One of the main reasons that made me switch fully to mirrorless cameras in 2018 is the ability to efficiently use manual lenses because of focus peaking. This is one of the advantages of using an Electronic viewfinder (EVF) vs. an Optical viewfinder (OVF). Although you can always focus peak using the DSLR’s rear LCD, I prefer using the viewfinder when photographing. You might wonder, why use a manual lens in this day and age on a tech-packed camera? The answer is simple, they tend to be smaller and cheaper compared to their Autofocus counterpart. Most manual lenses are prime lenses, meaning you can’t zoom them. For me, this adds to the allure of using these lenses because it makes you a “better” photographer, well at least makes you an active photographer because you have to move your feet in order to frame your subjects well. This may take a little more effort but this way, you’ll be more mindful and meticulous about what you’re doing and not just point and shoot standing in the same spot.
So today, let me share with you one of my favorite manual lens and why I decided to sell it. This is my review and farewell blog of the Meike 35mm f1.7 lens (x-mount).
As most of you might know, lenses are not cheap, especially the better ones. But does price always dictate performance and value? Well, this lens begs to differ. Priced at around Php 3,000 brand new and Php 2,000 used, this lens is a bargain considering its performance and build quality. That is if you’re okay without autofocus. This APS-C manual focus prime lens has a field of view of 35mm (roughly 50mm full-frame equivalent) and a maximum aperture of f1.7 making it a good all-around lens. The field of view is similar to what our eyes see and the large aperture makes it a very versatile lens, especially in low-light situations. It has an all-metal construction and a metal lens mount making it sturdy and durable. Sadly, it doesn’t have weather resistance but hey, for this price range, no one can really argue with that. The small profile of this lens also makes it the perfect walk-around companion.
The focus ring is smooth but has a long focus throw which I am not a fan of, although this can be beneficial for more accurate focusing. The aperture ring is also smooth but doesn’t have a stop (de-clicked). A sure advantage for video shooters, but for someone like me who is more of a photographer this could be a disadvantage. I have read and watched a lot of reviews about this lens and these issues don’t bother others as much. As for my experience, it annoys me that I always accidentally adjust the aperture whenever I’m using or even storing the lens. This is the only reason why I chose to sell.
Now back to the good points – This lens is sharp specially in the center and when stopped down (using a smaller aperture). It has a nice character, nice bokeh, and good contrast. The color rendition is also superb. I am no pixel peeper but I left an example below for you to ponder. Just nail the focus perfectly, and you’ll have no complaints. Nailing focus could be tricky at times, especially when using a larger aperture like f1.2.
If I’m being honest, I haven’t put this lens through its paces but have used it on several family trips and video shoots – mostly for B-rolls. The longer I shoot with this lens the more I realize that I prefer shooting photos with a wider lens. Having said that, a 35mm lens is always useful to have in your arsenal.
Being a 35mm lens, distortion is also minimal, perfect for portraits and product shoots. I have used this lens on many “product shots” and its image quality and bokeh have always impressed me. Below is a comparison shot with my Fujifilm XE3 with the Meike 35mm lens vs the X100s with a 28mm lens. Here you can see the more pronounced distortion on the 28mm lens and a creamier bokeh on the 35mm.
Overall, I am very impressed with the performance and build of the Meike 35mm f1.7 lens, and not to mention it also looks good on my Fujifilm XE3. I would recommend it to anyone especially video shooters looking for an affordable prime lens. But as much as I love this lens the de-clicked aperture did bother me a lot. It took me a while before I found an alternative with a clicked aperture ring but the long wait is over. I sold this lens and bought the new 7artisans 35mm f1.2 version 2. It’s a little pricier but with the cash I got from selling the Meike lens and my awesome bargaining skills, I practically spent nothing on the new lens. I’ll have to use the 7artisans more before I can write a review on it but so far, so good.
Again, thank you for reading my blog! Hopefully, you learned a thing or two, and don’t forget to share and follow me on my socials so that you’ll be updated when I posted something new.
King 