The Meike 35mm f/1.8 Pro Is What a Budget Lens Should Be

Chris Niccolls
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In an effort to learn to love the 35mm full-frame focal length, I took the latest Meike 35mm f/1.8 Pro lens out for a spin. The Meike 35mm f/1.8 is an affordable take on the popular focal length, but it has some handy tricks up its sleeve that belie its lower cost. Many creatives who are looking for a compact and sharp lens will find the Meike 35mm ideal for street photography and travel. I carried it on a little road trip around southern Alberta, and it proved to be a handy companion.

Full disclosureThis story was sponsored by Meike.

A Meike 35mm f/1.8 camera lens stands upright on a textured surface with a dark, blurred background. The lens features a red accent ring and visible aperture markings near the base.
The new Meike Pro 35mm f/1.8 is affordable and capable.

Meike 35mm f/1.8 Pro: A Simple Plan

I appreciate the 14-ounce (400 grams) lightweight design and rubber weather seals around the lens mount, which also protect the USB-C port to facilitate firmware updates. The stepping motor design had no issues focusing the lens quickly, and the operation is nice and silent. I most enjoyed the rotating aperture ring, which is not a feature I was expecting, considering the affordable nature of this lens.

Four people stand outside a small green building called "Prairie Donair" on a sunny day, with trees and other buildings in the background and a clear blue sky overhead.
I took the Meike 35mm f/1.8 Pro out for a stroll in small-town Alberta.

A person wearing a cartoonish mask is seen through a shop window, with reflections of cars, buildings, and street elements blending into the scene. The photo is in black and white, creating a surreal, layered effect.

Colorful lightweight fabrics in yellow, blue, and green hang side by side outdoors, with a soft-focus background of plants and buildings. Sunlight highlights the texture and vibrant colors of the cloth.

Close-up of a MEKE 35mm f/1.8 camera lens showing focus and aperture markings, a textured grip, and clear white brand and model text on a black background.
I like having a proper aperture ring to change my depth of field.
A close-up of a camera lens with a red ring around the metal lens mount, marked "E-mount," positioned vertically on a black and white grid surface with the lens cap lying in front.
The lens is well-sealed against dust and dirt getting into the camera body.
A man wearing a hat sits alone on a wooden bench outside a building on a city sidewalk while another person walks away in the background; parked cars and plants are also visible. The image is in black and white.
The compact design makes for a handy street photography lens.

A person sits on the grass under a tall pine tree near a sidewalk, with a building, wooden fence, and parked vehicles in the background on a cloudy day.

A bee sits on a bright orange marigold flower in a garden, with a blurred statue of a serene face, possibly Buddha, in the background.

Meike 35mm f/1.8 Pro: Quality and Compactness

Optically, the lens delivered sharp images, even at its widest aperture, and created contrasty images with plenty of detail. The f/1.8 aperture delivered some soft and pleasant-looking backgrounds, which really helped to showcase closer subjects. I especially liked getting right up to subjects for the occasional close-up picture. The Meike 35mm f/1.8 let me get just under 14 inches to capture some bees and flowers while pushing the backgrounds into a dreamy blur.

Close-up of a MEIKE camera lens with a lens hood attached, showing the model number "LH55-P64" on a matte black surface against a dark background.
The Meike 35mm lens keeps things lightweight and handy for road trips and travel.

A weathered, red-framed window displays colorful books and reflects nearby trees. Inside, a small Buddha statue sits among eclectic items. Bright green leaves partially cover the view.

A shallow, clear stream flows over moss-covered rocks, surrounded by green grass and plants, with a fallen log crossing the water in the background.

Green rolling hills with clusters of trees under a bright blue sky filled with scattered white clouds on a sunny day.

I had a great time wandering around with the Meike 35mm Pro lens, because I found it versatile enough to shoot everything from street scenes to landscapes, and I never felt like I needed a different take on my field of view very often. I think this lens would make for an excellent travel lens for road trips and flights to far-off places. I liked the image quality, and the lens is built to handle occasional rough conditions.

Close-up of a camera lens showing a "Pro" label and a switch for AF (autofocus) and MF (manual focus), placed on a surface with a white grid pattern against a black background.
Consider the Meike Pro 35mm f/1.8 if you want a convenient travel lens.

Black and white photo of a street with a crosswalk, a manhole cover, and the shadow of a traffic light cast on the pavement.

Black and white photo of a park scene with two people and a dog; one person sits on a bench, another stands nearby, and leafy branches frame the top of the image. A gravel path curves through grassy fields.

A close-up of a vintage "Barber Shop" sign attached to the corner of a building, with green foliage in the foreground and a bright, partly cloudy sky in the background.

I may still be struggling with my disdain for the 35mm focal length in general, but there is no denying that the Meike 35mm f/1.8 Proo was an enjoyable experience for me on my little excursion. If you are looking for a simple and capable street photography lens with the versatility to shoot low-light scenes and close-ups, the $379 Meike 35mm f/1.8 Pro is definitely worth a look.

It should is available in L-mount, E-mount, and Z-mount which means it’s available for a huge range of photographers.

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