Meike AF 85mm f/1.8 Review

The Meike AF 85mm f/1.8 is a budget-friendly portrait prime that offers autofocus and a fast aperture for around $340. It occupies the entry tier of the 85mm category, undercutting established brands by a significant margin while delivering serviceable optics for most work.

Reviewers agree the lens is reasonably sharp across the aperture range, though they split on wide-open performance. One tester found the lens sharp even at f/1.8, while others noted softer edges wide open that improve considerably by f/4 and peak between f/5.6 and f/8. High-resolution camera users may notice limitations at the maximum aperture. Center sharpness holds up better than edges when shooting wide open, and stopping down yields very good to excellent results. For the price, it delivers solid image quality that suits portrait work, event shooting, and general use where corner-to-corner sharpness at f/1.8 is not mission-critical. It's a practical option for shooters prioritizing value over the last increment of optical refinement.