GH5 Meike 25mm T2.2 Cine Lens: Veydra Reborn

Have you tried SLR Magic 50mm T0.95 Lens ? I'd better go with it because of size and 0.95. Not very expensive for a cine lens (it's not really a cine lens but good for m43).
 
AlexLF said:
Have you tried SLR Magic 50mm T0.95 Lens ? I'd better go with it because of size and 0.95. Not very expensive for a cine lens (it's not really a cine lens but good for m43).
Click to expand...
Yes, in the past I've tried both the SLR Magic and the Voightlander. They're both nice lenses. They're about twice as expensive, and as you state, not really cine lenses.

In truth, I think that T0.95 is impractical. I'm done chasing the razor thin DOF look. At T2.2 if the subject even shifts in their chair, they go in and out of focus. It's masochistic to try to film moving subjects that way.
 
Physically, it looks virtually identical to the Veydra, down to the filter thread size and lens cap design.
 
Interesting. Would love to know the backstory.

Out of curiosity perhaps I’ll test one against my Veydra(s), but don’t see that happening until after the holidays.

Dropped the ball by never ordering Veydra’s 85mm, & always hoped they’d release a 100mm.
 
Supposedly, the manufacturer is soon to release a full kit. From retailer: "They are releasing focal lengths in 16, 25, 35, 50 and 85mm all in T2.2. They are all the same size with 80mm fronts, all have 10 blade aperture and are all color matched."
 
joe12south said:
Supposedly, the manufacturer is soon to release a full kit. From retailer: "They are releasing focal lengths in 16, 25, 35, 50 and 85mm all in T2.2. They are all the same size with 80mm fronts, all have 10 blade aperture and are all color matched."
Click to expand...

Damn!

Will have to take a look at that 85mm.

Just remembered I switched my 25mm, & longer, to E-Mount. Not sure where I stashed the m4/3 mounts, & even if I do find them they’re a bit tricky to install. Eventually had Hot Rod Cameras do it for me, & one was so difficult that it got swapped out for a new lens by Veydra. Think the issue is both the mount, & the lens, are threaded, which makes installing potentially troubling. Also some screws may have had Loctite applied.
 
These might be coming from the same source as the original Veydra, which were made in China, if I remember correctly.
Cheers
 
I wish I had a Veydra 25mm to directly compare. I'm curious, but I'm not sure I'm $50 curious to rent it. ;)

Regardless, I really feel torn between this an my current Rokinon "Cine" lenses. I prefer the build quality and sharpness/contrast of the Meike, but it's actually a little too small to be used as comfortably as I would prefer. Once you consider a follow-focus and matte box, there is something to be said for a longer lens.
 
Going from memory, but I believe these have a few less focus marks than the Veydra's, and a bit more CA.
 
Last edited:
A friend who owns a set of Veydras and is rather astute said, basically: Probably not from the same factory, not a clone, perhaps not as nice, but damn that's a great price!

More specifically:

=====

> So maybe they made Veydra's lenses? Or maybe they’re just copying them?

I don’t think either one: the Meike is heavier, breathes less, has more CA (according to the review, but that may be a sensor artifact in his camera), worse and different-colored flare, and the barrel design is subtly different. Reviewer says the focus throw is 180º, but it looks from the pictures of the lens (and from Meike’s site) that it’s 300º, like Veydra. Interestingly the reviewer’s lens has a different design than the pix on Meike’s site show; his copy looks very much like a Veydra overall. Reviewer claims a 10-blade iris; Veydra has a 10-blade iris, too.

So possibly it’s a knockoff (or likely; it’s China, after all), but it’s not a direct steal nor does it appear Meike had an OEM/ODM relationship with Veydra.

Meike’s website lists the Sales Department contact as “Bruce Lee”. :-)

If Meike can build out a reasonably full set (at 1/3 to 1/4 Veydra pricing) it’ll be a great boon to MFT shooters. But with only a 25mm, I think it may be a harder sell, even at only $310.

There is so much interesting cheap glass coming out of China these days it’s hard to keep track of it all.
=====
 
Jim Feeley said:
but it looks from the pictures of the lens (and from Meike’s site) that it’s 300º, like Veydra. Interestingly the reviewer’s lens has a different design than the pix on Meike’s site show; his copy looks very much like a Veydra overall. Reviewer claims a 10-blade iris; Veydra has a 10-blade iris, too.
=====
Click to expand...

Having just compared the pics as well I would have to agree with Jim. From the markings, the throw looks like 300 degrees. Unfortunately the Meike has some big gaps in the markings and has less than the Vedra. The build of Joseph's review lens looks identical to the veydra and the site has a lens with a slightly different build, though with the same gear spacing it could just be external differences.

Given the sharpness, and the veydras were SHARP, my guess is the optical formula is the same but with cheaper coatings (hense the CA). If the Meike color matched the veydras I would jump on them in a hartbeat otherwise I'll probably patiently wait to grab up any good used veydras. I don't have a 25mm to compare directly but my 35mm veydra apears to have more breathing then Josephs revew meike.
 
Just so we're clear, LightCtrl is quoting text from my friend who owns a set of Veydras and knows a whole lot about lenses in general. I don't want to take credit for his smarts.
 
joe12south said:
Supposedly, the manufacturer is soon to release a full kit. From retailer: "They are releasing focal lengths in 16, 25, 35, 50 and 85mm all in T2.2. They are all the same size with 80mm fronts, all have 10 blade aperture and are all color matched."
Click to expand...

I can confirm that the 16mm T2.2 will be released on March 11th followed by the 35mm T2.2 roughly three months later.
 
Last edited:
PK Productions said:
I can confirm that the 16mm T2.2 will be released on March 11th followed by the 35mm T2.2 roughly three months later.
Click to expand...

Can you tell Meike that this is confirmed, as I see no information from them on the subject. If the 16mm lens is close to Veydra quality I'd love to get my hands on it. I got to use a friend's Veydra 16mm for a while and it was great, it is unfortunate that it's out of production.
 
Been using it for a while. We love it. Just be careful that it does get flares easily when lights is in front. Meike also going to be releasing a 85mm cine lens version sometimes this month.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top