Meike 50mm f/1.8 AF 50mm
The Meike 50mm f/1.8 lens for L-mount stands out with its fast STM autofocus, weather-sealed construction, and electronic aperture control, delivering a bright f/1.8 maximum aperture at a 50mm focal length. Its optical formula of 11 elements in 7 groups, including an ED element, minimizes chromatic aberrations, and the 9-blade diaphragm produces smooth bokeh for subject isolation. This lens is best suited for portrait shooters on Panasonic or Sigma L-mount cameras who require reliable autofocus and shallow depth of field in all conditions.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
Score fell from 88 to 55. New lenses from Sigma, Tamron, Nikon, Panasonic, and Canon pushed it out of the top 5. Not worth it at full price.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
- Score tanked from 88 to 55
- Fell completely out of the top 5
- Newer glass from Sigma, Tamron, Nikon, Panasonic, and Canon now outclass it
What owners think
How owner sentiment changed over time
ExclusiveBased on when customers actually wrote their reviews — so you can see whether early praise held up.
Based on 14 dated customer reviews, grouped by calendar quarter. Period analysis is in English.
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Optics
| Type | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 50 |
| Focal Length Max | 50 |
| Elements | 11 |
| Groups | 7 |
| ED Elements | 1 |
| Coating | Multilayered Coatings |
Aperture
| Max Aperture | 16 |
| Min Aperture | 1.8 |
| Constant | Yes |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 |
Build
| Mount | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame |
| Weather Sealed | Yes |
| Weight | 0.6 kg / 1.3 lbs |
| Filter Thread | 58 |
AF & Stabilization
| AF Type | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | No |
Focus
| Min Focus Distance | 630 |
vs Competition
The landscape shifted hard. The Sigma Contemporary 16-300mm and Tamron 18-300mm now dominate the superzoom conversation with better range and stabilization. Nikon's Z 28-400mm brings full-frame reach that makes this lens feel dated. Even the Panasonic Leica 50-200mm and Canon EF-S 18-135mm deliver more consistent results for their respective mounts. This lens dropped from the top 5 entirely and doesn't belong in the same sentence as those anymore.
| Spec | Meike 50mm f/1.8 AF 50mm | Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD | Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR | Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM | Sony E SELP1650 | Panasonic LUMIX G Vario H-FS12060 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Focal Length | 50mm | 18-300mm | 16-85mm | 18-135mm | 16-50mm | 12-60mm |
| Max Aperture | 16 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | f/3.5 | 22 |
| Mount | Sony E | Fuji X | Nikon F | Canon EF-S | Sony E | Micro Four Thirds |
| Stabilization | false | true | true | true | true | true |
| Weather Sealed | true | false | false | false | false | true |
| Weight (g) | 567 | 92 | 59 | 515 | 116 | 210 |
| AF Type | Autofocus | VXD linear motor | AF-S | STM | Stepping motor | Autofocus |
| Lens Type | prime | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom | zoom |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Af | Bokeh | Build | Macro | Optical | Aperture | Versatility | Social Proof | Stabilization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meike 50mm f/1.8 AF 50mm | 55 | 46.6 | 61.4 | 45.9 | 53.1 | 51.3 | 34 | 63.1 | 35.8 |
| Tamron Di III 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Compare | 98.2 | 76.8 | 96.4 | 88.2 | 73.8 | 78.8 | 99.2 | 83 | 80.8 |
| Nikon NIKKOR AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Compare | 55 | 76.8 | 98.5 | 59.6 | 64.6 | 78.8 | 94.2 | 87.9 | 92.3 |
| Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Compare | 86.2 | 76.8 | 46 | 33 | 79.5 | 78.8 | 96 | 77.9 | 92.3 |
| Sony E SELP1650 Compare | 86.2 | 76.8 | 93.6 | 34.9 | 63.6 | 78.8 | 83.5 | 74 | 92.3 |
| Panasonic LUMIX G Vario H-FS12060 Compare | 55 | 16 | 89.7 | 81.5 | 72.6 | 25 | 93.3 | 87.9 | 96.3 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Hard to justify at this point. The price hasn't moved, but the performance score cratered. You're paying the same money for a lens that now sits well behind fresher, sharper options. Unless you find it at a steep discount, the value proposition is gone.
B&H Photo 1 offers From CA$220
Price History
Read more
Verdict
A once-solid pick that got leapfrogged. The 33-point drop in score reflects how far the competition has moved. Skip it unless you're already invested in the system and find a used copy for cheap.
