Meike 1.7/35 Multi Coated review (for MILC, APS-C, FujiFilm X)

Navigation

1. In short
2. Main Specifications
3. Assembly
4. Focusing
5. Image quality
6. Sample Photos
7. Alternatives
8. Price
9. Results
10. User Comments
11. Add your review or question on the lens

Please note that the Meike 1.7/35 Multi Coated lens is available with different mounts. This review shows the Meike 1.7/35 Multi Coated version for mirrorless cameras fujifilm x with APS-C sensor. At the same time, Meike 1.7 / 35 Multi Coated is also available with mounts Sony E, Canon EF-M, Nikon Z, Micro 4 / 3 и Nikon 1.

In this review, the Meike 1.7 / 35 Multi Coated lens will be abbreviated as Meike 35 / 1.7. This review helped me prepare Lynx George. Lynx sells it here.

In short

Meike 35 / 1.7 is a modern fast lens for cropped mirrorless cameras with manual focus. Inexpensive fast fix for cameras with an APS-C sensor and a maximum aperture of F / 1.7.

35 mm is a convenient focal length that allows you to use the Meike 35/1.7 as a standard (regular) lens for a huge number of different photo tasks.

Meike 35/1.7 interesting low price, high-quality assembly and a maximum relative opening of 1:1.7. It has certain optical flaws, but in general it should fully satisfy all the needs of amateur photographers.

The main competitors are similar inexpensive lenses by type PERGEAR 35mm 1: 1.6 HD.MC.

Meike 35/1.7 in the FujiFilm X mount version can be considered an alternative to the original Fujinon 35/2 XF R WR and Fujinon 35/2XC.

A list of all Meike lenses can be found here.

Main Specifications Meike 1.7 / 35 Multi Coated

Review Instance Name	Near front lens: Meike Multi Coated 1.0ft/0.3m Ø49 1.7/35 Body: MEIKE On the lid: MEIKE Bayonet side: X-mount + Made in China + serial number 22021627
Basic properties	The lens uses a mount fujifilm x and suitable for Sony mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensor Manual focus only Manual iris control Metal mount, metal case, metal front cover Multi Coated - multicoated optics (declared about Nano Multilayer Coating) Meike: “Beauty” (Mei) and “Technology” (Ke) [from Chinese]
Front Filter Diameter	49 mm
Focal length	35 mm EGF for cameras Sony E, Nikon Z, Fujifilm X with APS-C sensor is 52.5 mm EGF for cameras Canon EOS M is 56 mm EGF for system cameras Micro 4/3 is 70 mm EGF for system cameras Nikon 1 is 94.5 mm
Zoom ratio	1 X (this is a fixed lens, it does not have a zoom)
Designed by	Option from the review for cropped mirrorless cameras Fujifilm X. This lens exists with mounts: Sony E Fujifilm x Canon EOS-M Nikon Z Micro 4 / 3 Nikon 1
Number of aperture blades	9 rounded petals (6 or 8 are often indicated on official websites and sites, but this is a mistake). Counted.
Tags	bayonet mount mark (red dot on the chrome part of the mount) focusing distance scale, in meters and feet, in meters the following values ​​are available: 0.3, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.2, 2, 4 meters and infinity mark + diamond-shaped reference mark depth of field scale for F / 2, 2.8 (only strip), 4, 16 (?, only strip), 22 aperture scale on the aperture ring with a white rhombus for reference
Diaphragm	from F / 1.7 to F / 22, controlled using the aperture control ring. There are marks for F / 1.7, 2, 2.8, 4, 8, 22. The ring rotates smoothly
MDF	0.3 meters, maximum magnification ratio of approximately 1: 8.8 (measured)
The weight	196 grams (only the lens itself, as measured, version for Fujifilm x) Length (at infinity) with bayonet 41 mm. Diameter 62 mm.
Optical design	6 elements in 5 groups The drawing of the optical scheme was not found. Most likely this is a modernized 'Planar'
Lens hood	Must be screwed into the front filter thread; marking unknown
Manufacturer country	Made in China (Made in China, inscription on the bayonet side)
Period	From spring 2017
Price	View on Aliexpress

It's important: F/1.7 aperture here is 'true', with light transmission around T/1.9. Lately I have been careful about the maximum aperture, there have already been many cases of cheating with the indication of the real maximum aperture by some Chinese manufacturers, for example, Pergear 35 / 1.6 on aperture F / 1.6 has real T / 2.4 (approximately).

Assembly

The box with the lens contains the lens itself with front and rear caps, a booklet and a warranty card. There is a soft foam holder in the middle of the box. The design of the box is stylish and beautiful.

In general, the lens well assembled... Meike 35 / 1.7 has metal mount for bayonet, and the lens case itself is completely made of metal, anodized aluminum is used.

The front lens cap is plastic, without latches, just fits snugly to the frame of the case. On the inside of the lid there is a special fabric seal. The lid is fixed tightly. Removing and installing the cover is a pleasure. The back cover is also plastic.

It's important: during focusing to infinity, the frame of the body shifts the cover slightly and the latter does not fit as tightly and securely to the body as when focusing at close focusing distances.

All marks and labels on lenses engraved and filled with paint. Most likely laser engraving. There are questions about the standardization of fonts, which made all the inscriptions on the lens. It is also rather strange that the small notches on the focus ring are on the 'convex' parts of the faces, and not the 'concave' ones, like in old manual lenses, for example, compare the location of these notches on a classic manual lens ASAHI OPT. Co. Super Takumar 1:2/35 1971. Notches on the concave parts allow you to more comfortably hold the focus ring.

The weight of the lens is just under 200 grams. The diameter of the filters is 49 mm. By itself Meike 35/1.7 is quite compact, well suited for some cameras fujifilm x.

The diaphragm consists of 9 blades and forms a round hole at any value, while in the photographs in the blur zone, rather round disks of blur are obtained at any aperture value. The diaphragm can only be controlled manually using a special ring. Aperture ring rotates smoothly no clicks and fixed values, you can set any intermediate value in the range of F / 1.7-F / 22, which is very useful during movie shooting.

Important: Meike 35/1.7 official websites and platforms often indicate the presence of only 6 or 8 aperture blades in the specifications of Meike XNUMX/XNUMX, but this is a mistake.

It's important: Unlike other lenses, where the aperture ring rotates with clicks, and the transition between any pairs of aperture numbers has the same step, the step between some pairs of Meike 35 / 1.7 numbers is different. It shrinks rapidly from F/4 to F/22. This makes it difficult to conveniently and quickly set intermediate values ​​​​between F / 4-F / 22. And for marks F / 5.6, F / 11, F / 16 there was no place on the scale at all. The aperture ring is easy to accidentally catch and knock down the set value. The aperture ring can be rotated with just 'one finger'. Most likely, the depth of field scale is applied conditionally.

The internal parts of the helicoid are well matted.

Focusing

The focus ring is metal, ribbed, comfortable. The ring spins on 200 degrees. Focusing is very smooth and pleasant, oily. You can focus with just 'one finger'.

During focusing, the trunk of the lens moves forward about 5 millimeters, but does not rotate. During focusing, the entire lens block moves.

On the ring there is a scale with a focusing distance, but only in meters. There is a depth of field scale. The minimum focusing distance is stated to be 30 centimeters, but in practice the MDF is slightly larger, and the maximum magnification ratio is approximately 1:8.8 (measured).

Meike 35/1.7 has a slight 'Focus Breathing' effect. During focusing towards the MDF, the viewing angle decreases.

Focus Shift (change in focusing distance due to aperture) is missing.

Hard stop (hard infinity mechanical stop) for fast and accurate focusing under any operating temperature conditions, the lens does not have. There is a large power reserve and a noticeable 'overrun of infinity'.

Image quality

At covered apertures, the Meike 35/1.7 can easily handle the 16 megapixel APS-C Fujifilm X-A1 sensor. In the center of the frame, Meike 35 / 1.7 is quite good already at F / 1.7.

Sharpness

1. lens optimized for long and medium focusing distances
2. there is a slight decrease in resolution when switching to close focusing distances (including MDF)
3. F / 1.7 lens has good resolution
4. with aperture down to f/2.8 resolution becomes excellent
5. there is a slight drop in sharpness towards the edges and corners of the frame, but even in the far corners of the frame at f / 1.7 the lens holds up well, much better than many similar lenses
6. moderate contrast
7. small coma

Distortion

1. moderate barrel shaped distortion
2. distortion is unified, easy to edit in the editor

Vignetting

1. weak vignetting on f / 1.7
2. vignetting decreases with focus towards MDF. Most noticeable when focusing on infinity
3. vignetting almost completely disappears at F / 2.8
4. vignetting easily fixable in the editor

Aberration

1. there is a moderate amount of chromatic aberration
2. chromatic aberration very strong at the edges and corners of the image
3. even on heavily covered apertures, images remain in the corners chromatic aberration

Rest

1. on covered apertures it is very difficult to achieve the effect of star rays
2. from bright light sources you can get a lot of glare, glare can be huge. A significant drop in contrast is possible when working in side light (example)
   
3. the lens can create nice bokeh, at f / 1.7 the discs of blur at the edges of the image take the form of lemons (example)

Important: at the time of writing this review, there was no Meike 35 / 1.7 profile for popular RAW converters. You can create a profile yourself or wait for its release.

Sample Photos

All photos in the review are shown without processing. Fujifilm X-A1 camera (model range 2013-2015, 16 MP APS-C CMOS sensor) was used. All photos are JPEG taken in camera. Photos for review prepared Lynx George.

Original JPEG ('.jpg) images can be download / watch this link (40 files, gallery/cloud GOOGLE DRIVE).

Alternatives

Meike 35 / 1.7 is a super-budget replacement for autofocus cropped lenses for mirrorless cameras:

1. Sony 35 / 1.8 OSS (for Sony E mount)
2. Canon 32 / 1.4 STM (for Canon EF-M mount)
3. Zeiss 32 / 1.8 Toit (Planar) (for Sony E and Fujifilm X mounts)
4. Sigma 30 / 1.4 DC DN (for Sony E, Canon EF-M and Micro 4/3 mount)
5. felttrox 33 / 1.4 STM (for Sony E, Canon EF-M, Fujifilm X, Nikon Z mounts)
6. fujinon 35 / 1.4 XF R (for Fujifilm X mount)
7. fujinon 35/2 XF R WR (for Fujifilm X mount)
8. fujinon 35/2XC (for Fujifilm X mount)
9. tokina 33 / 1.4 atx-m (for Fujifilm X, Sony E mounts)
10. Nikon 1 Nikkor 32/1.2 N
11. Do you know any other similar high-aperture autofocus lenses for cropped mirrorless cameras? Please indicate them in the comments, I will add to the list

Similar manual focus lenses and similar aperture for mirrorless cropped cameras with an APS-C sensor, quite a lot has already appeared. As alternatives, I would note the following inexpensive options:

1. TTArtisan 35 / 1.4
2. 7Artisans 35 / 1.4
3. Meike 35 / 1.4
4. Pergear 35 / 1.6
5. 7Artisans 35 / 1.2 и 7Artisans II 35 / 1.2
6. Neewer 35 / 1.2, Neewer 32 / 1.6 и Neewer 35 / 1.7
7. Brightin Star 35 / 1.2 и Brightin Star 35 / 1.7

List of all company lenses Meike can be viewed here. List of all original lenses Fujifilm x can be viewed here.

Price

Meike 35/1.7 costs around $80. The easiest way buy Meike 35/1.7 at Aliexpress.comFor example, here at this link.

Results

Meike 35 / 1.7 has a good price / quality ratio. For amateur photographers, it should be an excellent solution as a manual standard lens for every day. In general, the lens is the younger brother of a similar lens. Meike 1.4 / 35. Meike 35/1.7 price difference between and Meike 1.4 / 35 small, and therefore it is better to pay attention to the latter.

10 main advantages

1. low price tag (total about 80 dollars)
2. maximum aperture F/1.7 (high aperture)
3. convenient focal length for working on cameras with an APS-C sensor (EGF about 50 mm)
4. good build quality: the lens barrel is completely made of metal, including a metal bayonet mount and a metal front cover
5. smooth focusing ring, the stroke is a little more than half of a full turn
6. compact dimensions, filter diameter only 49 mm
7. nine aperture blades
8. smooth aperture adjustment
9. there is a depth of field scale, a focus distance scale
10. good sharpness in the center of the frame from f / 1.7

10 main disadvantages

1. no autofocus (for example, inexpensive Yongnuo 50mm 1:1.8 DA DSM S or Tartisan 27/2.8AF Has auto focus
2. small step at the aperture ring between aperture values ​​F / 4-F / 22, no F / 5.6, F / 11, F / 16 values
3. the aperture control ring is very easy to accidentally hook and knock down the set value
4. no CPU pins to form the correct EXIF
5. A threaded (non-bayonet) hood must be used, no hood included
6. there is no lens profile for popular RAW converters, the lens is not 'hardwired' into modern cameras
7. front cover without latches, can be easily lost, does not hold well during focusing to infinity
8. tangible chromatic aberration
9. moderate distortion
10. strong glare in backlight, a significant drop in contrast with strong sidelight

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Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram