Meike AF 85mm F/1.8 STM SE II Canon EF
The Meike AF 85mm F/1.8 STM SE II Canon EF is a fast portrait lens with a fixed focal length of 85 mm and an EF mount. It covers a full frame sensor, so it works on an EOS with a 35 mm sensor just as well as on an APS-C body. The autofocus runs on a stepping motor you barely hear while filming.

Highlights

• Maximum aperture of f/1.8 for portraits with a calm background

• Aperture with 11 blades that keeps points of light round

• Optics of 11 elements in 7 groups

• STM stepping motor that focuses quietly and smoothly

• Weighs 369 grams, so your camera stays balanced

• USB-C port in the mount for firmware updates

Image quality
A portrait focal length does not distort a face the way a wide angle does, and you stand far enough away not to crowd your subject. On a full frame camera it frames half and full figures. On an APS-C body you end up closer to the face, because the sensor uses a smaller part of the image circle.

Focusing
An STM stepping motor drives the autofocus. It is quiet enough not to turn up in the audio of a video take, and it shifts focus smoothly rather than in jumps. The camera can drive its eye and face detection through it. The lens does not focus closer than 0.65 m.

Aperture
The aperture has eleven blades and therefore stays round well into the stopped down range. Points of light in the background come out as round circles rather than angular shapes. Close down to f/16 and a landscape stays sharp from front to back.

Build
The barrel is made of a high strength polymer rather than metal, which keeps the weight down. At 76 mm across and 74.55 mm long it stays a short lens that does not stick out of your bag. A USB-C port sits in the mount for loading firmware from the Meike site.

Compatibility
The lens has a Canon EF mount and therefore fits the Canon SLR bodies that use it. The front carries a 62 mm filter thread for a UV, CPL or ND filter.

Characteristics

• Type: Prime portrait lens

• Mount: Canon EF

• Focal length: 85 mm

• Maximum aperture: f/1.8

• Minimum aperture: f/16

• Image circle: Full frame

• Optical construction: 11 elements in 7 groups

• Aperture blades: 11

• Minimum focusing distance: 0.65 m

• Filter size: 62 mm

• Focusing: Autofocus with an STM stepping motor

• Firmware: USB-C port in the mount

• Dimensions: 76 x 74.55 mm

• Weight: 369 g

• Warranty: 2 years

Suitable for, among other things

• Canon EOS cameras with an EF mount