{"id":80497,"date":"2026-01-18T09:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T08:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=80497"},"modified":"2026-01-18T21:58:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T20:58:24","slug":"review-meike-85mm-f-1-4-ff-stm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-meike-85mm-f-1-4-ff-stm\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: Meike 85mm f\/1.4 FF STM"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

Meike is stepping up its autofocus game with a bold new lens: an 85mm f\/1.4. While it\u2019s not their first AF lens, it\u2019s a pro favourite for portraits and shots that really make the subject pop, with that classic strong subject separation. Meike even claims it\u2019s China\u2019s first 85mm f\/1.4 portrait flagship lens\u2014a pretty bold statement. Naturally, I was curious to see it for myself when they offered a copy for review. Let\u2019s find out how good it really is.<\/p>\n

\"camera-icon2\"I tested this lens on a 46 Mp<\/a> Nikon Z7ii<\/a> (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf<\/a>)
\n\"\"You can see this review as\u00a0a\u00a0YouTube\u00a0video\u00a0here<\/a>!
\n\"\"Sample images in high resolution here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Nikon Zf | Meike 85mm f\/1.4 | f\/2.8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Meike 85mm Ff1.4 | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Meike 85mm f\/1.4 | f\/1.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Meike 85mm f\/1.4 | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Meike 85mm f\/1.4 | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

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Nikon Zf | Meike 85mm f\/1.4 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Meike 85mm f\/1.4 | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Meike 85mm f\/1.4 | f\/9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Meike 85mm f\/1.4 | f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Meike 85mm f\/1.4 | f\/4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Focal Length<\/td>\n85mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n24.1\u00b0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Aperture<\/td>\nf\/1.4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Aperture<\/td>\nf\/16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Focus Distance<\/td>\n0.978 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n77mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nE \/ Z \/ L<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n\u2248 800 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\n\u2248 87 x 114 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n13 \/ 8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Buy new:<\/strong> MEIEK Store<\/a>, Amazon (anywhere)<\/a> for $400 (Affiliate links)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Disclosure<\/span><\/h2>\n

Meike kindly provided this lens for test and review purposes.<\/p>\n

Handling and Build Quality<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Meike 85mm f\/1.4 is a fairly bulky lens, made of hard plastic similar to Nikon Z lenses, but without the premium feel you get from Nikon\u2019s build. A Type-C USB port on the lens’s metallic mount plate allows firmware updates via Meike\u2019s website. Electronic contacts on the mount handle EXIF data transfer and electronic aperture control. Around the mount, there\u2019s an attractive red rubber gasket for environmental sealing.<\/p>\n

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Moving forward, the lens has an aperture ring marked in one-third stops from f\/1.4 to f\/16, with an A<\/strong> position in red for automatic aperture control from the camera. The ring clicks distinctly at every third of a stop, but feels rather rough\u2014like dry cogs engaging with each other. There\u2019s no option to declick the ring.<\/p>\n

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Aperture ring | Meike AF 85mm f\/1.4 on a Nikon Zf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On the side of the barrel, you\u2019ll find a customisable focus-hold button and an AF-MF switch. The lens also has a relatively large manual focus ring that turns smoothly, though, like the aperture ring, it has a slightly rough feel.<\/p>\n

The lens uses a silent STM motor, which is quiet and accurate. That said, it\u2019s on the slow side and sometimes hesitates, requiring a little back-and-forth \u201cchase\u201d before it locks focus.<\/p>\n

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AF-MF switch and the function button | Meike AF 85mm f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lens comes with a deep lens hood made of hard plastic, though it doesn\u2019t feel as substantial or sturdy as Nikon Z lens hoods. There\u2019s no image stabilization built into the lens. Overall, the build quality feels good and is quite satisfactory.<\/p>\n

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Lens hood, front, and rear caps | Meike AF 85mm f\/1.4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

This is an impressive MTF chart, let’s see how it holds in real life tests.<\/p>\n

Sharpness (Infinity)<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the infinity sharpness test, we look at three areas of the image, centre, mid-frame, and corner, see highlighted areas in the image below!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Infinily Sharpness Points of Inspection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Infinity Sharpness chart | Meike 85mm f\/1.4 | Nikon Z7II<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I have to say directly that the centre sharpness is outstanding.<\/p>\n

Wide open at f\/1.4, the centre sharpness is already very good, the midframe is good, but the corners remain soft. Stopping down one stop brings the centre to excellent, the midframe to clearly good, while the corners are still soft.<\/p>\n

By f\/2.8, the centre sharpness exceeds what the Nikon Z7ii\u2019s 46\u202fMP sensor can fully resolve, producing visible moir\u00e9 patterns. The sensor cannot keep up with the fine detail the lens delivers in the centre. The midframe is very good, and the corners are now just OK.<\/p>\n

At f\/4, the centre remains extremely sharp, the midframe is excellent, and the corners are finally good. By f\/5.6, the corners improve further, and at f\/8 they become very good. Diffraction starts to impact the centre at f\/8, reducing it slightly to excellent. The best across-the-frame sharpness is achieved between f\/8 and f\/11.<\/p>\n

Overall, the centre sharpness is truly impressive.<\/p>\n

Sharpness (Portrait)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s look at the points of interest for portraits at the portrait distance: the very centre, the centre\u2019s inner periphery\u00a0 (1\/3 rule intersection), and the centre\u2019s outer periphery (1\/4th intersection).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Portrait Sharpness Points of Interest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n