Meike 35mm F1.7 Review
I just use it for a while, almost one week exactly. But I already rediscover again the perspective that saw by me previously when I was using Canon 35 mm F2.0 on my Canon 60D. 35 mm for APS-C censor is ideal view for both portrait and scenery photography. It gives you satisfying focus on something but still shows you the ambience or situation around it. It is same with seeing any object with one closed eye.
By using 35 mm, I got to tell more story in detail, I can show what has attract my eyes in some event, location, or objects. The photo that taken in this dimension may brought you to stay on it for a while trying to absorb it before moving to next one.
All photos here were made using Fujifilm X-T10 body.
Aperture
F 1.7 is big enough to make shallow depth of field and create bokeh effect. Therefore as always, it is always fascinating. We can get advantage when
using it in dim light situation and to get an editorial look photos. I already tried to use it in F8.0 and F22 which for me good enough. The sharpness is quite satisfying. Below are samples of photos with different aperture size.
Autofocus
No autofocus will be challenging for some photographer. It will trouble us in some high-moving event but then that what great photographers has faced before this super-ultimately-fast autofocus era came. Therefore we need to train a lil bit to find the right position to push the shutter button.
Shutter button.
No image stabilizer is indeed another obstacle, especially for videographer.
Shaking will be everywhere. Hence, I do not recommend much using this lens for videography that expect silk smooth movement. But anyway, using stabilizer for camera perhaps may help.
Weight
The weight of the lens does not bother me that much. I use XF 23 mm and it is bulkier and heavier than Meike 35mm F1.7. It is fun to use, light and subtle enough to be brought for street photography or any event without attracting the crowd.
Material
It is made of steel. Not plastic.
Conclusion
I have tried Fujinon XF 35mm F1.4 and XF 35mm F2.0 already which both has different class from the affordable manual lens like Meike 35mm. But for price less than $100, I give 4.5/5 rating. Too generous?
If you would like to buy the lens, for Indonesia, many camera shops already sell it. I bought this one in Bandung Electronic Center. But you have options to buy it from various online shop. For your information, do not expect much for guarantee since it is a type of lens with minimum technology and in Indonesia there is only one official distributor in Jakarta. When I bought this lens, the seller actually does not consider any guarantee is available for this lens. But yeah, you will get guarantee card inside it which (maybe) you can claim for any unexpected failure that we found.
Downside
- No autofocus
- No image stabilizer
- Will cause flare when directly faced to light source. Some glare will come up.
