Review MEIKE 60mm 1: 2.8 MACRO

According provided by lens MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO (APS-C, Sony E) many thanks Meike company.

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO. increase.

Navigation

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

Please note that the MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO lens is available with different mounts. This review shows the MEIKE 60mm 1: 2.8 MACRO version for mirrorless cameras Sony E with APS-C sensor (for cropped cameras). At the same time, MEIKE 60mm 1: 2.8 MACRO is also available with mounts Nikon Z, Fujifilm x, Canon EF-M, Canon RF-S и Micro 4 / 3. For more information, I advise you to look at guide to all Meike lenses, and so in A guide to all original Sony E APS-C lenses.

In this review, I will abbreviate the MEIKE 60mm 1: 2.8 MACRO lens Meike 60/2.8 Macro.

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

In short

Meike 60/2.8 Macro is a modern macro lens for mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensor. It is possible to shoot with a maximum magnification of 1:1. It has a good quality of the created image. In the center of the frame, it is already sharp at F / 2.8.

It is interesting for its low price, 9 aperture blades and a fairly comfortable working distance when shooting with a 1:1 magnification. A strong advantage is the completely internal focusing.

Of the significant drawbacks, one can single out an inconvenient focusing ring with a small step.

Most likely Meike 60 / 2.8 Macro completely repeats the model 7Artisans 60mm 1: 2.8 Macro II.

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

Main technical characteristics of Meike 60/2.8 Macro

Review Instance Name Near front lens: Meike 60mmF28 ⌀49 0.57ft/0.175m MULTI COATED

E-Mount Side + Serial Number

Body: Made in China

Box type: 1, 2

Basic properties
  • The lens uses a Sony E mount and is suitable for Sony mirrorless cameras with an APS-C sensor
  • Manual focus only
  • Metal mount, metal body
  • Macro - 1: 1 magnification close-up capability
  • MULTI COATED - multicoated optics
Front Filter Diameter 49 mm

(apparently, the lens was originally designed for 52 mm, since in the first photos of the appearance the inscription ⌀52 is clearly visible)

Focal length 60 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 Sony cameras.

This lens exists with mounts:

Number of aperture blades 9 rounded petals
Tags
  • bayonet mount mark
  • focus distance scale in meters and feet
  • depth of field scale for f / 2.8, 4, 8, 16
  • magnification scale, there are marks for 1:5, 1:3, 1:2, 1:1
  • aperture scale
Diaphragm from F / 2.8 to F / 16, controlled using the aperture control ring. There are marks for F / 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 (dot only), 22. The ring rotates without clicks, smoothly. You can set any intermediate value.
MDF 0.175 meters, maximum magnification ratio 1:1

working distance about 10 centimeters

The weight
  • 340 grams (according to the official website)
Optical design 11 elements in 8 groups, most likely completely identical to the model 7Artisans 60mm 1: 2.8 Macro II (drawing of the optical scheme here)
Lens hood It must be screwed into the thread of the front filter, is supplied
Manufacturer country Made in China (Made in China)
Period Announced on February 25, 2023
Price

These lenses are very popular. All major lens manufacturers have 60 / 2.8 class models in their arsenal. Often these lenses are used not only for macro photography, but also for a variety of creative shooting.

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

Assembly

In general, the lens well assembled.

Meike 60/2.8 Macro has bayonet mount metal and the lens body itself is completely made of metal (aluminum).

The front and back covers are plastic. front cover without latches, just fits snugly against the body frame. There is a special fabric seal on the inside of the lid. The cover is fixed tightly. Removing and installing the cover is pleasant.

The weight of the Meike 60/2.8 Macro lens itself is just over 300 grams. In the hands of the lens feels like a solid thing.

The diaphragm consists of 9 of petals and forms a round hole at any values, while in the photos in the blur zone, rather round discs of blur are obtained. The diaphragm can only be controlled manually using a special ring. The diaphragm ring rotates smoothly, no clicks and fixed values, you can set any intermediate value in the range of F / 2.8-F / 22, which is very useful during movie shooting.

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 the pairs of Meike 60 / 2.8 Macro numbers is always different. It shrinks from F/2.8 to F/22. This makes it difficult to conveniently and quickly set values ​​from F / 5.6 to F / 16. And for the F / 16 mark, there was no place on the scale at all (points are used instead of F / 16 numbers).

It's important: aperture control ring is located from the front of the lens, behind the focus ring. This arrangement of the aperture ring is quite convenient. On other lenses, such as 7Artisans Macro 60mm F2.8, the aperture control ring is close to the mount and it is not always convenient to rotate.

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

Focusing

Meike 60/2.8 Macro can use manual focus only.

The focusing ring is wide, metal, with small notched ribs. The ring rotates approximately 135 degree (3/8 of a full turn). Focusing is smooth.

The focusing ring is poorly 'stretched' in the range from half a meter to infinity, which is why it is extremely inconvenient to focus in this range of distances. The slightest touch of the focusing ring in this range will noticeably change the focusing accuracy.

Meike 60/2.8 Macro uses full internal focus. During focusing, the front and rear lenses remain stationary.

On the ring there is a scale with a focusing distance in meters and feet, a depth of field scale and a scale with a magnification factor.

The minimum focusing distance is 17.5 cm and the maximum magnification ratio is 1: 1. The working distance when shooting at 1: 1 magnification is about 10 cm (distance from the front of the lens to the subject).

Real aperture lens, expressed in T-stops, decreases significantly during focusing towards the MDF. If F / 2.8 and approximately T / 3.0 are used during focusing on infinity, then F / 5.6 and approximately T / 6.3 are used when focusing on MDF. This is a common occurrence with macro lenses.

Present weak effect 'Focus Breathing' (changes in viewing angle during focusing). Usually these lenses have a very strong 'Focus Breathing' effect. During focusing towards the MDF, the viewing angle decreases slightly.

Focus Shift (shift focus, changing the focus distance due to iris) is missing.

The focus ring has a small 'overrun of infinity', which does not allow you to quickly and easily, in one movement, focus 'to infinity'.

Important: focus peaking with Meike 60/2.8 Macro on camera sony alpha 3500 works good.

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

Image quality

Meike 60/2.8 Macro is optically good.

Sharpness

  • in the center of the frame at f / 2.8, the lens behaves well. Sharpness at F / 2.8 is present when focusing on infinity and on MDF
  • there is a very slight drop in sharpness towards the edges of the frame at f / 2.8, in general, the lens shows a uniform resolution throughout the entire field of the frame
  • excellent resolution in the center of the frame on covered apertures after f / 4
  • on F / 22 there is a noticeable deterioration in the picture due to diffraction

Distortion

  • the overall level of distortion is at a level typical for such lenses
  • difficult to notice distortion

Vignetting

  • very weak vignetting at f / 2.8 and focusing on infinity or MDF
  • easy fix in editor

Aberration

  • the level of chromatic aberration is low (which is rare for such cheap lenses)
  • a small amount of frigging

Rest

  1. significant artifacts can be obtained from bright light sources
  2. the lens tolerates side light well
  3. blur discs are well rounded (example on f / 11)
  4. creates pleasing bokeh in most situations

Important: At the time of writing this review, there was no Meike 60/2.8 Macro profile for popular RAW converters. You can create a profile yourself or wait for its release.

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

Sample Photos

All photos in the review are shown without processing. Camera used Sony α3500 (Sony ILCE-3500) based on EXMOR APS-C CMOS 20 MP sensor. All photos - ZEROJPEG.

Original JPEG images can be view / download from this link (60 files, Google Drive gallery).

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

My experience

Optically Meike 60 / 2.8 Macro is good. I was very pleased with its capabilities. If the small stroke of the focus ring does not scare you, then I can strongly recommend it to everyone who wants to touch the world of budget macro photography.

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

Video review



Price

Meike 60 / 2.8 Macro stands in the area 160 dollars. The easiest way is to buy Meike 60 / 2.8 Macro from an official seller on Aliexpress.com via this link.

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

MEIKE 60mm 1:2.8 MACRO

Results

Meike 60/2.8 Macro is an inexpensive macro lens. Optically good. If not for the awkward focus ring, this would be the best inexpensive manual macro lens for cropped mirrorless cameras.

10 main advantages

  1. low cost (approx. 160 dollars)
  2. the lens barrel is completely made of metal, including a metal mount
  3. there is a scale of depth of field, focusing distance and magnification
  4. nine aperture blades that always give a rounded opening
  5. internal focus
  6. small effect Focus Breathing
  7. the aperture ring rotates smoothly, without intermediate values ​​(useful for video)
  8. ability to shoot 1:1
  9. good sharpness in the center of the frame already at F / 2.8
  10. in most cases, lenses create a pleasant bokeh

10 main disadvantages

  1. most likely Meike 60 / 2.8 Macro is completely based on 7Artisans 60mm 1: 2.8 Macro II
  2. no CPU pins to form the correct EXIF
  3. a threaded (non-bayonet) hood should be used
  4. the aperture control ring can be accidentally hooked and easily knock down the set value
  5. small non-linear step at the aperture control ring between F / 5.6-F / 22
  6. small step at the focus ring
  7. the focus ring has a small 'overrun of infinity', which does not allow you to quickly and easily, in one movement, focus 'to infinity'
  8. there is no lens profile for popular RAW converters, the lens is not 'hardwired' into modern cameras
  9. no auto focus support (for example, an inexpensive Chinese lens has YONGNUO 50/1.8S DA DSM)
  10. certain small flaws in image quality

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Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.

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Comments: 12, on the topic: Review MEIKE 60mm 1: 2.8 MACRO

  • Rodion

    I must say that with modern Chinese glass, correcting the chromaticity in such a lens is a nice thing. I even wonder why they used Hoya glass in addition - it was just cheaper)
    The lens is definitely the best for photographing cute cat paws)

  • Yuriy

    MEIKE tse MEIKE…. Well. There was no worse

    • Resistance

      Tse vie up to what? Vіdmіnna lens, scho you don't like?

      • B. R. P.

        Standing up on the wrong foot, maybe...

  • Sergei

    The Japanese Sony recently released a similar macro (SEL2021F50G) in 25.
    But much more expensive.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Sony FE 2.5 / 50 G - full-frame, autofocus, exclusively for E and from the major leagues of Sony G, it's a stretch to call it "similar"

  • Pavlo

    I bought Tamron adaptall 90mm f2.5 52BB for 100 cu. A great lens for a full frame and indeed for any camera! Newer have 1:1 macro

  • i is glorious

    The lens is not bad, but specifically in the macro zone, it is no better than the old Sony SEL 30mm f / 3,5 Macro. Sonya at long distances is even worse than the whale zoom, not like this Meike, but around 1: 1 she is transformed. The branded AF-fix costs $300, plus, due to “old age”, it is on sale right now for $250.

    If we talk about an ultra-budget macro, then this Meike is significantly more expensive than a flip adapter.

    In short, the lens has its own niche, but not fire.

    • Konstantin

      it is better at least with an effective focal length of 90mm, 45mm efr will force you to bring the camera closer to the object, which brings with it a whole bunch of problems in macro.

  • Tserg

    Vdyachnist for looking back, Arcadia.
    It is marvelous not to place a mark on the grzp scale as close as possible to the diaphragm, as if it were a trifle. How marvelous are those that the diaphragm is on the very edge, but it can be without sphincter regulation, as it will be easier to beat.
    About those who Makeke inherits the most famous Canon traditions, not completing their lenses with a lens hood, nor wanting to use a garchirka-cover to say nothing. Vіltroks, for example, to kill. The culture of setting up to slow down the product, press, at Meike, purely Chinese))
    Wanting optically yakby is bad.

  • after all

    Sigma 105 2,8 on the secondary is full for $ 100-170. There will be autofocus and autodiaphragm. Well, who needs a hemorrhoid with a manual diaphragm?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      1. It is mirrored (then immediately add the price of an autofocus adapter and add more to the size and convenience)
      2. She's under full frame
      3. It is 1.5 times longer
      4. It won't be new
      5. Is autofocus important for macro?
      6. Stub on the sensor
      7. Heavier, longer

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English version of this article https://radojuva.com/en/2023/06/meike-60mm-2-8-macro-lens-review/

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