Meike Readies Fast 85mm f/1.4 II and 58mm f/1.2 Portrait Primes

Meike is aiming squarely at portrait shooters with two fast primes built for the people who want creamy background blur, practical autofocus and a premium look without paying premium-brand money. The company is expected to bring an updated AF 85mm f/1.4 II for full-frame cameras and a new AF 58mm f/1.2 for APS-C bodies into the NAB Show 2026 spotlight, a show that draws more than 1,100 exhibitors, about 550 sessions and attendance from 18,000-plus companies in Las Vegas.

The 85mm f/1.4 II sounds like the cleaner, more familiar portrait tool. Meike is reportedly revising the optical formula to improve sharpness and overall rendering while smoothing bokeh, and it is also said to be adding a faster autofocus system for portraits and events where missed focus is a deal-breaker. A lightweight body and black-and-white finish options are part of the expected package, which points to a lens meant to travel well and look as polished on a camera as it does in a spec sheet. If Meike keeps pricing anywhere near its current 85mm f/1.4, listed at $469.99, the appeal is obvious: a classic full-frame portrait focal length at a fraction of what many photographers are used to paying.

The 58mm f/1.2 is the more intriguing play. On APS-C, 58mm lands at roughly 87mm equivalent, which puts it right in the portrait sweet spot, and the f/1.2 aperture promises strong subject separation and low-light flexibility. Meike is pitching it as a flagship option for smaller mirrorless bodies, again with compact dimensions and black-and-white finish choices. That makes it a strong fit for shooters who want a fast lens for headshots, indoor portraits and shallow-focus work but do not want to carry a larger full-frame kit to get there.

The tradeoff, as always with third-party fast primes, will come down to autofocus consistency, rendering character and how much size Meike can trim without compromising performance. The company has already shown it is willing to update firmware and refine lens behavior over time, and its current 85mm f/1.4 has seen firmware updates for different mounts, including Z-mount and E-mount. Meike also recently announced an AF 56mm f/1.7 Air for Sony E-mount at $169, while its 85mm f/1.8 II for Canon EF uses an EF-to-RF adapter strategy and weighs about 346 grams, with 11 elements in 7 groups, a 62mm filter thread and 0.65-meter close focus. Together, those moves show a brand trying to cover both budget APS-C buyers and full-frame portrait shooters with one clear message: fast glass does not have to come with first-party pricing.