Meike 3.5mm f/2.8 Fisheye 4mm
Its 220° circular fisheye perspective on Micro Four Thirds bodies creates a distinct, immersive look unavailable from standard rectilinear lenses. The all-metal build and bright f/2.8 aperture provide durability and low-light capability in a compact 190g package, making it easy to carry for spontaneous shooting. This lens is best for skate videographers, concert photographers, and real estate shooters who need dramatic, stylized distortion rather than technical accuracy.
Overzicht
The 30-Second Version
A pocket-sized 220-degree circular fisheye that's sharp, metal, and cheap. If you want wild perspectives without wild prices, this is it.
Pros & Cons
Pluspunten
- All-metal build that feels premium for the price 92nd
- Sharp optics with good flare control 86th
- Tiny and pocketable at 190g 85th
- 220-degree circular fisheye is a creative blast 84th
- Excellent value for money
Minpunten
- Tight mount on some MFT bodies
- Front lens cap is flimsy
- No grip surface for mounting
- Manual focus only, no AF
Wat eigenaren vinden
The Word on the Street
Hoe de mening van eigenaren in de loop van de tijd veranderde
ExclusiefOp basis van wanneer klanten hun reviews daadwerkelijk schreven - zo zie je of de eerste lof standhield.
Gebaseerd op 6 gedateerde klantreviews, gegroepeerd per kalenderkwartaal. Analyse per periode is in het Engels.
De feiten
Performance
For a lens this cheap, the optics are surprisingly sharp. The 10 elements in 7 groups with multi-layer nano-coating keep flare under control, and the f/2.8 aperture lets in enough light for night-sky shots without cranking ISO to the moon. The 95mm minimum focus distance means you can get close to subjects and still keep that wild circular perspective. Manual focus only, but at 4mm with a 220-degree field of view, basically everything is in focus anyway. The real surprise is the build quality. All-metal barrel, 190 grams, feels like it costs twice as much. The tight mount on some MFT bodies is a minor annoyance, but it also means zero wobble once it's on.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Fisheye |
| Focal Length Min | 4 |
| Focal Length Max | 4 |
| Elements | 10 |
| Groups | 7 |
| Coating | multi-layer nano-coating |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/2.8 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 7 |
Build
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Format | micro-four-thirds |
| Weight | 0.2 kg / 0.4 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 61 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | manual focus only |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 95 |
vs Competition
The Meike 3.5mm f/2.8 doesn't really have direct competitors at this price point. The Nikon 6mm f/2.8 fisheye that one reviewer mentioned is a legendary lens, but it's huge, heavy, and costs thousands. The Tamron 28-300mm and Viltrox 85mm are completely different beasts, standard zooms and portrait primes that don't touch the circular fisheye niche. If you want a circular fisheye on MFT, this Meike is basically the only game in town under $500. The closest alternative would be adapting an old manual fisheye, but that adds bulk and hassle.
| Spec | Meike 3.5mm f/2.8 Fisheye 4mm | Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD | Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | 7Artisans LITE Series AF35mm F1.8 | Nikon NIKKOR 2178 | Sigma Contemporary 16mm f/1.4 DC DN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 4mm | 28-300mm | 16-50mm | 35mm | 16-85mm | 16mm |
| Max Aperture | f/2.8 | f/4 | f/3.5 | f/1.8 | f/3.5 | f/1.4 |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E | Sony E | Nikon Z | Nikon F | Sony E |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | false |
| Weather Sealed | false | true | true | false | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 190 | 590 | 107 | 181 | 485 | 405 |
| AF Type | manual focus only | VXD linear motor | Autofocus | STM | AF-S | stepping motor |
| Lens Type | fisheye | zoom | zoom | standard | zoom | prime |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | AF | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | User Sentiment | Versatility | Gebruikersoordeel | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meike 3.5mm f/2.8 Fisheye 4mm | 14.5 | 84.3 | 85.1 | 92.3 | 50.3 | 86.2 | 45.1 | 33.5 | 69.9 | 35.5 |
| Tamron Di III VC 28-300mm f/4-7.1 VXD Compare | 97.7 | 80.8 | 63.1 | 84.3 | 96.4 | 69.3 | 90.9 | 97.8 | 51.9 | 80.7 |
| Sony E PZ 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Compare | 53.8 | 78.3 | 98.3 | 42.9 | 66 | 80 | 63.7 | 83.3 | 81.4 | 92.7 |
| 7Artisans LITE Series AF35mm F1.8 Compare | 85.1 | 96.5 | 86.1 | 96.4 | 61.5 | 94.3 | 90.9 | 33.5 | 16.7 | 80.7 |
| Nikon NIKKOR 2178 Compare | 53.8 | 78.3 | 54.6 | 64.6 | 67.1 | 80 | 80.5 | 94.3 | 90.5 | 92.7 |
| Sigma Contemporary 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Compare | 85.1 | 97.1 | 77.2 | 98.8 | 95.1 | 97.1 | 63.7 | 33.5 | 28.1 | 35.5 |
Prijs
Value & Pricing
At $136-140 USD, this lens is an absolute steal for what it does. You're getting a solid metal fisheye with sharp optics and a unique 220-degree perspective for less than most kit lenses. If you've ever wanted to try circular fisheye photography without selling a kidney, this is the way in.
Adorama 1 aanbieding Vanaf US$ 136
Amazon 1 aanbieding Vanaf US$ 140
Price History
Lees meer
Overview
The Meike MK-3.5mm f/2.8 is a tiny, all-metal circular fisheye that turns your Micro Four Thirds camera into a 220-degree fun machine. It's not a lens you'll use every day, but when you want that full-circle, planetarium-style shot, nothing else at this price comes close. The one thing to know: this is a specialty lens that nails its specialty, and it costs less than a decent dinner for two.
Common Questions
Q: Is this lens autofocus?
Nope, manual focus only. But at 4mm with a 220-degree field of view, the depth of field is so deep you'll rarely need to touch the focus ring.
Q: Will this work on my Olympus or Panasonic camera?
If it's a Micro Four Thirds mount, yes. It works with Olympus OM-D, PEN, and Panasonic Lumix G series cameras. Just make sure your camera has an MFT mount, not APS-C or full-frame.
Q: Is the image circle really circular?
Yes, that's the whole point. You get a full circular image inside the frame, not a cropped fisheye look. It's a very specific aesthetic, and this lens nails it.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a general-purpose wide-angle lens for landscapes or vlogging, this isn't it. The circular image circle is a very specific look, and you'll be cropping heavily if you want a normal rectangular photo. Go get a standard wide-angle prime or zoom instead. This is for people who want the full fisheye circle effect.
Verdict
Buy it if you want to play with circular fisheye photography. The Meike 3.5mm f/2.8 is sharp, well-built, and stupidly affordable. It's not a lens for everyday shooting, but for creative projects, astrophotography, and just having fun, it's a no-brainer. The tight mount and mediocre lens cap are minor annoyances, not dealbreakers.
