Test/ First Impression Meike 55mm f/1.8 Pro

[Jonathan-Mac]

Looks like this 55/1.8 is a good performer - sharp with nice rendering. It's about time that the L-mount had a native fast fifty that's cheap. How's the build quality?

 

[Oíche]

Looks like this 55/1.8 is a good performer - sharp with nice rendering. It's about time that the L-mount had a native fast fifty that's cheap. How's the build quality?

It already does... The S50 f1.8.

Lets face the facts, you can buy them open box/unused for £200 and how can you compete against that? Same with the 20-60 as they are sold as kits and unwanted.

The Leica Summicron f2 has the same optical formula which they copied from the S50 f1.8 which says it all and it's difficult to tell the difference in blind tests.

Ps I don't know why you like that Pentax M50 f1.7, I own one, it has a clinical rendering with edging on pretty horrible bokeh and bad colours, to me from when I got it I didn't like it on DSLR nevermind now. The Limiteds and * lenses were a completely different story. I never owned the DA* 50 f1.4 but that was the 50 you wanted. I seen beautiful portraits taken with it beyond what the old 80s M50 f1.7 was capable of.

 

[pdk42]

It already does... The S50 f1.8.

Lets face the facts, you can buy them open box/unused for £200 and how can you compete against that? Same with the 20-60 as they are sold as kits and unwanted.

The Leica Summicron f2 has the same optical formula which they copied from the S50 f1.8 which says it all and it's difficult to tell the difference in blind tests.

I agree. The Lumix 50/1.8 is a great lens and available at very low prices.

 

[Richard Wong]

I think I previously said i would review the 55 1.8 on one of the other threads, but i ended up never receiving the review sample.
But a review sample of the Meike 55 1.8 for L-mount just showed up yesterday. I completely wasn't expecting that so i will compare it with the Lumix 50mm 1.8.
But it will be at least a few weeks until I can start work on that review.

 

[Jonathan-Mac]

It already does... The S50 f1.8.

Lets face the facts, you can buy them open box/unused for £200 and how can you compete against that? Same with the 20-60 as they are sold as kits and unwanted.

The Leica Summicron f2 has the same optical formula which they copied from the S50 f1.8 which says it all and it's difficult to tell the difference in blind tests.

Ps I don't know why you like that Pentax M50 f1.7, I own one, it has a clinical rendering with edging on pretty horrible bokeh and bad colours, to me from when I got it I didn't like it on DSLR nevermind now. The Limiteds and * lenses were a completely different story. I never owned the DA* 50 f1.4 but that was the 50 you wanted. I seen beautiful portraits taken with it beyond what the old 80s M50 f1.7 was capable of.

Prices of FF mirrorless ~50mm f/1.8 across all systems:

Canon RF 50/1.8 - €202
Sony FE 50/1.8 - €202
Nikon S - €608
Meike 50/1.8 - €202
Meike 55/1.8 "Pro" - €360
Panasonic 50/1.8 - €449

Which leaves Panasonic as by far the priciest if you discount the Nikon which is a "pro" build lens despite it's modest f/1.8 aperture. I'm a big fan of the Lumix 50/1.8, it's a wonderful lens, but for people looking to get into the system the lack of a simple fast fifty for under €449 might be a deal-breaker, even if the Canon and Nikon are optically worse. They now have two Meike options in the L-mount and more are to follow from the likes of 7Artisans which I'm sure will be around the same price.

The Lumix 50/1.8 may be very good but it's more than double the price of the entry fast fifties in most other comparable systems so doesn't qualify as a cheap way to get a standard prime for L-mount. Comparing it to used prices is hardly fair, especially when you take into account that many of those used copies will be older and suffer from blue fogging.

You're welcome to your own opinion on the Pentax 50/1.7. I think it's a wonderful little lens with unbeatable performance and build for a cheap vintage prime. And the vast majority agree with that, hence it's rating of 9.34/10 over on Pentax Forums.

 

[PJD]

Side note: When I bought my S5iiX with the Lumix 20-60mm lens from Hunts Photo & Video last May, they sold me an open-box Lumix 50mm f1.8 with the full 3-year Panasonic warranty for $50 US.

A nifty 50 for a nifty $50!