Meike

Meike 50mm F1.8 E Full Frame AF Lens Sony

4.6 (58 reviews)
f/1.8

An affordable 50mm f/1.8 autofocus prime lens for Sony E-mount that delivers smooth bokeh and sharp portraits at a fraction of first-party cost.

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Overview

The Meike 50mm f/1.8 is a full-frame autofocus prime lens built for Sony's E-mount mirrorless system. Its optical design uses 11 elements arranged in 7 groups, a configuration aimed at delivering sharp detail across the frame while controlling chromatic aberration. The f/1.8 maximum aperture opens up strong background separation for portraits, product photography, and street shooting, and it pulls in enough light to keep ISO values manageable in dim environments. An STM stepping motor handles autofocus duties, providing reasonably quick and quiet operation that suits both stills and video work.

Where this lens stands out is value. It brings autofocus capability and full-frame coverage to a price bracket typically occupied by manual-focus-only third-party options. It mounts natively on Sony bodies from the A7 and A9 full-frame lines down to APS-C models like the A6400 and A6000, where it provides an effective 75mm focal length. The 58mm filter thread is a common size, making it easy to find compatible UV, ND, or polarizing filters. Meike also offers downloadable firmware updates through a Type-C port on the lens itself, which can improve autofocus performance as new camera bodies are released — though this update process currently requires an Android device.

Key Features

Compatible with Sony E mount full frame auto focu mirrorless cameras, such as Sony A9, A7iii, A7ii, A7 A7R3 A7R4 series cameras. Also works with APS-C frame cameras like sony A6500, A6400, A6300, A6000

The classic 50mm portrait lens with a wide aperture of f/1.8, the lens can capture beautiful photos with smooth background blur effect, even in dark environment

50mm lens is a AF STM(stepping motor) auto focus lens, helps to reduce camera shake and helps capture images with less noise

The lens constructure is 11 groups, 7 elements, makes the lens capable of delivering sharp images.

If you experience autofocus failure, you can upgrade the firmware online. Meike lenses use a Type-C interface, and the latest firmware is available for download from the Meike official website(Real-time updates), only supported on Android devices, not Apple (Mac).

Specifications

Brand
Meike
Model
Meike 50mm F1.8 E
Focal Length
50mm
Maximum Aperture
f/1.8
Minimum Aperture
f/16
Lens Mount
Sony E-mount
Sensor Coverage
Full Frame (also compatible with APS-C)
Focus Mode
Autofocus / Manual Focus
Focus Motor
STM (Stepping Motor)
Optical Design
11 elements in 7 groups
Filter Thread
58mm
Firmware Update
Type-C interface (Android only)

Pros & Cons

👍 Pros

  • Wide f/1.8 aperture produces smooth, creamy background blur ideal for portrait and low-light shooting
  • STM autofocus motor operates quietly, which is beneficial for video recording
  • Compatible with both full-frame and APS-C Sony E-mount cameras, covering a wide range of bodies
  • Substantially more affordable than Sony's own 50mm f/1.8 lens
  • User-upgradable firmware via Type-C helps resolve autofocus compatibility issues over time

👎 Cons

  • Firmware updates require an Android device — Mac and iOS users cannot perform updates directly
  • Autofocus speed and accuracy may not match first-party Sony lenses, particularly in fast-action scenarios
  • No optical image stabilization, which may affect handheld sharpness at slower shutter speeds on bodies without IBIS
  • Build quality and weather sealing are not on par with professional-grade lenses

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. It uses an STM stepping motor for autofocus and is compatible with both full-frame bodies like the A7 series and APS-C bodies like the A6000 through A6500.
On an APS-C sensor, the 1.5x crop factor gives this lens an equivalent field of view of approximately 75mm, making it an even tighter portrait lens.
Yes. Meike provides firmware updates on their official website, downloadable via a Type-C connection. Note that the firmware update tool currently works only on Android devices, not on Apple/Mac.
It accepts 58mm threaded filters.
No. It does not include optical image stabilization, so you would rely on your camera's in-body stabilization if available.