Meike Meike 35mm F2.0 Wide Angle Auto Focus Full Frame Review
The Meike 35mm F2 delivers surprisingly good autofocus for Nikon Z cameras at a bargain price, but its optical quality can't quite keep up.
Overview
The Meike 35mm F2.0 is a budget-friendly, autofocus prime for Nikon Z shooters. It's a 35mm lens, which is a classic 'do almost anything' focal length, and it promises full compatibility with your camera's features like Eye AF.
For $180, you're getting a lot of modern tech in a metal barrel. It has an STM motor for quiet focus, a USB-C port for firmware updates, and it transmits all the EXIF data back to your camera. It's a third-party lens that acts like a first-party one.
Performance
Autofocus is the star here. It lands in the 96th percentile, which means it's fast, accurate, and reliable for both photos and video. The STM motor is quiet, too. Where it stumbles is in pure optical quality, ranking in the bottom third. Don't expect super-sharp corners or magical rendering. It's decent, but you'll see some softness, especially at wider apertures. Its 'macro' score is surprisingly high, but with a 35cm minimum focus distance, it's more 'close-focus' than true macro.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Autofocus performance is excellent and quiet. 95th
- Full electronic integration with Nikon Z cameras. 92th
- Build quality feels solid for the price. 88th
- USB-C firmware updates are a nice future-proofing touch. 69th
Cons
- Optical quality is just okay, with soft corners.
- No weather sealing at all.
- The f/2.0 aperture is a bit slow for a prime.
- It's surprisingly heavy at nearly 500 grams.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | Wide-Angle |
| Focal Length Min | 35 |
| Focal Length Max | 35 |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | f/2.0 |
Build
| Mount | Nikon Z |
| Weight | 0.5 kg / 1.0 lbs |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | STM |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 35 |
Value & Pricing
At $180, it's hard to complain. You're paying for modern autofocus and full compatibility, not for groundbreaking optics. If you need a reliable, everyday 35mm that just works with your Z5 or Z6, this is a solid deal. If your priority is the absolute best image quality, you'll need to spend more.
vs Competition
Stack it up against the Nikon Z 35mm f/1.8 S, and the Nikon wins on optics and build hands down, but it costs over three times as much. The Viltrox 35mm F1.7 for other mounts is sharper and faster, but it doesn't have this level of seamless AF integration for Nikon Z. Compared to Meike's own 55mm F1.8 Pro, you're trading a bit of speed (f/2 vs f/1.8) and a lot of portrait/bokeh performance for the more versatile 35mm focal length.
| Spec | Meike Meike 35mm F2.0 Wide Angle Auto Focus Full Frame | Meike Meike 55mm F1.4 Standard Aperture APS-C Frame AF | 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 | 35mm | 55mm | 28-70mm | 14-140mm | 23mm | 25mm |
| Max Aperture | f/2.0 | f/1.4 | f/2.8 | f/3.5 | f/1.4 | f/1.7 |
| Mount | Nikon Z | Nikon Z | Canon RF | Micro Four Thirds | Fujifilm X | Fujifilm X |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | false | false | false | false | false | false |
| Weight (g) | 472 | 281 | 499 | 27 | 499 | 400 |
| AF Type | STM | STM | Autofocus | — | STM | STM |
| Lens Type | Wide-Angle | — | Standard Zoom | Telephoto | — | — |
Verdict
Buy this if you're a Nikon Z shooter on a tight budget who values reliable autofocus and modern features above ultimate sharpness. It's a great 'first prime' or a lightweight travel lens. Skip it if you're a pixel-peeper, need weather sealing, or shoot mostly in low light where f/2.0 might feel limiting.