Lens manufacturer Meike has launched a new super-fast prime lens for crop sensor cameras. The Meike 35mm f/0.95 prime lens has a maximum aperture of f/0.95.
Aperture
The headline feature of the Meike 35mm lens is its very fast f/0.95 aperture. This will be great for low-light shooting and for getting a shallow depth of field. The iris has 13 blades which should give a smooth circular bokeh in out-of-focus areas of your image. In addition, the minimum aperture is f/16.
Focusing
The 35mm f/0.95 lens doesn’t appear to have a very long focus throw from the photos released so far by Meike. This will make hitting your focus a challenge. This is because, with the aperture wide open, you will have a depth of field of less than 1 inch when shooting a subject three feet away. The minimum focusing distance is around 12 inches (0.3 meters).
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Lens mount
The Meike 35mm f/0.95 lens is designed for use with APS-C and Micro Four Thirds sensor cameras. It is available with Sony E, Fujifilm X, Canon EF-M, Nikon Z, Canon RF, and Micro Four Thirds lens mounts. It’s also a fully manual lens.
Optical construction
Optically the Meike 35mm f/0.95 has 10 elements lens in seven groups. However, at the time of writing, the company hasn’t released any further details about those lens elements. In addition, the angle of view is 44.2 degrees on an APS-C camera and 34 degrees with a Micro Four Thirds sensor.
Build
The Meike 35mm f/0.95 lens weighs around 13.4 ounces (380 g). The filter thread size is 52 mm.
Verdict
The Meike 35mm f/0.95 lens will appeal to video shooters looking for a low-light lens or those who crave the shallowest depth of field. From the sample images released by Meike, the lens appears to have good sharpness across the frame. It also looks to be a good value for money.
Pricing and availability
The Meike 35mm f/0.95 prime lens is available from the Meike Global website. It is priced at $259.