Review on Meike MK 50Mm Large Aperture Manual Z Mount by Steve Jones

First impressions: This lens is a good weight, although by no means heavy. The all-metal construction promises durability and reliability. The aperture and focus wheels are very smooth-running, but stay in place even if you take your hand away. The mount is also all metal and securely attached to the camera, doesn't wobble or dangle. Its red stripe is a nice touch and looks very professional on my Z6 without revealing its cheap price point. Why do you need a 50mm lens when high quality zooms are available for your Z mount camera? There are different reasons. Firstly, a 50mm focal length is known to give a "normal" look for full-frame cameras. What "normal" means is that the lens reproduces the compression that the eye normally sees. It's not wide-angle or telephoto. It provides the most natural image. But there are other reasons to buy such a lens. Because there are fewer compromises in optics design for a prime lens than for a zoom lens, it can have both a sharper image and a larger aperture. This lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.2, which is only half a stop slower than the $8,000 Nikon 85mm f/.95 Noct lens, which is about 25 times more expensive, and the Meike lens much more compact. This lens is a low light monster! This is a good lens for walking. The Z6, for example, weighs 675g with batteries, while this lens weighs 620g, which is just 1300g, or just under 3 pounds. The lens is 72mm long, or about 3 inches long, so the combination is only 7.5 inches long, or just under 200mm long, including the eyepiece and lens hood. I've had trouble with manual focus lenses when using a DSLR, but Z-mount mirrorless cameras have sharp focus. If you've never used Focus Peaking, give it a try. When you set focus with this focusing lens, you'll see the bright light of what's in focus in the viewfinder. Adjust the focus so that what you need to focus on is actually in focus. In addition, the aperture setting gives you an instant visual indication of depth of field, allowing you to isolate your subject of interest and create beautiful bokeh in the background. Great lens for your kit!