Meike has announced their new 60mm f/2.8 APS-C manual focus macro lens. It’s a very low-budget lens, with a price tag of only $189.99, and as such, it probably won’t be able to compete with higher-end (and autofocus) lenses with a similar field of view. But, if keeping costs as low as possible and having a play to see if you even like macro is important, this lens might be worth having a look at.
Aside from being pretty inexpensive as macro lenses go, it’s available for six different camera mounts. Sony E, Fuji X, Nikon Z, Canon EF-M, Canon RF and Micro Four Thirds. Despite the fact that the lens is available for Nikon Z and Canon RF, it is an APS-C lens. So, if you’re trying to use it on full-frame bodies, you’ll definitely need to do some cropping!
As well as being a manual focus lens, there is no communication between the lens and camera while shooting, so nothing is stored in the EXIF data about what lens you’re using or what the focus distance is set to. Naturally, there’s no stabilisation or any of the usual bells and whistles we see with higher-end macro lenses from companies like Sigma, Tamron, Tokina or camera manufacturers themselves.
But, if you don’t need autofocus because you’re photographic static subjects and you don’t need stabilisation because you’re always on a tripod when shooting macro, this could be an ideal starter macro lens to get you up and running. It’s an APS-C lens, so with a 60mm focal length, it provides a similar view to a 90mm lens on full-frame. If you’re an MFT shooter, it’s more like a 120mm lens on full-frame – which if you ask me is the minimum ideal focal length for macro.
| Focal length | 60mm |
| Format | APS-C |
| Max aperture | f/2.8 |
| Min aperture | f/22 |
| Angle of view | 26.6° APS-C, 20.4° MFT |
| Optics | 11 elements in 8 groups |
| Aperture blades | 9 |
| Min focus distance | 17.5cm |
| Filter thread | 49mm |
| Dimensions | Unknown |
| Weight | 300g |
| Mounts | Sony E, Fuji X, Nikon Z, Canon RF, Canon EF-M, Micro Four Thirds |
The new Meike lens doesn’t appear to be widely available just yet, although it is available to buy now for $189.99 on the Meike website in Sony E, Canon RF, Canon EF-M, Fuji X, Nikon Z and Micro Four Thirds mount options. I expect it’ll be coming to the usual retailers soon.
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