Meike 55mm F1.4 AF STM 55mm
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
What Buyers Say
Meike 55mm F1.4 AF STM 55mm
The Meike 55mm f/1.4 lens delivers impressive sharpness, pleasing bokeh, and fast autofocus for Fuji APS-C cameras at a budget-friendly price. Users consistently praise its metal build and aperture ring, but note that firmware updates may require a specific USB-C to USB-A cable and a Windows computer to unlock full autofocus performance. Overall, it is considered an exceptional value, particularly for portrait and street photography.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness at f/1.4
- Pleasing bokeh and background separation
- Fast and reliable autofocus after firmware update
- Premium metal build with aperture ring
- Lightweight and compact design
Cons
- Firmware update requires specific USB-C to USB-A cable
- No firmware update support for Mac computers initially
- Plastic lens hood feels less premium
- Autofocus can hunt before firmware update
- Some chromatic aberration at wide apertures
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS lens is widely praised as an excellent all-in-one travel and walkaround lens for APS-C E-mount cameras. Users consistently highlight its sharpness, compact size, light weight, and versatile 27-200mm equivalent zoom range. While many note it is not ideal for low light and some report significant vignetting at the wide end, the overall sentiment is very positive, with most considering it a great value kit lens upgrade.
Pros
- Sharp image quality
- Compact and lightweight
- Versatile 27-200mm equivalent zoom range
- Effective optical image stabilization
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
- Significant vignetting at 18mm wide end
- Not ideal for low light photography
- Variable aperture limits brightness at telephoto
- Some copies may have quality control issues
- Slight autofocus lag compared to premium lenses
Scores
Specifications
| Meike 55mm F1.4 AF STM 55mm | Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 18 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 55 mm | 135 mm |
| Elements | 11 | 16 |
| Groups | 8 | 12 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 1★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 2★ |
| Coating | multilayered coatings | — |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/3.5 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon Z | Sony E |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✗ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg★ | 0.33 kg |
| Filter Thread | 52 mm | 55 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM | Linear motor★ |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 610 mm | 450 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 0.29x★ |
Pros & Cons
Meike 55mm F1.4 AF STM 55mm
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong build (75th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS
- Strong af (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong versatility (96th percentile)96th %ile
- Strong social proof (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong stabilization (80th percentile)80th %ile
Pricing
Meike 55mm F1.4 AF STM 55mm offers 2.7x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 90 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
