Meike 50mm f/1.7 Review

Meike 50mm f/1.7 Performance

Central sharpness is impressively even, being very good throughout and rising to an excellent standard at f/5.6 and f/8.

The edges match that sharpness very closely, again being very good throughout and rising to excellent at f/5.6. Images are very crisp right across the frame.

 

How to read our MTF charts

The blue column represents readings from the centre of the picture frame at the various apertures and the green is from the edges.

The scale on the left side is an indication of actual image resolution as LW/PH and is described in detail above. The taller the column, the better the lens performance.

For this review, the lens was tested on a Sony Alpha A7 Mark III using Imatest.

 

CA (Chromatic Aberration) is virtually absent at the centre but relatively obvious at the edges. Nonetheless, there are many images where it is not particularly apparent and can always be tackled in software if desired.

 

How to read our CA charts

Chromatic aberration (CA) is the lens' inability to focus on the sensor or film all colours of visible light at the same point. Severe chromatic aberration gives a noticeable fringing or a halo effect around sharp edges within the picture. It can be cured in software.

Apochromatic lenses have special lens elements (aspheric, extra-low dispersion etc) to minimize the problem, hence they usually cost more.

For this review, the lens was tested on a Sony Alpha A7 Mark III using Imatest.

 

Some barrel distortion is almost a given for a fast 50mm lens and in this case, it measures -0.55%. This is a very good level of correction and for most subjects will not be a problem. As always, further software correction is possible.

Shooting against the light does not easily generate flare, the only real effect being a slight drop in image contrast.

The well-rounded aperture does its work in helping to deliver pleasing bokeh. It sits well with the crisp sharpness of the area in focus and offers a smooth rendition as we fall further out of focus in the background.


 

 

Value For Money

The Meike 50mm f/1.7 lens is priced at £114.99, which in isolation is an excellent price for such a high-quality optic.

However, there are quite a few full frame 50mm f/1.8 lenses at comparable or even lower prices, all with the added benefit of AF.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, £119
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, £90
Yongnuo 50mm f/1.8, £44
Nikon 50mm f/1.8D, £103
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G, £199
Sony FE 50mm f/1.8, £179

The price of most of these lenses is unlikely to be the deciding factor, they are all terrific value, so it will have to be decided on other factors. For more options have a look at the Top 15 Best Sony E / FE Mount Lenses

 

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