Meike AF 85mm f/1.8 for Fujifilm GFX challenges premium lenses with affordability and autofocus

Meike’s new AF 85mm f/1.8 lens for Fujifilm GFX offers impressive autofocus, light weight, and affordability, positioning itself as a compelling alternative for medium-format portrait photographers, potentially redefining value in the market.

Meike’s AF 85mm f/1.8 for Fujifilm GFX is emerging as an unusually strong value play for medium-format users. A translated first review posted by Fujiaddict says the lens combines a fast aperture, autofocus and a very low price, making it a far cheaper route into shallow-depth portrait work than Fujifilm’s own GF 80mm f/1.7.

The lens is also described as remarkably light at 406g, with dust and moisture resistance, a clickless aperture ring, an AF/MF switch and a USB-C port for firmware updates. The reviewer noted one small drawback: the mount fit felt tight on initial attachment, suggesting tolerances could still be refined.

Autofocus appears to be one of its strongest points. According to the review, the STM motor was snappy and quiet on the GFX100 II, and remained capable in continuous AF mode. That should also matter for owners of older GFX bodies, where a faster focusing lens can make the system feel more responsive.

Image quality is reported to be impressive in the centre at f/1.8, with attractive background blur and a minimum focusing distance of roughly 0.85m. The main optical weakness is flare when shooting into strong light, while a little chromatic aberration can appear in severe contrast. Even so, the reviewer called it a compelling gateway lens for budget-conscious GFX photographers. ePHOTOzine’s earlier review of the full-frame version also found centre sharpness strong wide open, with edges improving as the lens is stopped down, which broadly supports the portrait-friendly character described in the GFX test. Digital Camera World has also reported that the lens’s strong reception in Asia has fuelled talk of more Meike autofocus lenses for Fujifilm GFX.