Meike Neo Series 5514-E 55mm
Viltrox Air AF 15/1.7 XF 15mm
What Buyers Say
Meike Neo Series 5514-E 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
Viltrox Air AF 15/1.7 XF 15mm
This Viltrox lens range receives overwhelmingly positive feedback for its exceptional value, sharpness, and fast apertures. Users consistently praise the image quality and build, noting it punches far above its price point. A minority report issues with chromatic aberration, noisy autofocus in video, firmware updates, and occasional defective units, but the general sentiment is that these are excellent budget primes.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Fast aperture (f/1.2, f/1.7, f/1.8)
- Great value for money
- Solid build quality
- Fast and accurate autofocus
Cons
- Chromatic aberration in high contrast scenes
- Noisy autofocus in video
- Aperture ring moves too easily
- Firmware update process is cumbersome
- Occasional defective units
Scores
Specifications
| Meike Neo Series 5514-E 55mm | Viltrox Air AF 15/1.7 XF 15mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | prime |
| Focal Length Min | 55 mm | 15 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 55 mm | 15 mm |
| Elements | 11 | 12 |
| Groups | 8 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | — | 2★ |
| ED Elements | 1 | 3★ |
| Coating | multilayered coatings | HD nano-coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/16 | f/16 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 | f/1.7 |
| Constant | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 9 | 9 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Nikon Z | Nikon Z |
| Format | APS-C | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Weight | 0.29 kg | 0.18 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 52 mm | 58 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM | STM |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 610 mm | 229 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | — | 1:10★ |
Pros & Cons
Meike Neo Series 5514-E 55mm
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (78th percentile)
- Strong build (75th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Viltrox Air AF 15/1.7 XF 15mm
- Strong build (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Strong social proof (82nd percentile)82nd %ile
- Strong optical (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average user sentiment (30th percentile)
- Below average versatility (34th percentile)
Pricing
Meike Neo Series 5514-E 55mm offers 1.2x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 69 overall, wins 7 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
