First physical appearance unveiled at China P&E Show… Promising groundbreaking cost-performance based on full-frame design.
A welcome piece of news has arrived for users of Fujifilm’s GFX medium format mirrorless system. Third-party lens manufacturer Meike unveiled the actual physical unit of its automatic focus (AF) lens for the GFX mount, the ‘AF 85mm F1.8’, at the China P&E (Imaging Show). According to hands-on images leaked via foreign media and social media, this new product is presumed to be a modified version of the full-frame 'AF 85mm F1.8'—which Meike previously released for Sony E, Nikon Z, and Canon RF mounts—with only the rear bayonet structure changed to fit the GFX mount.
Until now, the third-party lens market for the GFX system has been dominated by manual focus (MF) lenses from brands like Laowa, Mitakon, and Viltrox (partially manual), making third-party options with autofocus (AF) extremely rare. Therefore, the appearance of Meike's AF 85mm F1.8 G-mount version is more than enough to gather high anticipation from users.
However, the key point that users must pay attention to is the "image circle" coverage. Because GFX's medium format sensor (44x33mm) is significantly larger than a standard full-frame sensor (36x24mm), utilizing the existing full-frame optical design as-is could potentially cause peripheral illumination drop or vignetting. If Meike completely redesigned the optics to match the GFX sensor, a price hike would be inevitable. On the other hand, if it is released as a "cost-effective lens that can be used under 35mm crop mode or by tolerating some vignetting and light fall-off," it may not differ much from its original full-frame price point (around $200–$300). This leaves open the possibility of it becoming the "most affordable AF lens in GFX history." The exact presence of vignetting and overall image quality are expected to be revealed through detailed hands-on reviews in the future.
[Editor's Comment]
Editor's Comment "A $200-range third-party AF lens on a GFX medium format body—just the thought of this combination is thrilling. It might turn out to be the ultimate toy for budget-conscious users willing to overcome some vignetting through 35mm crop mode or by embracing a unique, Lomo-esque aesthetic. Conversely, it might end up as a mere 'test-drive' lens for those demanding native-level image quality. Either way, the expansion of the AF third-party ecosystem for the GFX system is something we should unconditionally welcome."
[Tags]
#Fujifilm #GFX #Meike #85mmF18 #MediumFormat #GMount #ThirdPartyLens #CameraRumors #NewProductNews #BudgetLens #AFLens