A Look At The Meike 50mm f/2 and 35mm F/1.7 Lenses For Micro Four Thirds Cameras

The Meike 50mm f/2 and 35mm f/1.7 prime lenses sell at a bargain price. Cheap and nasty or Cheap and cheerful? Lets see.
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See my M43 blog at m43blog.dthorpe.net/

[@hirziify]

"technically better doesn't always equate to aesthetically better" golden quote here

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

:-)

[@bozo859]

"Put technically, they're blurred" LOL!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I like to express myself in scientific language, as you have noticed.

[@Sliwka36]

I love your reviews. You're like David Attenborough of Photography!

[@soundknight]

here here! :)

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I am blushing!

[@bozo859]

Nail on the head! I think David should have another career in voice work!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Aw shucks! (shrug) :-)

[@lfcmarkeb7124]

only younger, and no knighthood lol

[@BruceHarms]

Best review video ever... Well written, has a narrative and even some humour while staying informative. A cheer - full experience!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Wow, thanks, Bruce. Glad you liked it so much. I like a little humour, photography can get a bit po-faced at times.

[@RodrigoVzq]

Wonderful video David. Always a pleasure to listen

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thank you Rodrigo!

[@datapro007]

Thank you for bringing Meike to my attention. Great review as always, David.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks, much appreciated!

[@markleonardkaneko]

I finally settled on the Olympus EM10 mkii and will be looking for a portrait lens to start me off. While eventually I will probably get the olympus f1.8 this will likely be an early purchase. I always liked the quirks of some subtly "bad' lenses back when shooting film on SLRs and found they added a certain character to the shoots I did with them that was hard to define. Im not talking about the really tacky plastic ones that just made trashy images but rather ones like this that were rock solid but lacked the clinical perfection from many of the big name makers. Im really glad that there are native "bad lenses" for micro four thirds cameras too.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, there's a very wide range of lenses of all types available. Also, all of those 'bad' lenses for film cameras will fit right on to your Olympus with a £20 adaptor. You have lots of fun ahead!

[@regiunsjanus6724]

I felt like I was listen to an audio book, love the review

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks very much Desolo, it's great to hear that!

[@EwaFilmuje]

hey, i also use this lens. have a look if you want. I think 28mm wirks fine!

[@nightcoder5k]

The 50mm delivers some shockingly pleasing images.

[@soundknight]

the images look quite beautiful, good review David, it does a great portrait and does look 'Analog'

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Hi Brian - yes the difference is quite subtle but it's there. Glad you liked the review, it was a very enjoyable one to do.

[@TITAOSTEIN]

Another Great Review! Thank You!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad you liked it, Titaostein!

[@charliepragnell5791]

Another great review David and I have one on order for my Olympus. I have also purchased the 25mm F1.8 7artisans lens which arrived just the other day. I am more than surprised at the optical quality, build and lens performance - Quite incredible for the price. I know many people wouldn't put these type of lenses anywhere near their cameras but for me there is room in my camera bag for expensive and cheaper lenses.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

There will always be room for a mix of cheaper and expensive lenses as far as I'm concerned. I have only occasional use for a fish-eye lens and wouldn't have one except for Meike's cheaper - but still excellent one. You can see it here amzn.to/2Gih5zb (UK) and amzn.to/2GFefrt (USA).

[@charliepragnell5791]

David Thorpe Hard to ignore at that price point, looks the part too.

[@paulstevenson200]

Now that is how to conduct a review - FAULTLESS. p.s. and thank God no bloody awful muzak to distract.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks! I was thinking of adding some of my guitar playing, maybe some heavy metal riffs but decided not to out of respect for viewers :-)

[@shellroc21]

What a review! Brilliant.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Knocked out that you think so - thank you!

[@pfortunato78]

Thanks again David for your contributions. I'll wait until one of these manufacturers decide to finally make a 17mm fast prime for cheap. I feel that is one of the better focal lengths because it equals 35mm on m43's and equals a very useable 28mm on APS-C.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I think you may have a long wait because these lenses are basically designed for larger formats so have a wide market. Plus they are old designs co-opted for new formats. A 17mm designed for Micro Four Thirds couldn't be so cheap. I hope I'm wrong, though.

[@paolosarcinella8552]

thank you for your excellent review 😊

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad you found it useful, Paolo.

[@ChrisWilliams-nf8kl]

Another cracking review David. I might consider the Meike 50mm, but I've got an old Oly OM 50/1.8, with an adapter that fits that slot. Haven't used it in a bit, I'll have to dig it out again. There's certainly a quality about it that's different to native MFT glass, but I find its biggest flaw is a real lack of contrast with back lighting - even more than you'd expect. These Meike's don't seem so prone to that.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks Chris - no the Meike's are fine with backlight though obviously not as good as native Micro Four Thirds lenses. The Olympus 50mm f/1.8 wouldn't be much different from the Meike in other respects - probably better off centre.

[@lfcmarkeb7124]

have watch d a few reviews on 7 artisan lenses,cheap (budget) when done side by side with the meike equivalent seemed more pleasing (to me) also do a budget 7.5mm fisheye.

[@attentionaddicts]

I really like the size and price of these lenses. great review. david I hope to see you review the new m43 sigma 30mm 1.4, and maybe even the mitakon 25mm f0.95 which came out earlier this year.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Wow! There are some amazing lenses coming out now! I'll try to get hold of some.

[@marklaurendet1861]

Nice review, I may look into one of these on ebay sometime if no one in Australia ends up stocking them. On the forum I visit the most these days often there is debate over the various menu systems of Mu43 cameras. I do not know how much difference between camera models but would it be possible for you to do a video showing how to perform a series of similar tasks for different camera makes. Say Olympus Panasonic Fuji etc Regards

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Hi Mark. Glad you liked the review. I specialize in Micro Four Thirds cameras so the Fuji doesn't come into my brief.The main thing about the menus is the layout and terminology. Both Panasonic and Olympus have much the same functions for mainstream work. I just set up a Custom setting with either camera and work from that.

[@attentionaddicts]

david, I have a Fujian 35mm 1.7 adaptered to m43, and it's taken some great shots. 35mm is great as a short portraits lens, i.e. Head and upper body but also some background environment in shop.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, everything has its uses. I do find a 45/50mm the more generally useful of the two, though.

[@AndrewSidarta24]

45/50mm lens means 90/100mm in m43 right?

[@TheGanntak]

Enjoy your reviews mate

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Good to hear that, Gary, thank you.

[@Michael-fw5ef]

The photo at 3:51 (the red-haired young lady) is superb. You are beyond talented as a photographer. I wish you would start a commercial website, put your best pictures on it, and let fans buy those digital pictures via download. $10 per photo to download it. I could take my purchased downloads to a shop, have them print them on poster sized paper and get them framed in order to hang on my interior walls of my house. Better and cheaper than buying any other way. Please think about it.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks so much Michael - I'll have to think about ti!

[@apostolicbible1]

I didn't read the comments before watching the video, and afterwards i thought this was one of the best presentation I have ever heard...it could have featured ice cream cones and it would have been a pleasure to watch. Then I read the comments and laughed that I wasn't the only person who thought you should do voice overs, if you don't already. Do you read a script or ad hoc?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I'm flattered - thank you! I actually write a script - it's time consuming but it does allow me to get my thoughts together. I don't like that 'hi guys!' kind of ad hoc presentation because it tends to meander and be self-indulgent. There are people who can do it ad hoc but they seem few and far between. Great if you _can_ do it, though.

[@apostolicbible1]

Well done! There is a third way that is not scripted nor ad hoc and that is speaking through inspiration...but that's another subject. I ordered the Meike 35 for my EOS M, but it will take up to six weeks to receive it from Hong Kong. They, Meike, seems to be out of stock on a lot of their lenses, probably because of the great quality and low cost. I mainly do book product photography, so I think the 35 mm will be best for me. The M is not 4/3, so I hope the sharpness and edge blur elimination will be helped.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I don't have inspiration - I'm one of the unfortunates who have to make up for lack of talent by working hard :-( You should be OK with the edge sharpness - presumable with product photography you can stop down and by about f/8 most lenses are similar in performance. I shoot my cameras and lenses for review at around f/8 and it makes little difference what lens I use, from the 14-140 zoom oo the Olympus 60mm macro.

[@timur7381]

I believe these are designed specifically for mirroless cameras, don't think many would use them with OVF's) I believe only fuji has a hybrid optical system? I like the look of the lenses, and seems to perform well enough for such a low price point.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I don't know the provenance of the design. I sort of assumed it was a resurrection of an old design. Certainly used for what it is good for, it is great value.

[@MrAkihiros]

Superbe images. You sold me.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Far from perfect lenses but perfectly good for the right subjects. It's sobering to think they cost less than some Olympus lens hoods.

[@krmr]

Hi David, a bit off topic: Peak Design is crowdfunding a backpack on kickstarter, maybe that one is something for you, as you weren't too keen on the messenger bag.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

They do some good stuff. I'm very pleased with the camera strap setup. I'll take a look at the bags though I must say i am pretty happt with my Lowepro Sling. Thanks for teh tip off.

[@ppetounis]

Hi David really nice review. As I'm new in the micro 4/3 third looking for new lenses and came to your channel. One think, youtube is for everyone and english language is global. Let me make a point: when you right your script for your video do remember that no all people come from english speaking world.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad you liked the review. I do make a point of speaking as clearly and slowly as I can, I'm not sure what else I could do. I do speak French but the technical side of things wouldn't be easy!

[@molybdnum]

Question: If I've got an FD-m43 adapter and a Canon FD50 1.8 + Canon FL50 1.5, is this worth the purchase? I'm guessing no, but if there's one area I might see improvement it's contrast. The FD-era coatings don't seem to do very well there, particularly when pointed anywhere near a light source.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

The Meike has good contrast. In the video, the shots are not altered in post processing, they are as they come from the camera so you can see the overall result. It'll flare if the light source is in or very nearly to directly into the lens but a proper lens hood helps. It sounds to me as if it might well be better than the Canons. But, as I say, take a look at the video. Nothing is enhanced or improved.

[@pablorenteria7634]

can you do a "What´s in my Camera Bag!" episode? :) could use the video as a reference for my MFT setup . Thanks in advance!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Good idea!

[@pablorenteria7634]

+David Thorpe 😁🙌🎊

[@psychomech111]

Ekhm! We're still waiting,David... ;)

[@pablorenteria7634]

We Are!!!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Time, time, I need more time! I haven't forgotten, though.

[@kesatria150]

I have gx9 with leica 15mm F1.7, what you think best purchased for street portrait? meike 35mm f1.7, meike 50mm f2 or 7artisans 50mm f1.8? I didn't want shoot near the object.

[@basukisugito3275]

I use 50mm f2 on my Olympus for street and portrait photography. Love the lens. but I am little bit confused about the image quality, sometimes really got nice pictures and sometimes out of focus or strange color. Think when very bright sunlight. But I take a lot if black and white pictures so not too big problem

[@terraswede6669]

Nice video. Again.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Well, thank you!

[@Uscenes]

I will stick to my vintage lenses with adapters than one of these. But i have just found a very interesting lens from them which would be good to see a review of : Meike MK-25-0.95 25mm f/0.95 which is £398 on Amazon.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, I'd like to get hold of one of those. A 50mm 0.95 would be interesting, too.

[@Uscenes]

ZY Optics Mitakon 35mm f/0.95 and there is one in 25mm with same aperture. Reviews look bad though. There is a 50mm version but only in Sony E mount. Looks like the only .95 50mm option is the SLR Magic 50mm f/0.95 Hyperprime Lens (MFT).

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks for that. The 50mm f/0.95 makes the Nocticron f/1.2 look a bargain :-)

[@lfcmarkeb7124]

wow! what a revelation. good review of a more than adequate lens ,not o ly for the money but also for the images it creates 👍

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Glad you found it useful!

[@lfcmarkeb7124]

@@DavidThorpeMFT I believe this lens would serve me well for the odd portrait of the grandkids ,save the extra cash re buying the pany 42.5 ,happy days ,plus can still remember having to manual focus ,exposure and hyperfocal 🥴

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

@@lfcmarkeb7124 If you've used manual lenses in the past you know there is nothing unreasonably difficult about using them. It can sound a bit scary to photographers who have only ever experienced autofocus while if you set the camera to Aperture priority you do have auto-exposure. Hyperfocal distances, well you soon know if you've go that wrong :-)

[@lfcmarkeb7124]

@@DavidThorpeMFT I purchased the 7 artisans version off the bay for ahmm £27 well happy with its intended use as occasional portrait lens and pleasantly surprised with the aperture priority support along with peeking,when you bare in mind can get a set of 3 of these in focal lengths you use occasionally use for the price of 1 Lumix lens ,happy days

[@petergabriel8448]

The 35mm is very good for aps-c. Sharp, punchy with great colors already from wide open.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, I think it was probably designed for APS-C.

[@aw614]

This makes me regret spending the money on buying the E mount version of this and a few other Meike Lenses, when I could have bought the m43 version + m43 to NEX adapter to share between my Sony Nex6 and GF1 that I have as I enjoyed using it on APS-C, but being able to share the lenses between the two systems would have been convenient for me.

[@chrisaddy4604]

Is there such a lens as a wide angle for m43 that has a higher f stop then 2? (>14mm)

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, Panasonic do a 12mm f/1/4. And there are a raft of Olympus f/1.2 lenses coming out soon, I am told.

[@keithspillett7312]

Interesting to hear your thoughts regarding edge/corner sharpness. I was only discussing this with someone the other day - and managed to persuade them that unless they specialised in photographing brick walls, then they could probably get away with a cheaper optic than the lens they were considering buying......

[@soundknight]

something I have found is that distortion and sharpness in the corners does matter when I want a portrait subject to sit in the side of the image.

[@keithspillett7312]

+Brian Cullen True. The lenses under discussion the other day were Canon L vs non L, so not QUITE the same as the meikes. The person in question was not, and most likely will never be, a pro, so the 'ordinary' Canon lens was fine for his purpose - in fact he could have bought two for the money he was considering spending!

[@soundknight]

Sometimes people just want to spend money, I think that as long as there aren't little Chinese kids in dangerous sweat shops making them their toys then its OK.

[@keithspillett7312]

Brian Cullen 😀

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, that's often true. Obviously better overall to have good edge sharpness but even with many of today's expensive ultra fast 0.95 optics, people are willing to sacrifice edge sharpness for speed.

[@ArcticGator]

I like how small it is, also the prices on them look pretty decent on ebay, one day i may have to snag one of these

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

The nice thing is you aren't risking too much money by trying one.

[@ArcticGator]

Budget alternative to a pancake lens? they have a model that fits the olympus m4/3 format? that's one of my only problems is that i need a short focus lens, but that crop factor on them makes them "longer" and then you put an adapter on them and make them more so, my go to lens is my canon 28-80 mm lens, but with the adapter on puts it just over 50mm

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

That halving of the angle of view works for long lenses but not wides, as you say. The best way round it is the Metabones range, giving you .71 times the focal length, making your zoom a 20-55mm (40-110 ff aov) and an extra stop in speed, so if it is f/4 it becomes f/2.8. Not cheap but very good. I have a review of one on my channel.

[@ArcticGator]

Ouch, yeah just one of those is more than my camera and most of my lenses combined, my lens is a canon ef 28-80 1:3.5-5.6 II, a good friend gave it to me and i have been using it more than my kit 45-150 olympus lens, the only other lens is a sigma 75-300mm 5.6 i snagged for 35 dollars on ebay. I definitely need a short wide angle lens, maybe one of sigmas short art lenses.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

It's just so difficult with the crop factor, isn't it? The Sigma 19mm is an excellent lens though not so wide angled. My test one was very impressive. With adapting FF lenses an ultra wide 14mm is probably going to cost you more than a 14mm Panasonic. Difficult.

[@michaelmoore2418]

Will you still be able to use focus peaking with these lenses?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes - very effective, too.

[@awksedgreep]

Loving the 50mm Meike. Thanks for the tip. Very sharp for the price . . . heck, very sharp full stop. I picked up some $15 CCTV primes from China. Fun stuff to play with, but nowhere near the quality of these.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

It's great having access to low cost glass to play with. It also makes you realize that good pictures don't need top quality glass. Not that it does any harm, of course!

[@benedictananggadipa]

what your recommend for video shooting? meike 28mm, 35mm or 50mm? my camera is lumix G7

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

It really depends on what you want to do. The 50mm is great for head shots, the 28mm would be better for general purpose use. It's simply a matter of how much you want to get in the frame. If the edge performance of the 28mm is the same as the 50mm, I'd be loath to use it as a general purpose lens, though.

[@benedictananggadipa]

okay.. thanks for that.. how about video quality, I mean colour, sharpness and durability this brand?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

hese don't have the optical quality of native Micro Four Thirds lenses - of course they couldn't at this price.But the colours are nice and they feel pretty tough.

[@DarylNacario]

what type of adapter did you used?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

No adapter necessary, Daryl, they fit tight on the camera.

[@1061shrink1061]

Not sure I understand why you don't like the 35mm for portrait? on a micro 4/3rds body, this is surely equivalent to a 70mm and definitely in the range of ideal for portrait (e.g. longer than 50mm and approaching 85mm). The 50mm would work out at 100mm, with a rather deeper depth of field (at both 100mm and f2), making it a much tighter crop. I'd have been interested in them releasing a nice 25mm for indoor photography.

[@pfortunato78]

70mm is a weird focal length. Its neither tight enough for a true portrait (lacking some of the flattering flattening that can be seen from 80mm+), nor wide enough for an environmental portrait (ala 50mm or 35mm). I shot 70mm for quite awhile before I realized it just felt completely off (50mm on an APS-C) when I finally got more traditional focal length lenses.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

With 35mm you are just too close to the subject and I hate to feel I'm shoving the camera up someone's nose. It can make people nervous. 40mm and upwards is ok but I do prefer 45/ 50mm. Just my take, though. I know people who do portraits on a 25mm and are happy with the results. For studio I used used to use a 150mm on a Hasselblad and that was just perfect and for hand held I'd use a Nikon with 85 or 105mm, ditto.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I'm with you on that, Paul.

[@mintar59]

I really like your videos. I don't see the point of those lenses though, as it is possible to adapt similar M42/FD/Nikon lenses for the same price or often cheaper.

[@HarryBouman]

I also adapt M42 lenses to my M43 camera and I do see one advantage and that's size + weight. As an M42 lens + adapter is bigger and heavier than these lenses. Although I still would prefer M42 lenses due to their image quality.

[@Callsigngrizzly]

While I agree that there are some larger film era lenses, not all of them are. Especially in these focal lengths, you can easily find very high quality and light lenses from a variety of different manufacturers. Hell just slap any of those Russian lenses on it and you'd probably have a better result. I'm glad these lenses are being made as I'm sure a few people would be interested, but when you can get better lenses for the same price or less that can be adapted, I don't see why I'd buy one.

[@Jaibuuuu]

The m42 adapter on its own is probably 2/3 as long as these lenses, do you suggest any specific 50/2 35/1.7 or similar pancake lenses Angus O'Leary?

[@Callsigngrizzly]

I wasn't specifically talking about the M42 lenses just simply because I am unfamiliar with them. But I have a Pentax K-M43 adapter and have used the Helios 44-k 58mm F2, the Pentax FA35 F2, a Pentax A 20mm F4. Theres actually a decent amount of older pentax lenses that are surprisingly small. When you add in the length of the adapter you must add about an inch of length. So it does add some length but still not much surprisingly. You are correct though, it may be difficult to match both the size and price of these lenses, but I am more than willing to gain a little bit of size if the end result is significantly better for the same price.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

If you can do it cheaper and better another way, that's good. I just like to see as much choice as possible and many people won't want to delve into the world of old lenses with adapters. This is for them. Plus, some of those old lenses are getting quite expensive now.

[@andreathode3782]

I disagree on the "seriousness" of interchangeable cameras, since I started shooting with my RX1 for serious client work! But I totally get what you mean ;-) And nonetheless, another well presented video from you, so thank you! Btw.: guess what I bought after your GX80/85 review? - yes! It replaced my trusty, old GX1 for good. :)

[@overnightdelivery]

Just picked up the GX85 last week too. Takes sharp pictures with stabilization no matter what mode your in or what lens you use. Can take 1/10th of a second shutter speed pictures all day long and even 1/3 if your patient. Only downsides for me is no weather sealing for rainy shots and you can't charge while the camera is in use(why?). Price to Feature ratio blows away all the current m43 cameras though IMO. So can't really complain. It's a solid camera. Hope your loving it. :)

[@soundknight]

I got the big Daddy GX8 a couple of weeks ago too, allot of gx8s on the second hand market lately.

[@soundknight]

+Brian Cullen sorry I meant gx1 on the market (spell check)

[@andreathode3782]

Loved the GX1 to death (quite litearlly since the display somehow started to dissolve/went faint). Really great. But the GX80/85 is a big step up, without the AA-Filter and the image stabilisation, which is helping a lot. But it comes at a high price compared to the GX1...

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Thanks Andrea! I take it (hope) you like the GX80/85 :-) Yes, my remark about serious cameras was a generalisation. I had a Zeiss film camera with a fixed 14 or maybe 18mm wideangle lens in the 70s which was decidedly a serious camera. But I'd say it is generally true. if your RX1 was your only camera and a client sudden;y asked you to shoot some corporate headshots, what would you do? You could do them with a wideangle but you wouldn't, would you?

[@vertix6375]

Does it work for Panasonic lumix gh2 and is it good for video?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, Micro Four Thirds is a standard so any piece of equipment labelled Micro Four Thirds will work with any other, regardless of make. Both these lenses would be good for video - especially good in fact, since generally speaking it's better not to use autofocus for movies.

[@vertix6375]

David Thorpe oh okay thankyouu for helping me!

[@overnightdelivery]

Can you use in-body stabilization with a manual lens?

[@ralphdaub]

Yep.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

As Ralph say, yes. You will need to tell the camera what focal length it is so that it can get the stabilization right but that's just a moment's work,.

[@noobieskubis3420]

do fuji xa2 fit with the lens?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

They do - the 35mm is at amzn.to/2jHC8A0 (UK) and amzn.to/2kDKTv0 (USA) and the 50mm amzn.to/2kDMu3Q (USA) and amzn.to/2jzG489 (UK)

[@deliciouslysevere4321]

I think I'm getting a Sony a6000 this week and wanted to know if this one was better than the 16:50 kit lens (I read that it is pretty bad) so I can use the extra money in batteries, any recommendation?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

The Meike lenses are OK in the center but edge performance is awful. While it is usable for portraits, it wouldnt be so hot for anything else. It might be worth looking at Sigma;s range, they make really good optics. But from what I read about the 16-50, while it isn't the greatest of lenses (what kit lenses are?) it is perfectly good. I'd be inclined to get it. A kit zoom really is useful as an all round lens.

[@deliciouslysevere4321]

David Thorpe Thanks for your answer. If don't buy the kit Lens maybe I can get a Vintage Lens with an adaptor (Minoltas' are good and some kind of cheap) but I'll see. Meanwhile... I heard that the Neewer is really sharp compared to another lenses, maybe you can own one and tell us your experience . Nice video though.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

No, sorry, no experience with Neewer. In general, you get what you pay for! Remember, the kit lens gives auto focus, exposure etc. You can always turn it off if you don't want it but you can't turn it on of it isn't there :-)

[@deliciouslysevere4321]

David Thorpe Meh, I followed your recomendation. Thanks. If someone read this i've been testing and f.4 is good.

[@vokingdigitaltechnology8379]

Hi,Sir, I am sure the Neewer lens is a rebranded of meike ones.Saying,How sharp neewer is so the meike is. Hope my answer helps.

[@bt10ant]

Are the Meike and Neewer brands identical? Sorry if that's a bonehead question. "Neewer" searches brought me here, so was wondering. Thanks.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

As I understand it, Meike makes them and sells them to Neewer who market them under their own name. I don't pretend to understand all these machinations but they are the same lenses, it seems.

[@joeprete7424]

+David Thorpe ...You compare these lenses, to the Olympus Pro lenses? I don't think so!!!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I don't think you watched the video properly. Or if you did you misunderstood it.

[@Federico84]

So the 50mm behave like a 100mm right?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Yes, it gives the angle of view a 100mm would on a FF sensor, so just right for portraits.

[@TCKe]

What a nice rendering from such a cheap thing. How is the 28 and 35? They even have a 0.95 lens

[@jiminy2731]

Purchased the 50mm after watching your video but sadly the seller sent me a Sony E-mount model...sad day for me! :(

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

That's a pain - I take it they replaced it?

[@jiminy2731]

got a refund and re-did the purchase! now for the long anxious wait!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I'm sure they'll make sure not to make the same mistake twice.

[@jiminy2731]

It has arrived and the correct model this time! Took a few portrait shots and it's amazing! Thanks for the review!

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Nice to hear from a happy photographer!

[@ronasanz166]

I don't understand why others are too concern about the aperture wide open corner softness of a portrait lens.. are you going to focus your eyes on the edges of a picture rather than seeing the beauty of the faces of people inside it? I mean, rules of thirds is basically not applicable in this kind of lens.. it focuses center which portraiture is all about..

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I think people get concerned because they may want to use the lens for purposes other than portraiture. The fact is that if you know what you will be using a lens for, some 'faults' become positive attributes. That's the case with a lens that has a sharp centre and 'poor' corner definition if it is used for portraits, as you say. For portraits of women it was once traditional to stretch a cut off bit of pair of tights and stretch it over the lens - you buy an ultra sharp ultra expensive Zeiss 150mm for Hasselblad and then proceed to ruin its definition! But a lens is there to serve the picture, not the picture to serve the lens.

[@GeorgeStar]

I've gotten so spoiled/lazy (like most photographers I suppose) by auto everything that I can't bear the thought of actually having to focus manually (but I still do occasionally when necessary). Soon I'm afraid cameras will have auto composition, grow legs and we will become obsolete.

[@soundknight]

I was surprised how much I enjoyed operating my Sister's Canon 5Dmkiii and 1 Dx with tilt shift and a manual 50mm, it gives the kind of pleasure that only listening to a "vinyl" can bring. I'm spoilt too ;)

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Before that finally happens, maybe we will all have 3D printers at home and print out subjects for our cameras to photograph instead of having to go out to see them.

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Manual focusing is pretty simple with these lenses and especially with the excellent EVFs we have now. I didn't get them all sharp, though!

[@pfortunato78]

It really depends on the camera though. My original EM10's EVF is OK, and could be up to the job but the processor inside the camera must be from an over-production of old Motorola RAZR phones because once you use manual peaking, the framerate drops easily to 10fps or lower. Basically unusable on any subject that moves at all.

[@ChrisWilliams-nf8kl]

Do you use focus peaking or just rely on your wetware optics? [Eyes in old money].

[@soundknight]

At first I thought Meike was a Prussian name, but it was Chinese. Some of the Chinese lenses look decent for their price.

[@benjaminracchi]

It has autofocus?

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

No, all manual.

[@leacol36]

wow they look truly awful

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

I was pleased with my pictures from them, so for me they are far from awful. But, to each his own.

[@leacol36]

+David Thorpe not sure why anyone would spend top dollars on an interchangeable lens camera then sling this tat on the front, each to their own

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Not all Micro Four Thirds cameras cost top dollar. A neighbour of mine who has little money has just bought a used Micro Four Thirds for £60. Not everyone can afford top range lenses! I can take as good a picture with this as I can any other similar lens. I like the idea that folk who can't afford the best still have something useable at 25% of the cost of the cheapest opposition.

[@leacol36]

Better served spending £110 on a point and shoot if money is an issue , would probably get better results than £60 mft body and £50 lens

[@DavidThorpeMFT]

Depends on the photographer. I've seen better results from one photographer with a phone camera and another with a Canon DSLR. The pictures with my review I don't consider poor results. You obviously do, so we must agree to differ.