The following chart presents a comparison between basic parameters of the Meike 85 mm f/1.4 FF STM and other full frame 1.4/85 lenses designed for mirrorless systems.
It's clear that Meike constructors didn't care much about optimizing physical dimensions because their instrument is the biggest and the heaviest in this group. At the same time it is characterized by the longest minimum focusing distance but, for a change, it features the biggest number of aperture blades, as many as 12.
In the photo below the Meike 85 mm f/1.4 FF STM is positioned between the Canon EF 85 mm f/1.8 USM and the Sigma A 35 mm f/1.4 DG HSM.
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The tested lens starts with a metal mount which rim features the serial number and an USB-C slot providing a connection to a computer. The rear element is about 30 mm in diameter, it doesn't move, and is positioned about 1 cm deep inside. It is surrounded by a well matted, ribbed inner tube. From this side everything looks as it should.
The proper part of the lens's body starts with an immobile ring covered by black plastics that increases its diameter as you move further from the mount. You can find also the mount version (FULL FRAME E-MOUNT), and a white rectangle, making an alignment with a camera easier.
Further on you find an aperture ring, 15 mm wide, with ribs that make your grip firmer, and aperture markings from f/1.4 to f/16 along with an A value. The ring works every 1/3 EV step and the producers didn't add a switch for make it clickless so more appropriate for filmmakers.
Then you see an immobile ring covered by black plastics, this time 39 mm wide. It features the name and parameters of the lens, information that it was produced in China, a round Focus Lock button that can be alloted also other functions, and an AF/MF switch, controlling the focusing mechanism mode.
Then you find a manual focus ring, 30 mm wide, completely covered by fine ribs. It is a focus-by-wire construction but it doesn't have any distance or DOF scale. Its focus throw depends on the speed of your turning – when you turn it quickly running through the whole distance range needs an angle of 120 degrees, with a slower movement you are able to reach even near 270 deg. Both these values are high enough to allow you precise settings.
The lens ends with a hood mount and the hood itself is added as a part of an accessory kit. The front element doesn't move, is slightly convex, 59 mm in diameter, surrounded by a part of the barrel with inscriptions with the name and parameters of the lens along with a non-rotating filter thread, 77 mm in diameter.
When it comes to optical construction you deal here with 13 elements positioned in 8 groups. As many as four elements are made of low dispersion (ED) glass and two others are made of high refracting index (HR) glass. Inside you can also find a round aperture with 12 blades that can be closed down to a value of f/16 at the maximum.
Buyers get in the box with the lens: both caps, and a petal-shaped hood. There is no kind of case available in the box.
