Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 for Nikon Z Review: Performance and Value do go hand in hand

Introduction

After testing the entry-level Meike 50mm F1.8 for Nikon Z mount (my review is here), we will look at Meike’s declared ultimate choice for professional portrait photography, the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 AF (Nikon Z mount), in this hands-on review.

The Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 is available for full-frame Sony E, Nikon Z, and the Leica/Panasonic/Sigma L-mount.

Across brands, the 85mm ƒ1.4 specifications are probably the more classic and sought-after for portraits due to the potential narrower depth of field and pleasing focal length. Still, these lenses usually come at a higher cost, especially for native lenses.

With the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 coming in as an option at under USD500, let us take a deeper look at this option across performance, features, and value areas.

tl:dr

The Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 AF lens has emerged as a notable option for affordable portrait lenses with a wallet-friendly price of USD469. For the Nikon Z-mount, the nearest native lens alternative is the Nikkor Z 85mm ƒ1.2 S, priced at USD 2799.

Part of Meike’s flagship MIX ƒ1.4 series, the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 is a very attractive option with its excellent price-to-performance ratio, and it is designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras with Sony E, Nikon Z, and Leica L mounts.

While the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 has some optical shortcomings, it can still produce stunning results, allowing me to conclude that the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 is worth considering for photographers seeking budget-friendly yet capable optics.

Technicalities

The Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 AF lens offers a range of features that are actually quite impressive for its price point:

• Focal Length: 85mm
• Aperture: ƒ1.4 to ƒ16 with 12 aperture blades
• Lens Mount: Nikon Z, Sony E, and Leica L, full-frame format
• Optical Design: 13 elements in 8 groups with a minimum focus distance of 98 cm (3.2 feet)
• Autofocus: STM motor for smooth and quiet performance
• Filter Size: 77 mm
• Weight and dimensions at Approximately 750 grams and 114mm (L) X 87mm (⌀ )

Additional features include a multilayer coating to reduce flare and ghosting, electronic contacts for EXIF data transmission, and a USB-C port for firmware updates.​

Performance and Handling

The Meike 85mm ƒ1.4’s overall build is quite solid, with little flex and a nice heft. It is noticeably better built than the Meike 50mm ƒ1.8 I had previously tested. It is mainly constructed from high-quality plastics with a metal mount and a plastic hood that clicks snugly into place, which can be quite ‘noisy’ to remove.

Useful features of the lens include a click aperture ring that gives a very resounding click every third of an f-stop and a customizable focus hold button, enhancing its ergonomics. The lens also includes an MF/AF switch and a USB-C port for firmware updates.

Ergonomically, there isn’t much to critique; the size and weight of the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 lens are in line with what you’d expect from a lens of this specification.

A surprise was seeing the orange ring of a weather-resistant gasket, adding further versatility to the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4.

While using the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4, the autofocus was quite reliable and silent with the STM motor, though on the focusing speed side, there is room for improvement, which I hope future firmware updates will improve.

Though very slightly slower in confirming focus, once the lens autofocus locks on, the reliability of accuracy is there.

For more accuracy, I feel that the manual focus ring in the front of the lens could be improved with a bit more resistance, allowing one to use it more accurately.

While the lens has no stabilization, it works well with the IBIS on the Nikon Zf. As mentioned in the specifications, EXIF data was transferred correctly; compatibility-wise, I am sure the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 will work well with the other Z-mount bodies.

Regarding image quality, the lens performs well with the 13 elements in 8 groups optical formula comprising 4 ED lenses and 2 high refractive lenses.

Wide open at ƒ1.4, the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 at the center is decently sharp and corners are quite soft, however sharpness and contrast improves significantly once we move to ƒ2 onwards. Once we hit ƒ5.6 onwards, the image is very sharp across, though obviously few people would purchase a 85mm ƒ1.4 to use at small apertures.

However, some downsides include noticeable focus breathing and a moderate resistance to flare. Strengths are that the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 gives very little distortion, and vignetting at ƒ1.4 is relatively minimal, quickly clearing up from ƒ2 onwards.

Another strength is that there is very little aberration even when shooting at maximum aperture, and the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 can deliver very pleasing bokeh, making it ideal for portrait photography. In fact, I have tested much more expensive lenses with worse performance than the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 in this aspect.

With all these said, the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 can still produce beautiful shots and is still a lens worth considering.

Conclusions

The Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 is a compelling choice for budget photographers seeking a decently high-quality portrait lens. While it has some limitations, such as its weight and minor optical issues, it offers excellent value for the price. Its ability to produce sharp images with beautiful bokeh makes it a strong contender within the 85mm, 90mm fast lens category for Nikon Z mount.

For those looking to capture stunning portraits without breaking the bank, the Meike 85mm ƒ1.4 is an option highly recommended for one to consider.​

Thank you for reading.

Disclaimers:

1. I photographed all product photos and samples here. I believe any reviewer with pride should produce their own product photos. 

2. All image samples were shot with the Nikon Zf and Meike 85mm ƒ1.4; both are my personal sets and running the most current firmware versions.

3. This review is not sponsored; I write as a passion and hobby, and I appreciate that photography brands are kind enough to respect and work with me.

4. The best way to support me is to share the review, or you can always help support the site by contributing to my fees to WordPress using the PayPal button at the bottom of the page.