Canon RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 Lens vs Meike 85mm F1.8 SE Mark II STM AF Full Frame Medium Telephoto Auto Focus High Resolution 8K Portrait Prime Lens Compatible with Sony E Mount Mirrorless Cameras A7R A7IV A7R IV A7III A7SIII A7C A7CII

Price Comparison

The Canon RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 Lens is significantly more affordable than the Meike 85mm F1.8 SE Mark II STM AF, priced at $87.00 compared to $229.99. This makes the Canon lens about 62% cheaper than its counterpart. While both lenses are positioned in different segments of the market—zoom versus prime—the price gap reflects their distinct purposes and feature sets. The Canon’s lower cost stems from being a compact zoom designed for APS-C sensors, whereas the Meike offers a premium prime with a wider aperture and full-frame compatibility. For budget-conscious photographers seeking versatility without high investment, the Canon presents a compelling value proposition.

Zoom Versus Prime Focal Length

The Canon RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 Lens offers a versatile zoom range of 18–45mm, making it ideal for everyday shooting, travel, and dynamic scenes where focal length flexibility is essential. In contrast, the Meike 85mm F1.8 SE Mark II STM AF is a fixed focal length prime lens, optimized for medium telephoto work such as portraits, architectural shots, and landscapes. The Meike’s 85mm focal length provides a natural perspective for human subjects, while the Canon’s zoom range allows users to adjust framing quickly without changing lenses. The choice between them hinges on whether you prioritize adaptability across multiple scenarios (Canon) or consistent optical performance in a single, specialized focal length (Meike).

Aperture and Low-Light Performance

The Canon RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 Lens has a variable maximum aperture that ranges from f/4.5 at 18mm to f/6.3 at 45mm, which limits its low-light capability and background blur potential. The Meike 85mm F1.8 SE Mark II STM AF, however, features a constant wide aperture of f/1.8, enabling superior light gathering and shallower depth of field for dramatic bokeh effects. This makes the Meike far better suited for low-light photography and creating artistic separation between subject and background. The f/1.8 aperture also supports faster shutter speeds, reducing motion blur in dim environments—something the Canon cannot match due to its narrower maximum aperture.

Image Stabilization and Sharpness

The Canon RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 Lens includes optical image stabilization that delivers up to 4 stops of shake correction, increasing to up to 6 stops when paired with an EOS R-series camera featuring in-body image stabilization (IBIS). This combination enhances handheld shooting in low light and reduces blur during video capture. The Meike 85mm F1.8 SE Mark II STM AF does not mention any built-in stabilization system, relying solely on user technique or camera body IBIS if available. However, the Meike claims sharpness and high resolution suitable for 8K output, supported by 11 elements in 7 groups and multi-coated optics to reduce flare and ghosting. While the Canon emphasizes stabilization, the Meike focuses on optical clarity and color fidelity.

Autofocus and Operational Smoothness

Both lenses use stepping motors (STM) for smooth and quiet autofocus, ensuring minimal noise during video recording and discreet focusing in quiet environments. The Canon RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 Lens offers 100% x 100% Dual Pixel CMOS AF coverage on APS-C sensors and 80% x 80% coverage on full-frame cameras in crop mode. The Meike 85mm F1.8 SE Mark II STM AF supports AF, electronic aperture adjustment, and EXIF information transmission, indicating full integration with modern mirrorless systems. Both lenses provide silent operation, but the Canon’s autofocus coverage is more extensive on APS-C bodies, while the Meike’s focus performance is likely optimized for portrait precision due to its prime design.

Build and Compatibility

The Canon RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 Lens is specifically designed for APS-C sensors with the RF mount and automatically enables a 1.6x crop mode when used on full-frame EOS R-series cameras. This ensures optimal performance on smaller sensors while maintaining compatibility with larger ones. The Meike 85mm F1.8 SE Mark II STM AF is compatible with Sony E-mount mirrorless cameras including A7, A7R, A7III, A7SIII, and A7C series, supporting both full-frame and APS-C models—where it effectively becomes a 127.5mm equivalent lens. The Meike also features a Type-C firmware upgrade interface, allowing online updates for improved performance. The Canon lacks such a feature, suggesting less future-proofing despite its compact size and retraction mechanism.

Which should you buy?

Choose the Canon RF-S18-45mm F4.5-6.3 Lens if you need a lightweight, affordable zoom lens for APS-C cameras with strong image stabilization and broad focal flexibility—especially if you're already invested in Canon’s ecosystem. It’s $142.99 cheaper than the Meike and excels in everyday versatility. Opt for the Meike 85mm F1.8 SE Mark II STM AF if you prioritize a fast f/1.8 aperture, exceptional bokeh, and high-resolution imaging for portraits or creative photography, particularly on Sony E-mount systems. Despite its higher price, it delivers superior low-light performance and optical quality tailored for professional-grade results. Your decision depends on whether you value adaptability and affordability (Canon) or specialized performance and image quality (Meike).