Meike 35mm f0.95 Large Aperture Manual Focus Prime Fixed Review
The Meike 35mm f/0.95 is all about that massive aperture for creamy bokeh, but it's manual focus only and optically soft. A fun, niche tool for the right shooter.
Overview
So you want that dreamy, creamy bokeh on a budget? The Meike 35mm f/0.95 is a manual focus prime that's all about one thing: letting in a ton of light. It's a solid chunk of metal built for Micro Four Thirds cameras, and that f/0.95 aperture is its entire personality.
Just know what you're signing up for. This is a manual-only lens, so you'll be turning that focus ring yourself. It's not for fast action, but for portraits or moody shots, it's a unique tool that gives you a look most kit lenses can't touch.
Performance
The headline is that f/0.95 aperture, and it delivers. It lands in the 99th percentile for light gathering, so low-light shooting is a breeze. Bokeh quality is also top-tier at the 93rd percentile, giving you really smooth backgrounds. The built-in stabilization is handy, but optical performance is just okay, sitting in the 34th percentile. Expect some softness wide open, and it's not the sharpest tool in the box, especially compared to pricier options.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- That massive f/0.95 aperture is a low-light monster. 99th
- Bokeh quality is genuinely excellent and creamy. 94th
- Build feels solid and premium for the price. 90th
- Has in-lens stabilization, which is a nice bonus. 88th
Cons
- It's manual focus only, so no autofocus help. 35th
- Optical performance is soft, especially wide open.
- Not versatile at all, scoring low for travel.
- It's heavy and not weather-sealed.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Wide-Angle |
| Focal Length Min | 35 |
| Focal Length Max | 35 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/0.95 |
Build
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Weight | 0.4 kg / 1.0 lbs |
AF & Stabilization
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 52 |
Value & Pricing
For around $189, you're buying the aperture. If you specifically want an ultra-fast, manual 35mm for your MFT camera and you're okay with the trade-offs, it's a fun and relatively affordable experiment. You won't find autofocus or pro-level optics at this price, but you will get a look that's hard to replicate.
Price History
vs Competition
Compared to the Viltrox 35mm F1.7, you lose autofocus but gain over two stops of light with the Meike's f/0.95. The Panasonic 14-140mm zoom is the polar opposite: way more versatile for travel but with a much slower, variable aperture. Against a native workhorse like the Olympus 17mm f/1.8, you'll get better autofocus and handling with the Olympus, but again, you sacrifice that extreme f/0.95 light gathering. This Meike carves its own niche.
| Spec | Meike 35mm f0.95 Large Aperture Manual Focus Prime Fixed | Viltrox Air VILTROX 35mm F1.7 f/1.7 Air AF Lens for Fuji X | Fujifilm VILTROX 56mm F1.4 STM APS-C Frame Auto Focus | Sirui Sniper Sirui Sniper 56mm f/1.2 Autofocus Lens (Sony E, | Yongnuo YONGNUO Upgraded YN50MM F1.8S DA DSM II Lens, for | Nikon NIKKOR Z Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7 Lens (Nikon Z) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 35mm | 35mm | - | 56mm | 50mm | 24mm |
| Max Aperture | f/0.95 | f/1.7 | f/1.4 | f/1.2 | f/1.8 | f/1.7 |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Fujifilm X | Fujifilm X | Sony E | Sony A, Sony E | Nikon Z |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | false |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | true | false | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 439 | 400 | 320 | 422 | 198 | 136 |
| AF Type | - | STM | STM | Autofocus | STM | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | Wide-Angle | - | - | - | - | Prime |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meike 35mm f0.95 Large Aperture Manual Focus Prime Fixed | 46.4 | 93.7 | 58.5 | 89.6 | 34.6 | 98.9 | 37.5 | 54.7 | 87.8 |
| Viltrox Air 35mm F1.7 f/1.7 AF Compare | 95.6 | 73.6 | 63.4 | 93.2 | 74 | 80.5 | 37.5 | 95.1 | 87.8 |
| Fujifilm VILTROX 56mm F1.4 STM APS-C Frame Auto Focus Standard Prime Compare | 95.6 | 81.8 | 88.8 | 85.3 | 34.6 | 88.1 | 37.5 | 86.7 | 87.8 |
| Sirui Sniper 56mm f/1.2 Autofocus Compare | 46.4 | 96.7 | 73.8 | 53.4 | 79.8 | 95.9 | 37.5 | 98 | 87.8 |
| Yongnuo Upgraded YN50MM F1.8S DA DSM II Compare | 95.6 | 68.8 | 90.1 | 90.6 | 34.6 | 75.8 | 37.5 | 86.7 | 87.8 |
| Nikon NIKKOR Z DX 24mm f/1.7 Compare | 46.4 | 73.6 | 96.9 | 83 | 78.2 | 80.5 | 37.5 | 98 | 37.9 |
Verdict
Buy this if you're a Micro Four Thirds shooter who loves manual focus and wants to play with an extremely shallow depth of field without spending a fortune. Don't buy it if you need autofocus, pin-sharp optics, or a lens you can take traveling as your only option.