Rankings
The Meike 33mm f/1.4 is a compact, fast prime for APS-C Sony E-mount cameras offering premium optics, weather sealing and silent STM AF at a budget price.
The Meike 50mm f/1.8 is a full-frame prime offering solid sharpness, smooth bokeh and quiet STM AF, with modern USB-C firmware updates, aimed at budget-conscious creators across Sony, Nikon and Leica mirrorless systems.
The Samyang 35mm f/1.8 FE is a compact, lightweight prime that delivers excellent sharpness and fast, silent autofocus, making it a strong value proposition for Sony full-frame users. Its weather sealing and clickless aperture control add video appeal, though chromatic aberration and focus breathing can be limiting for demanding shooters.
The TTArtisan AF 56mm f/1.8 is a compact, metal-built prime offering a bright aperture and quiet STM autofocus for APS-C mirrorless cameras. While it delivers sharp images and modern features, its AF can be finicky in low light and it lacks a built-in aperture ring.
The TTArtisan 25 mm f/2 is a compact, all-metal manual prime offering a fast aperture and solid build, ideal for street and travel shooting, though it lacks electronic contacts and shows some optical softness.
The Meike 35mm f/1.7 manual-focus prime offers great image quality and build at a budget price, but it suffers from soft corners, vignetting and the lack of autofocus.
The TTArtisan 25mm f/2 is a compact, all-metal manual-focus prime designed for APS-C mirrorless cameras, delivering a bright aperture and solid build at a budget price. Its lack of electronic contacts and some optical softness keep it from competing with native autofocus lenses.
The Sony SELP1650 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is a pocket-sized power-zoom lens that excels for travel and vlog video thanks to its built-in OSS and quiet stepping-motor AF. Optical performance is compromised by softness and distortion, and the lack of weather sealing keeps it best suited for good-light situations.
The Viltrox 25mm f/1.7 offers impressive sharpness and a very lightweight, compact design for Sony APS-C cameras, though its plastic build and lack of weather sealing limit its ruggedness. It's a strong choice for street, vlog and travel shooting where size and low-light capability matter.
An affordable macro prime offering true 1:1 magnification, solid build, and video-friendly controls, though it relies on manual focus and lacks weather protection.
The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 is a compact, lightweight prime that delivers sharp images and strong low-light performance at an attractive price. Its main drawbacks are a sluggish, audible autofocus and lack of weather sealing, which limit its suitability for video and demanding environments.
The Meike 85 mm f/1.8 SE II delivers premium-class sharpness, excellent bokeh, and smooth STM autofocus at a budget price, making it a strong choice for portrait shooters and videographers. Its plastic construction, limited sealing, and Android-only firmware keep it from being a professional-grade tool.
The TTArtisan 25 mm f/2 is a fully manual, all-metal prime lens for APS-C mirrorless cameras. It offers a bright aperture and compact size at a very low price, but its optical performance suffers from flare and soft corners, and it lacks modern electronic features.
A lightweight, fast 35 mm f/1.7 prime for Sony E-mount APS-C cameras offering solid sharpness and quiet STM AF, but it lacks weather sealing and shows noticeable vignetting at its widest aperture.
The TTArtisan AF 27mm f/2.8 is an ultra-compact pancake prime with solid metal build and quiet STM AF, but its optical performance suffers from vignetting and inconsistent AF.
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ↓ lower better | 35 mm | 50 mm | 85 mm | 35 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 60 mm | 50 mm | 16 mmbest | 33 mm | 35 mm | 25 mm | 56 mm | 27 mm |
35 mm | 50 mm | 85 mmbest | 35 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 60 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 33 mm | 35 mm | 25 mm | 56 mm | 27 mm | |
| ↓ lower better | 1.7 f | 1.8 f | 1.8 f | 1.7 f | 2 f | 2 f | 2 f | 2.8 f | 1.8 f | 3.5 f | 1.4 fbest | 1.8 f | 1.7 f | 1.8 f | 2.8 f |
| ↓ lower better | 170 g | 187 g | 369 g | 181 g | 166 g | 177.5 g | 180 g | 339 g | 382 g | 116 g | 316 g | 210 g | 170 g | 245 g | 88 gbest |
| ↓ lower better | 130 mm | 103.89 mm | 100.2 mm | 41 mm | 31 mm | 31 mm | 31 mm | 74.5 mm | 103 mm | 29.9 mm | 82 mm | 177.8 mm | 15.24 mmbest | 57 mm | 27.94 mm |
| ↓ lower better | 33 cm | 45 cm | 65 cm | 30 cm | 25 cm | 25 cm | 25 cm | 17.5 cmbest | 63 cm | 25 cm | 40 cm | 29 cm | — | 50 cm | — |
0.13 x | 0.14 x | 0.17 x | 0.113 x | 0.13 x | 0.13 x | 0.13 x | 1 xbest | 0.13 x | 0.215 x | 0.1 x | 0.17 x | — | 0.15 x | — | |
12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | — | 12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | — | 12 monthsbest | — | — | 12 monthsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Performance(1) | |||||||||||||||
Image Stabilization | false | false | false | false | false | false | false | false | — | true | — | false | false | false | false |
Mount & Compatibility(2) | |||||||||||||||
Mount Type | Sony E (compatible Fujifilm X, Nikon Z) | Sony E-mount | Sony E | Sony E | Fuji X, Sony E, Nikon Z, Leica L, Micro Four Thirds | Sony E | Multiple | Sony E | Sony E-mount, Nikon Z-mount, Leica L-mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E-mount | Sony E | Sony E | Sony E |
Autofocus Motor Type | STM | DC motor | STM | — | Manual | — | — | — | STM | Stepping motor | STM | Linear STM | STM | STM | STM |
Optical(6) | |||||||||||||||
Focal Length (Min) (mm) | 35 mm | 50 mm | 85 mm | 35 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 60 mm | 50 mm | 16 mm | 33 mm | 35 mm | 25 mm | 56 mm | 27 mm |
Focal Length (Max) (mm) | 35 mm | 50 mm | 85 mm | 35 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 25 mm | 60 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 33 mm | 35 mm | 25 mm | 56 mm | 27 mm |
Maximum Aperture (f-number) (f) | 1.7 f | 1.8 f | 1.8 f | 1.7 f | 2.0 f | 2.0 f | 2.0 f | 2.8 f | 1.8 f | 3.5 f | 1.4 f | 1.8 f | 1.7 f | 1.8 f | 2.8 f |
Minimum Focus Distance (cm) | 33 cm | 45 cm | 65 cm | 30 cm | 25 cm | 25 cm | 25 cm | 17.5 cm | 63 cm | 25 cm | 40 cm | 29 cm | — | 50 cm | — |
Maximum Magnification Ratio (x) | 0.13 x | 0.14 x | 0.17 x | 0.113 x | 0.13 x | 0.13 x | 0.13 x | 1.0 x | 0.13 x | 0.215 x | 0.1 x | 0.17 x | — | 0.15 x | — |
Coating Type | High-definition nano-coating | — | — | Super multi-coated | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Build & Durability(1) | |||||||||||||||
Weather Sealing | false | false | true | — | — | — | — | false | — | false | true | true | false | — | false |
Physical(3) | |||||||||||||||
Weight (g) | 170 g | 187 g | 369 g | 181 g | 166 g | 177.5 g | 180 g | 339 g | 382 g | 116 g | 316 g | 210 g | 170 g | 245 g | 88 g |
Length (mm) | 130 mm | 103.89 mm | 100.2 mm | 41 mm | 31 mm | 31 mm | 31 mm | 74.5 mm | 103 mm | 29.9 mm | 82 mm | 177.8 mm | 15.24 mm | 57 mm | 27.94 mm |
Filter Thread Diameter (mm) | 52 mm | 49 mm | 62 mm | 49 mm | 43 mm | 43 mm | 43 mm | 39 mm | 58 mm | 40.5 mm | 55 mm | 58 mm | — | 52 mm | — |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise its sharpness, low distortion and quiet STM AF, while noting vignetting, axial chromatic aberration and the plasticky build.
Everyday users love its sharpness, portability and fast aperture, though they mention strong vignetting, occasional AF hunting and the lack of weather sealing.
“Incredibly sharp for the price”
“Perfect for street and portrait work”
“Perfect walk-around lens”
Professional reviewers commend the FE 50mm f/1.8 for delivering excellent sharpness, low distortion, and pleasing bokeh at a very attractive price point, highlighting its compact metal-mount construction. However, they uniformly criticize its sluggish, audible autofocus, heavy vignetting at the widest aperture, and lack of weather sealing.
Everyday users love the lens as a lightweight, walk-around prime that produces beautiful bokeh and sharp images when stopped down, especially on APS-C bodies where it serves as a 75 mm portrait lens. Recurring complaints focus on the slow, noisy autofocus, noticeable vignetting at f/1.8, and the cheap-feeling plastic filter thread and hood.
Professional reviewers praise the Meike 85mm f/1.8 Mark II for delivering premium-class sharpness, superb chromatic aberration control and true T1.8 transmission at a fraction of the price of flagship lenses, while noting the plastic build and modest weather sealing.
Everyday users overwhelmingly appreciate the lens's price-to-performance ratio, lauding its sharpness, bokeh and lightweight feel, though they complain about autofocus hunting in low light, the plasticky feel and lack of robust weather protection.
Professional reviewers generally view the Meike 35mm f/1.7 as a surprisingly capable lens for its price, highlighting its solid metal build, sharp central performance, low chromatic aberration and attractive bokeh.
Everyday users love the lens for its sharp center, creamy bokeh and pocketable size, often noting it outperforms pricier branded lenses, while complaints focus on the de-clicked aperture ring, soft corners and vignetting.
Professional reviewers commend the bright aperture, vintage-inspired handling and solid build, while noting flare, reduced contrast at wide apertures and the absence of electronic contacts.
Everyday users praise the build quality, compactness and affordability, describing it as a fun, creative tool, but criticize the cool color rendering, flare issues and the screw-on cap.
Professional reviewers commend its solid metal build, bright aperture and vintage manual-focus experience, but point out flare, low contrast at f/2 and soft corners as notable drawbacks.
Everyday users love the sturdy feel, compact size and bright aperture, while common complaints involve a cool color cast, flare at wide apertures and the absence of EXIF data.
Professional reviewers commend the TTArtisan 25mm f/2 for its solid metal build, smooth manual focus, and fast f/2 aperture, but note optical shortcomings such as flare, low contrast, and soft corners.
Everyday users appreciate the sturdy feel, compactness and pleasant bokeh, while complaining about the cool color cast, flare, soft corners and lack of electronic communication.
Professional reviewers praise the sharpness and build quality, noting the lack of weather sealing and autofocus as trade-offs for the price.
Users call it a hidden gem for image quality and value, while noting the learning curve of manual focus and the tiny filter thread.
Professional reviewers commend its solid sharpness, smooth bokeh and quiet STM motor, noting focus breathing and corner softness but praising the USB-C firmware capability and value proposition.
Everyday users rate it around 4.5 stars, highlighting sharpness, attractive bokeh and reliable AF, while noting focus breathing, soft corners and lack of weather sealing.
Professional reviewers praise the lens for its portability, smooth power-zoom and effective OSS, but note optical compromises such as soft corners, vignetting and distortion at the wide end.
Everyday users love the lens's size and video-friendly features, while common complaints focus on edge softness, barrel distortion, and the lack of a hood or weather sealing.
Professional reviewers praise its premium-grade optics, solid metal build, fast silent STM AF and USB-C firmware port, while noting occasional focus hunting and lack of stabilization.
Everyday users love the sharpness, bokeh and sturdy feel, highlighting the USB-C update capability and silent AF, but complain about focus hunting and a flimsy hood.
Professional reviewers rate the lens 4.2-4.5/5, praising its sharpness, compactness, fast silent AF and excellent low-light performance, while noting chromatic aberration at wide apertures, focus breathing, and a less premium plastic build.
Everyday users appreciate the feather-light feel, sharp images on high-resolution bodies, and versatility across stills and video, but complain about chromatic aberration at f/1.8, focus breathing, and the plastic feel.
Professional reviewers commend the Viltrox 25mm f/1.7 for its impressive sharpness and video-friendly features, while noting flare, bokeh quirks and the absence of weather sealing.
Everyday users overwhelmingly praise the lens's sharpness and lightweight nature, but note flare in backlit scenes and the plastic feel.
Professional reviewers consider the lens a compelling budget alternative for APS-C portrait work, praising its solid 10-element design and quiet STM, but note the absence of an aperture ring and slower AF compared with native lenses.
Everyday users consistently praise sharpness, color accuracy, metal construction and low-light capability, while common complaints focus on AF hunting in dim light, softness wide open, and the need for Windows for firmware updates.
Reviewers praise its build and portability, yet caution that optical compromises prevent it from matching native OEM lenses.
Users love the tiny footprint and metal feel, but frequently note autofocus miss-focus and strong vignetting.
