Meike 35mm f/1.7 MF

This Meike prime is a 35mm manual-focus lens for mirrorless cameras. The MF in its name confirms the manual focus. It comes in Fujifilm X, Sony E and Micro Four Thirds versions, so pick the one made for your system.

The Fujifilm X version covers APS-C, where 35mm works as a normal lens for everyday and portrait work. The Micro Four Thirds version frames more tightly, as a short telephoto.

The main trade-off is focusing. You turn the ring by hand, with no autofocus motor to help, so it rewards a slower, deliberate way of working. With practice, presetting focus distance works well for quick street shots. The design dates from 2016, making it an older model.

At 6.2 oz (176 g) and 1.61 in (41 mm) long, this lens adds little to a mirrorless kit. The barrel measures 2.38 in (60.5 mm) across. Filters screw directly into the 49mm thread, a common size that is easy to find. Any filter type works as long as it matches that thread.

On Fujifilm X, 35mm gives a view close to the way you naturally see a scene. That suits street photography, documentary pictures and relaxed portraits. Framing never changes, so you learn one view and move your feet to adjust it. You can stand near a subject and still include the setting.

On Micro Four Thirds, the same 35mm acts as a short telephoto. It suits tighter head-and-shoulders portraits and picking a single subject out of a busy scene. You can fill the frame with a face from a polite distance.

The f/1.7 aperture is the strongest optical asset. It passes plenty of light, so you can keep ISO low in dim interiors and at night. Opened wide, it also blurs the background behind a portrait, helping the subject stand out. The effect grows stronger the closer you stand to your subject.

Closest focus is 1 ft (30 cm), so you can photograph food, flowers or objects on a table from a short distance. Eight aperture blades keep out-of-focus highlights round when you stop down. Its optics specification scores 74 out of 100.

This lens has no image stabilization, so nothing in the lens steadies the camera for you. At 35mm the effect is modest; handheld shutter speeds stay manageable in daylight. A camera body with its own stabilization can help in dim light, if your system offers one. Otherwise, plan on a fast enough shutter or a higher ISO.

There is no weather sealing and no fluorine coating. Keep the lens sheltered in dust or drizzle, and wipe the front element by hand, since nothing repels water or oil. It suits fair-weather, careful use rather than rough conditions.

Six elements in five groups form a simple layout, with no aspherical or low-dispersion glass. You focus by hand on the focusing ring, and the single focal length removes any zoom mechanism from the body. The result is a plain, compact lens with no frills.