Review MEIKE 2.0/12 Multi Coated

For the provided lens MEIKE 2.0/12 Multi Coated many thanks Alexandr Nikitin.

Navigation

1. In short
2. Main Specifications
3. Assembly
4. Focusing
5. Image quality
6. Sample Photos
7. My experience
8. All Sony APS-C E cameras
9. All original lenses for Sony APS-C E
10. All Meike Lenses
11. Price
12. Results
13. User Comments
14. Add your review or question on the lens

In this review, I will abbreviate the MEIKE 2.0/12 Multi Coated lens as 'Meike 12/2'.

Please note that the Meike 12/2 lens is available in different mounts. This review shows the Meike 12/2 version for mirrorless cameras Sony E with APS-C sensor. At the same time, Meike 12/2 is also available with mounts Nikon Z, fujifilm x, Canon EF-M и Micro 4 / 3.

In short

Meike 12/2 is a modern manual ultra-wide-angle lens for cropped mirrorless cameras. Interesting with a maximum relative aperture of 1:2 and sufficient low price. Meike 12/2 was announced June 9, 2022.

On cameras with an APS-C Kf=1.5 sensor, the viewing angle is 97 degrees diagonally (very wide angle).

Meike 12/2 is a very cheap alternative for similar autofocus fixes by type Sony 11 / 1.8 or Yongnuo 11 / 1.8.

Overall, the Meike 12/2 is very sharp in the center of the image already at F/2.0, but has some minor optical flaws.

It's important: most likely Meike 12/2 is built on the same optical design that is used in lenses PERGEAR 12/2 HD.FMC, Brightin Star 12 / 2, Brightin Star 12/2 Mark II и Brightin Star 12/2 Mark III.

Main technical characteristics of MEIKE 2.0/12 Multi Coated

Review Instance Name	Near the front lens: MEIKE Multi Coated 0.66ft/0.2m ⌀62 2.0/12 Body: MEIKE From the mount side 'E-Mount + Made in China + serial number' On the box: MEIKE 12mm ⌀62 APS-C F/2.0 Multi Coated Wide Angle Lens
Basic properties	Lens uses Sony E mount and suitable for mirrorless cameras Sony with APS-C sensor Manual focus only Manual aperture control only Metal mount, metal body Metal hood included Multi Coated – multi-coated optics Aspherical elements in the optical design
Front Filter Diameter	62 mm
Focal length	12 mm EGF for cameras Nikon Z, Fujifilm x, Sony E with APS-C sensor is 18 mm EGF for cameras Canon EF-M with APS-C sensor is 19.2 mm EGF for cameras of the Micro 4/3 system is 24 mm
Zoom ratio	1 X (this is a fixed lens, it does not have a zoom)
Designed by	for cropped mirrorless cameras Sony E. This lens also exists with mounts of other systems: Nikon Z, Fujifilm x, Canon EF-M and Micro 4/3
Number of aperture blades	10 rounded petals
Tags	bayonet mount mark (red dot on the bayonet side) focus distance scale in meters only, markers available for 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.5, 1, 2 meters and infinity mark depth of field scale for f / 4, 8, 11, 16 aperture scale on aperture ring
Diaphragm	from F/2 to F/16, controlled using the aperture ring. There are marks for F/2, 2.8, 4, 8, 11 (dot only), 16. The ring rotates without clicks, smoothly. You can set any intermediate value.
MDF	0.2 meters, maximum magnification ratio is approximately 1:14 (according to my measurements)
The weight	277 grams (according to the official site) 286 ​​grams (according to my measurements, lens without hood and caps, Sony E mount) 308 grams (according to my measurements, lens with hood and covers, Sony E mount)
	12 elements in 9 groups, including 2 aspherical elements. I did not find a drawing of the optical circuit. Most likely the lens uses the same optical design Brightin Star 12 / 2, Brightin Star 12/2 Mark II, Brightin Star 12/2 Mark III и PERGEAR 12mm 1: 2 HD.FMC
Lens hood	Metal, petal type, screwed into the external thread near the front lens, included in the package, can be installed (screwed in) in the opposite direction (petals down)
Manufacturer country	Made in China, made in China
Period	Announced June 9, 2022
Price	View on Aliexpress in Meike Official Store

The f / 2.0 aperture is a full stop wider than the f / 2.8 used in common such lenses.

Assembly

The lens arrived for review almost new. The box contains a lens with front and rear caps and a metal hood.

In general, the lens is well built. Meike 12/2 has metal mount for bayonet, and the lens body itself is completely made of metal. The focus and iris rings are also metal.

The weight of the Meike 12 / 2 lens itself is about 300 grams. In the hands, the lens feels like a solid thing.

The lens itself is quite compact, ideal for small cameras Sony with APS-C sensor, for example, to mine Sony a3500, with which I used this lens. The front filter diameter is 62mm, which is small for an ultra-wide-angle lens. For example, “little brother” Meike 12 / 2.8 uses light filters with a diameter of 72 mm.

The Meike 12/2 uses a metal lens hood that screws into its own external thread, which is located near the thread for the front filter. The lens hood can be installed in the opposite direction for transportation; in this position, access to the focus ring is not lost. The lens hood is small (not long). With the hood installed, it is easy to snap the front protective cover into place. Safety filter also does not interfere with the use of the hood. I used it without problems safety filter Kenko Digital filter UV 62mm.

Diaphragm comprises ten petals and forms a hole in the shape of a regular decagon; in photographs in the blur zone, fairly round discs of blur are obtained at any aperture value. The diaphragm can only be controlled manually using a special ring. The aperture ring rotates smoothly, no clicks and fixed values, you can set any intermediate value in the range from F / 2 to F / 16, which is very useful during video 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 pairs of aperture numbers on the Meike 12/2 is always different. It shrinks from F/2 to F/16. This makes it difficult to conveniently and quickly set values ​​from F/5.6 to F/16. And there was no place on the scale at all for the F/11 mark (a dot is used instead of the F/11 value).

Focusing

The focus ring is not very wide, metal, ribbed. The ring rotates on 120 degrees... Focusing is smooth and pleasant. You can only focus'one finger'.

During focusing, the “trunk” moves forward 2-3 millimeters, but does not rotate. Focusing is done by moving the entire lens unit.

On the ring there is a scale with focusing distance in meters and feet and a depth of field scale. The focusing distance scale is not very detailed.

The minimum focusing distance is 20 centimeters. The maximum magnification ratio is approximately 1:14 (according to my measurements).

Meike 12/2 has a weak 'Focus Breathing' effect (changing the viewing angle while focusing). When focusing towards the MDF, the viewing angle decreases.

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

There is no hard stop (hard infinity mechanical stop) for fast and accurate focusing under any operating temperature conditions. The focus ring has a significant “overshoot/overshoot” beyond infinity.

While using Meike 12/2 on camera Sony a3500/Sony a7 problems with focusing or metering exposure did not have. Focus-peaking (emphasizing sharp edges) and rapidly enlarging the central area of ​​the image greatly simplifies the operation of the lens.

Important: The viewing angle of the Meike 12/2 is slightly smaller than expected and roughly corresponds to the viewing angle of a 13mm lens. For example, if you compare the viewing angles of Meike 12/2 and Tokina AT-X PRO SD 12-24 F4 (IF) DX II Aspherical when focusing at infinity, the Tokina clearly shows a wider viewing angle (during the review, only this Tokina was at hand).

Image quality

Meike 12/2 turned out to be a good lens.

Sharpness

1. in the center of the frame at F / 2.0 the lens shows good sharpness
2. excellent resolution in the center of the frame on covered apertures after f / 2.8
3. there is a drop in sharpness towards the edges and corners of the frame at F/2.0
4. resolution at the edges of the frame returns to normal after F/5.6
5. good contrast
6. small coma, which pleases

Distortion

1. There is a slight complex distortion, it is more pronounced in the corners of the frame
2. the overall level of distortion is at a level typical for similar inexpensive lenses

Vignetting

1. a little vignetting on f / 2.0
2. vignetting practically independent of focusing distance
3. vignetting decreases noticeably only at values ​​below F / 5.6
4. vignetting quite easily fixable in the editor
5. the full frame coverage area is large (see) + more examples on full frame here

Aberration

1. chromatic aberration well corrected in the center of the frame
2. tangible amount HA available only in the corners of the frame
3. general level HA is at the level inherent for high quality lenses

Rest

1. to achieve a beautiful effect of a 10-ray star is possible only at very closed apertures in the area of ​​F / 8-F / 16
2. You can get large glares from bright light sources (see)
3. Concentric bulbous circles are observed in the bokeh area due to aspherical elements on the discs of confusion

Important: at the time of writing this review, there was no Meike 12 / 2 profile for popular RAW converters. You can create a profile yourself or wait for its release.

Sample Photos

Camera used Sony α3500 (Sony ILCE-3500) based on the EXMOR APS-C CMOS 20 MP sensor.

RAW (Sony '.ARW') original photos can be view / download from this link (35 files, 700 MB, Google Drive gallery).

Original images in JPEG format ('.jpg') from Alexandr Nikitin from a Sony a7M2 camera you can view / download from this link (18 files, 55 MB, Google Drive gallery).

My experience

Meike 12/2 is a wonderful little ultra-wide. Unlike the same PERGEAR 12mm 1: 2 HD.FMC, problems with field curvature have been fixed for Meike 12/2.

Price

Meike 12/2 costs around $150. The easiest way buy Meike 12/2 at Aliexpress.comFor example, at Meike Official Store.

Results

Meike 12/2 is another budget wide-angle/ultra-wide-angle lens for mirrorless cameras with an APS-C sensor. On a Micro 4/3 (MFT) system, Meike 12/2 will be just a nice wide-angle (EGF 24 mm). I’m very pleased with the absolutely working F/2.0 in the center of the frame, as well as the ability to use filters with a diameter of 62 mm. Optically, the copy from the review turned out to be significantly better than a similar lens PERGEAR 12mm 1: 2 HD.FMC.

10 main advantages

1. low cost (around $ 150)
2. high aperture (such lenses often use F/2.8 instead of F/2.0, for example, 7Artisans 12 / 2.8)
3. The body is made of metal, the kit includes a metal hood
4. compact dimensions, small diameter of the front filter, a separate external thread is used for the lens hood
5. smooth movement of focus rings and aperture rings, aperture without click
6. depth of field and focus distance
7. the optical design uses two aspherical elements
8. ten aperture blades
9. slight distortion
10. good sharpness in the center of the frame is already at f / 2 and excellent at covered apertures

10 main disadvantages

1. there are no CPU contacts for pairing with the camera
2. focal lengths closer to 13 mm
3. lack of data about the lens in modern cameras, which makes it difficult to automatically correct some types of optical distortion (distortion, vignetting etc.)
4. no lens profile for popular RAW converters
5. poor resolution in the corners and edges of the frame at F/2.0
6. excessive amount of glare in strong backlight
7. concentric onion circles on blur disks/bokeh (due to aspherical elements)
8. strong chromatic aberration along the edges of the frame
9. the manufacturer hides the design of the optical design
10. Most likely, some other lenses use the same optical design, for example, an older one PERGEAR 12mm 1: 2 HD.FMC

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Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.