Meike 25mm f/1.8 MF

This small Meike prime suits mirrorless shooters who want a light wide-angle lens for everyday use. It arrived in 2020 and comes in two versions, one for Fujifilm X and one for Sony E. Each version fits only its own mount, so choose the one made for your camera. The Fujifilm X version covers the APS-C format.

A 25mm focal length gives a moderate wide view for walk-around shooting. The f/1.8 aperture helps in dim rooms and after dark. The main trade-off is focusing: this is a manual-focus lens, so you turn the ring yourself for every shot, and it rewards slow, deliberate work.

Both versions share the same optical design, weight and size. Pick the mount that matches your camera.

At 6.7 oz (190 g) the lens puts little strain on a small body. It runs 1.61 in (40.9 mm) long and 2.38 in (60.5 mm) wide, which suits compact mirrorless cameras. A screw-in filter attaches directly and must match the 49mm thread, so choose filters at that size. That short profile keeps the whole camera slim.

The 25mm view leaves generous space around the subject. That framing works for street corners, crowded rooms, group pictures and landscapes where context matters. You can work in tight spots where a longer lens would force you back. Because this is a prime, the view is fixed and you frame with your feet.

The f/1.8 maximum aperture lets in plenty of light for evening streets and indoor rooms. That keeps shutter speeds usable without pushing ISO far. Standing close, it also softens backgrounds a little. Nine blades help out-of-focus highlights stay round at smaller apertures.

Focus falls to 0.8 ft (25 cm), close enough for food or a market stall. At this focal length much background stays in frame, so the lens favours context over tight subject isolation. Portraits work best with the person placed within a setting.

Its optics specification scores 72 out of 100.

There is no image stabilization. At 25mm the risk of camera shake is smaller than on a long lens, and f/1.8 buys some margin in poor light. Even so, steady hands or a supported camera matter most in dim interiors. Watch your shutter speed, since nothing in the lens will rescue a slow handheld exposure. A table edge or a doorway offers a quick rest in a café.

There is no weather sealing either, so this is a fair-weather lens; keep it out of rain and blowing dust. Most street and travel work happens in dry conditions, so the gap rarely bites. The specification also lists no fluorine coating.

The optical design uses seven elements arranged in five groups. The specification lists no aspherical or low-dispersion elements for this model, a plain layout for a short, light prime. The focus ring on the barrel sets focus by hand, with no autofocus motor inside.