Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm
Sigma EX DG 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM 50mm
What Buyers Say
Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm
The Meike 55mm f/1.4 AF lens for APS-C Nikon Z cameras is a compact, fast-aperture portrait lens that delivers excellent sharpness and creamy bokeh at a very affordable price. Autofocus is quick and reliable, with good eye detection, and the lens handles well on smaller bodies like the Z30. Some users noted the minimum focus distance is a bit limiting and the build feels plasticky, but overall it offers outstanding value for money.
Pros
- Excellent sharpness
- Creamy bokeh
- Fast and reliable autofocus
- Great value for money
- Compact and lightweight
Cons
- Plasticky build feel
- Limited minimum focus distance
- No image stabilization
- Some chromatic aberration wide open
- Vignetting at wide apertures
Sigma EX DG 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM 50mm
The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful bokeh, and fast, quiet autofocus. Users consistently highlight its premium build quality and excellent value compared to first-party alternatives like Canon L or Nikon G lenses. While many note it is heavier and larger than typical 50mm primes, the image quality and performance are considered well worth the trade-off. A few users mention potential autofocus inconsistencies in low light or with older firmware, but overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful bokeh
- Fast and quiet autofocus
- Premium build quality
- Great value for money
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Autofocus hunts in low light
- Soft edges at f/1.4
- Potential front/back focus issues
- Firmware compatibility concerns
Scores
Specifications
| Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm | Sigma EX DG 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM 50mm | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | telephoto | standard |
| Focal Length Min | 85 mm | 50 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 85 mm | 50 mm |
| Elements | 5 | 14 |
| Groups | 8 | 11 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 1 |
| ED Elements | 2★ | 1 |
| Coating | Multi-layer coating | Super multi-layer lens coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/1.4 | f/1.4 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 | f/1.4 |
| Constant | ✗ | ✓★ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 11★ | 9 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | L-Mount | Sigma SA |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.91 kg | 0.81 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 77 mm | 77 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | STM★ | HSM |
| Stabilization | ✓★ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 85 mm★ | 400 mm |
| Max Magnification | — | 1:5.6★ |
Pros & Cons
Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm
- Strong bokeh (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong aperture (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong macro (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong af (85th percentile)85th %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
Sigma EX DG 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM 50mm
- Strong aperture (98th percentile)98th %ile
- Strong bokeh (97th percentile)97th %ile
- Strong social proof (91st percentile)91st %ile
- Strong user sentiment (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Meike 85mm F1.4 II 85mm offers 2.4x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 88 overall, wins 5 of 9 usage categories and 6 of 21 specs.
