The Meike 55mm f1.8 Pro is the second lens in their professional-grade lineup, released shortly after their first Pro lens. This quick follow-up suggests that Meike is pretty serious about expanding its offerings for APS-C users.
For photographers, this means more choices, and this is always a good thing, though it can make deciding between third-party options a bit more challenging for us.
Intro
A 55mm focal length isn’t a common one, but when mounted on an APS-C body, it gives an effective field of view of around 82.5mm, very close to the popular 85mm perspective. Similarly, that goes the same for the 50mm (in APS-C format). Ultimately, what matters more to me is the total package: image quality, usability, and whether it justifies the asking price. Let’s dive into that.
Design and Build Quality
Weighing in at 365 grams and sporting a 58mm filter thread, the 55mm f1.8 Pro is nearly indistinguishable from Meike’s 85mm f1.8 Pro lens in appearance. Both share the same minimalist design language, similar weight, and identical build materials. The primary visual difference lies in the 85mm’s slightly larger size and its 62mm filter thread.
Right: Fuji X-M5 . Meike 55mm f1.8 Pro @ 55mm . f1.8 . 1/340″ . ISO 320 . Nostalgic Negative
Meike has kept things consistent across both lenses, including a smooth, clickable aperture ring with satisfying tactile feedback and a frictionless manual focus ring. A plastic lens hood is also included.
Image Quality
To my eyes, the 55mm f1.8 Pro produces slightly better image quality than the 85mm f1.8 Pro. Center sharpness is notably strong, with only minor softness in the corners—nothing alarming in my opinion. Vignetting is present as expected but mild and acceptable in real-world use. Chromatic aberration appears to be well-controlled, with no distracting color fringing in high-contrast areas.
Right: Fuji X-M5 . Meike 55mm f1.8 Pro @ 55mm . f2 . 1/125″ . ISO 800 . Nostalgic Negative
The bokeh is smooth and natural, with a more refined background blur compared to the 85mm. This helps isolate subjects effectively without any jarring distractions in the background.
The lines from the sunstar aren’t well-defined, and it will also introduce some ghosting flares.
Focusing
It uses the common Stepper Motor (STM), and the focusing performance seems much better than that of the 85mm counterpart. Although I did encounter some focus pullings in bright daylight, it is still less than that of the 85mm counterpart. Focusing speed is decent, but I did encounter 2-3 mis-focused shots when the focus is locked with the green box. I hope it will be fixed with a firmware update in the future.
Right: Fuji X-T5 . Meike 55mm f1.8 Pro @ 55mm . f1.8 . 1/5400″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)
The minimum focus distance is 55cm, which is typical for a lens of this focal length. I didn’t notice any loss in image quality when shooting at close range, which is always a plus
Price Point
Priced at $330 USD, the Meike 55mm f1.8 Pro sits in a competitive space. Here’s how it stacks up against rivals:
- Brightin Star 50mm f1.4 – $239
- Meike 55mm f1.4 – $199
- Sigma 56mm f1.4 – $579
- Sirui 56mm f1.2 – $279
Right: Fuji X-T5 . Meike 55mm f1.8 Pro @ 55mm . f1.8 . 1/1900″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
While the Sigma is a class leader among the third parties (I am excited to see what Viltrox 56mm f1.2 Pro can do), it’s nearly twice the price. Meike seems to be offering a solid middle ground in terms of price, performance, and build quality.
Others
Meike continues to place the USB-C port for firmware updates inside the rear lens mount. This is something I have come to appreciate for its neat and protected design.
Although there’s no official word on weather sealing, the red ring around the lens mount appears to be made of a rubber-like material, which may offer some degree of environmental protection.
Oh yes, if you wish to do manual focusing, you have to switch to manual on the focus mode selector switch on the lens and not on the camera body. I guess from the manufacturer’s perspective, it is easier to switch on the lens than on the camera body.
Who is this for?
The 55mm focal length is versatile, suiting portraits and product photography well, while also offering an interesting perspective for street, documentary, and even landscape work. It’s a nice “in-between” focal length that can handle various genres with ease.
Right: Fuji X-T5 . Meike 55mm f1.8 Pro @ 55mm . f1.8 . 1/400″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
Conclusion
Compared to the 85mm Pro, I find the 55mm easier to use when composing shots, especially full-body portraits. Since you don’t need to step back as far. It also makes communication with your subject more natural. While the 85mm delivers better background compression, the difference isn’t a dealbreaker in most scenarios.
Right: Fuji X-T5 . Meike 85mm f1.8 Pro @ 55mm . f1.8 . 1/550″ . ISO 125 . Nostalgic Negative
Meike has done a commendable job with the Pro series. While f1.8 isn’t extremely fast by today’s “Pro” standards, the lens offers a great balance between price, performance, and portability. For photographers looking for a lightweight, affordable, and well-built lens in the short-telephoto range, the 55mm f/1.8 Pro is a compelling choice.
Hopefully, Meike continues this momentum and completes a “Pro trinity” by adding a wide-angle option in the near future.
Thank you for reading.
Disclaimer:
1. All the shots taken here are shot by me.
2. Most of the shots are straight out of the camera with some shots edited via In-Camera Raw Processing.
3. The opinions are based on my experience. If there is any mistake, please kindly drop me a message and I will gladly make the amendment.
4. I reserve ownership of these images, if you wish to use my images, please notify me.
Alwin Kok 