and it supports eye and face detection depending on the camera body. The lens also takes standard 62mm filters.

In terms of build, Meike went with a high-strength polymer body rather than metal, likely to keep weight and cost down. There is also a USB-C port built into the lens mount for firmware updates. The Meike 85mm f/1.8 SE Mark II for Canon EF is priced at $229.99.