The best budget 85mm for Nikon Z?
For the past few months, I’ve been testing the new Meike AF 85mm f/1.8 SE II for Nikon Z, a direct evolution of the previous version I had already reviewed.
On paper, it has everything to attract attention: autofocus, a fast f/1.8 aperture, and an extremely affordable price. In other words, one of the most accessible 85mm lenses for the Nikon Z system… but the real question is: does it actually deliver in real-world use?
Technical specifications
• Optical design: 11 elements in 7 groups
• Aperture blades: 11
• Aperture range: f/1.8 – f/16
• Minimum focusing distance: 0.65 m
• Filter size: 62 mm
• Autofocus + Manual Focus
• Full Frame coverage
• Weight: 380 g
• Price: €259
Build quality: improved, but still entry-level
If you’ve tried the first version, the difference is immediately noticeable.
The plastics have improved and the overall assembly feels more refined, although it’s still not on the level of Nikon S-line lenses or even Meike’s own f/1.4 version. The focus ring is precise but not particularly smooth, and overall the lens still feels like a budget product.
That said, compared to the first version:
- the finishing is more refined
- the assembly is more solid
- the overall feel is less “cheap”
SE II vs previous version: what really changed
This new version doesn’t reinvent the lens, but it improves it where it matters.
The most noticeable upgrade is autofocus. It’s now more stable and predictable, especially in eye and face detection. It still falls short compared to Nikon Z lenses—particularly in AF-C and subject tracking—but it’s clearly more consistent than before.
Firmware management is also improved. The inclusion of a USB-C port on the rear allows future updates, which is a very important feature for lenses in this category.
Optically, the rendering is slightly more uniform:
- better edge performance
- less variation between shots
- more consistent overall behavior
Flare has also been slightly improved. It’s still present in strong backlight situations, but less intrusive.
In short, this isn’t a revolution, but a smart update that makes the lens more reliable in real-world use.
Autofocus: good, with some limitations
On Nikon Z cameras, autofocus performs well, especially in AF-S (single autofocus).
It’s reasonably fast in most situations, accurate with eye and face detection, and perfectly usable for portrait work.
In events, street photography, portraits, and moderately dynamic situations, it performs reliably. The limits become more apparent in AF-C with fast-moving subjects or challenging lighting conditions. In these cases, it can lock onto the subject but struggles to track it accurately.
It’s not a professional-level autofocus system, but for the price, it’s absolutely usable.
Image quality
Sharpness
Sharpness is very good in the center already at f/1.8, while the edges are softer.
Stopping down to f/2–f/2.8 improves performance significantly, resulting in a more even image across the frame, although still below higher-end lenses.
For portrait photography, this behavior works very well: the subject remains sharp while the background stays soft, creating a natural look.
Bokeh: one of its strongest points
This is where the Meike really stands out.
The bokeh is:
- smooth
- gradual
- pleasing
Subject separation is clear, especially in scenes with foreground blur, where the transition from focus to out-of-focus is soft and never harsh.
Even in environmental portraits, it maintains good separation without making the image look artificial.
Chromatic aberrations
These are present at wide open aperture, especially in high-contrast situations, but they are not overly intrusive.
Stopping down by one stop improves them significantly, making them easy to handle even in post-production.
Compared to the previous version, there is also a noticeable reduction in ghosting and flare artifacts in challenging backlight conditions.
Distortion and vignetting
There is slight pincushion distortion, which is easily corrected in post.
Vignetting is visible at f/1.8 but never distracting, and it decreases significantly from f/2–2.5, becoming negligible beyond that.
Backlight and flare
Overall performance is good.
In night and urban photography, light sources are handled well. Flare can appear, but it’s not destructive and can even enhance the mood of the image in some situations.
More than just a portrait lens
Although designed primarily for portrait photography, this lens proves to be more versatile than expected.
It works well for:
- urban photography
- events
- street portraits
- night photography
Images show a pleasant sense of depth and a generally pleasing rendering, even in more complex scenes.
Comparison with Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.8
The Nikon lens is superior in every aspect:
- sharpness
- aberration control
- autofocus
- build quality
However, it costs about four times as much.
The Meike is not competing in the same category, but for its price, it delivers surprisingly good results.
Limitations
- budget build quality
- focus ring could be improved
- chromatic aberrations at wide aperture
- softer edges
- autofocus not always consistent in AF-C
Conclusion: is it worth it?
The Meike AF 85mm f/1.8 SE II is a real improvement over the previous version.
It doesn’t change the philosophy of the product, but it makes it more stable, more consistent, and more reliable.
For the price, it’s a lens that can genuinely surprise—especially when used for what it’s designed for: portrait photography.
It’s not perfect, but it’s one of those lenses that makes you think:
“For this price, it’s really hard to ask for more.”
There’s also another important aspect to consider.
An 85mm lens at this price is something I would recommend to anyone who doesn’t already own this focal length. Working with this kind of focal length and a fast aperture completely changes the way you shoot: backgrounds separate more easily, scenes become cleaner, and the overall look immediately feels more magical and cinematic.
Until a few years ago, achieving this kind of rendering required a much higher investment. Today, at such a low cost, you can get performance that would have been unthinkable in this price range.
And that, perhaps, is its greatest strength.
