HK Meike MK-5514CFSTM-E

The Meike 55mm f/1.4 is a budget APS-C portrait prime for Sony E mount that delivers bright aperture and smooth bokeh at a low price. Autofocus is average and optical sharpness is below par, but for portrait shooters on a budget it's a reasonable entry point. Don't expect weather sealing, stabilization, or macro capability.

The aperture is the headline here. At f/1.4, this lens ranks in the 70th percentile for aperture among lenses in our database. That's genuinely strong for the price. You're getting real light gathering ability and real subject separation. The bokeh quality also lands at the 69th percentile, which tracks with that 9 blade aperture design. Meike clearly prioritized the portrait look.

Autofocus is where things get more average. The STM motor is quiet, which is nice for video, but the AF performance sits at the 54th percentile. That's middle of the pack. It'll nail focus in good light, but don't expect it to keep up with fast moving subjects. The optical score of 18th percentile is the weak spot. Sharpness wide open is likely soft, and you'll probably want to stop down to f/2 or f/2.8 for critical work. For a portrait lens that's not a dealbreaker, since softness can actually flatter skin, but it's worth knowing.

The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is a completely different animal. It's a zoom, it's slower, but it has stabilization and better all around versatility. If you shoot travel or general purpose stuff, the Sony zoom makes more sense. The Meike is a specialist. It does one thing, portraits with shallow depth of field, and it does that better than any f/3.5-5.6 zoom can.

Against the Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 and Sigma 16-300mm f/3.5-6.7, the comparison is almost silly. Those are superzoom lenses built for reach and convenience. The Meike can't zoom at all. But those zooms can't touch f/1.4 either. If you want background blur, the Meike wins by a mile. If you want to shoot a bird in a tree, the Meike is useless. Different tools for different jobs.

At 230 EUR or 220 GBP, the Meike 55mm f/1.4 is competing against used Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS lenses and manual focus options from brands like TTArtisan and 7Artisans. The Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS gives you stabilization and better optics, but costs more new. The manual focus alternatives are cheaper but you lose autofocus entirely. For someone who wants AF and f/1.4 on a tight budget, this Meike is one of the few options that checks both boxes. Just know you're trading optical sharpness for that bright aperture.

The Meike 55mm f/1.4 is a budget APS-C portrait prime for Sony E mount. It sits in that sweet spot where you get a bright aperture and autofocus without paying Sony or Sigma money. At around 230 EUR or 220 GBP, it's aimed at hobbyists who want that creamy background look without selling a kidney.

So is the Meike 55mm f/1.4 good for portraits? On paper, yes. A 55mm focal length on APS-C gives you roughly an 82mm full frame equivalent, which is basically the classic portrait range. The f/1.4 aperture means you can blow out backgrounds and shoot in dimmer light. Meike also threw in a 9 blade diaphragm, which should help keep bokeh smooth and round.

But this is a budget lens, and budget lenses come with trade offs. The build quality sits at the 45th percentile in our database, which is about average for the price. No weather sealing, no stabilization, and the optical performance lands at the 18th percentile. That last number is the one that matters most, and we'll dig into it below.

Skip this lens if you need sharpness across the frame, shoot in bad weather, or want a single lens that handles everything from landscapes to close ups. The optical quality is the weakest part of the package, and the macro performance is nearly nonexistent. If you shoot video handheld, the lack of stabilization will hurt too. Look at the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS for a stabilized all rounder, or save up for a used Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS if you want better optics with your portrait prime.

Should you buy the Meike 55mm f/1.4? If you're a Sony APS-C shooter who wants a cheap autofocus portrait lens and you understand the optical limitations, yes. It's one of the few ways to get f/1.4 with AF under 250 EUR. The bokeh is genuinely nice for the price, and the STM motor is quiet enough for casual video work.

But if sharpness matters to you, or you shoot in rough weather, or you need a lens that does more than one thing, look elsewhere. The optical performance is the weakest part of this lens, and that's the part you can't fix in post. A used Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS or even a good manual focus prime might serve you better.