Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame Auto Review
The Meike 55mm F1.4 offers pro-level autofocus and stabilization for under $200. It's a fantastic budget portrait lens, as long as you can live with its limitations.
Overview
The Meike 55mm F1.4 is a fast, affordable portrait prime for Sony APS-C shooters. It's built for one thing: taking sharp photos with that creamy background blur.
At 55mm (about an 82mm full-frame equivalent), this is your classic portrait focal length. It's not a walk-around lens, but for headshots and half-body shots, it's spot on. The f/1.4 aperture is the main attraction here, letting in tons of light.
Performance
Where this lens really shines is autofocus. It lands in the 98th percentile, which is wild for a third-party lens at this price. The STM motor is quick and quiet, making it a solid pick for video work too. The built-in stabilization (92nd percentile) is a nice bonus for handheld shots. Optical quality is decent for the money, sitting around the 62nd percentile, so expect some softness wide open at the edges. But the center sharpness and that f/1.4 bokeh (80th percentile) are what you're paying for.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong af (98th percentile) 95th
- Strong macro (94th percentile) 89th
- Strong stabilization (92th percentile) 88th
- Strong aperture (88th percentile) 87th
Cons
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Focal Length Min | 55 |
| Focal Length Max | 55 |
| Elements | 8 |
| Groups | 11 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/1.4 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Weight | 0.4 kg / 0.9 lbs |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | STM |
| Stabilization | Yes |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 55 |
Value & Pricing
At around $190, this lens is a steal if you want that fast portrait look without breaking the bank. You're getting pro-level autofocus and stabilization in a very affordable package. Just know you're trading some optical polish and build quality for that low price.
vs Competition
Stack it up against the Viltrox 35mm f/1.7, and it's a choice of focal length first. The Viltrox is wider (a 50mm equivalent), better for environmental portraits. The Meike 55mm gives you more compression and background separation. Against the Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS, the Meike has a slight aperture advantage (f/1.4 vs f/1.8) and often costs less, but the Sony might have slightly better color and contrast. If you need a zoom, the Panasonic 14-140mm is far more versatile for travel, but it's slower (f/3.5-5.6) and can't touch the Meike's background blur.
| Spec | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame Auto | Meike Meike 50mm F1.8 Full Frame AF STM Lens Standard | Canon Canon - RF28-70mm F2.8 IS STM Standard Zoom Lens | Panasonic Panasonic LUMIX G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 II | Viltrox VILTROX 23mm F1.4 Auto Focus APS-C Frame Lens for | Fujifilm VILTROX 25mm F1.7 f/1.7 AF Lens for Fuji X Mount, |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 55mm | 50mm | 28-70mm | 14-140mm | 23mm | 25mm |
| Max Aperture | f/1.4 | f/1.8 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/1.4 | f/1.7 |
| Mount | Sony E | Nikon Z | Canon RF | Micro Four Thirds | Fujifilm X | Fujifilm X |
| Stabilization | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 397 | 301 | 499 | 27 | 499 | 400 |
| AF Type | STM | STM | Autofocus | — | STM | STM |
| Lens Type | — | — | Standard Zoom | Telephoto | — | — |
Verdict
Buy this if you shoot Sony APS-C and want a dedicated, affordable portrait lens with shockingly good autofocus. It's perfect for portrait photographers, content creators doing talking-head videos, or anyone who loves shooting in low light. Skip it if you need one lens to do everything, or if ultimate optical sharpness is your top priority.