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Meike’s New Lens And Adapters For Canon

Meike has confirmed its second-generation AF 85mm f/1.8 SE II, a full-frame autofocus portrait lens designed for the Canon EF mount and co-launched under the MEIREC brand. The lens sticks with the classic 85mm f/1.8 formula that has long been popular for portraits, low-light shooting, and subject separation, but brings an updated SE II autofocus design. It is meant for photographers still using Canon EF DSLRs and those shooting on Canon RF mirrorless bodies via adapters.

In terms of specs, the AF 85mm f/1.8 SE II offers an aperture range of f/1.8 to f/16, uses an 11-blade diaphragm, and has a minimum focusing distance of 0.65 meters. The optical design consists of 11 elements in 7 groups, and the lens weighs around 369 grams. A 62mm filter thread is used, and autofocus is handled by the updated SE II AF system, which is designed to support reliable face and eye detection when used on compatible bodies.

Alongside the lens, MEIREC is also introducing new EF-to-RF adapters to make the transition to Canon RF systems easier. These EFTR adapters come in two versions, a standard model and a control ring version. Both maintain full electronic communication, meaning autofocus, aperture control, and EXIF data should work as expected on Canon RF cameras. The control ring adapter adds a programmable ring similar to Canon’s native RF lenses, giving RF users a bit more flexibility while continuing to use EF-mount glass.

ProGrade to Increase Memory Card Prices

The ongoing global shortage of memory chips is starting to spill over into areas that directly affect photographers and videographers. A big part of the problem is the massive demand coming from AI data centres, which are soaking up flash memory and pushing prices higher across the industry. According to a press release from ProGrade Digital’s Japanese operation, that pressure is now translating into higher prices for memory cards and SSDs, Japan being the first market to see official changes.

ProGrade Digital Japan says it will raise regular prices on its Amazon.co.jp store starting January 8, 2026. The company cites a sharp rise in flash memory costs, along with a currency adjustment tied to the weaker yen. Going forward, prices will be calculated using an exchange rate of 155 yen to the dollar instead of 150. A detailed price list shows that the increases aren’t uniform. Products without built-in storage, like the PG20 Pro Hub, are only seeing small bumps, while some V60 Gold SDXC cards are reportedly doubling in price. CFexpress Type A and Type B cards are also affected, with increases generally landing somewhere between 20 and 60 percent.

The company expects supply issues in the memory market to continue through 2026, which likely means ongoing price swings. For now, these increases are limited to Japan, and there is no confirmation yet that the same hikes will appear in Europe, the US or other regions. Still, the broader trend is hard to ignore. Reports last month indicated that SanDisk raised NAND flash contract prices by about 50 percent, prompting other memory makers to pause shipments and rethink their strategies. With memory already making up a big chunk of the cost of cameras, phones, and computers, it is something us creatives will probably need to keep an eye on in the year ahead.

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