Meike announces the release of its AF Air 25mm f/1.7 lens for Fujifilm X, Sony E, and Nikon Z mounts, marking a significant move after resolving patent challenges and bringing a budget-friendly, compact option to contemporary photographers.
Meike has released its AF Air 25mm f/1.7 for Fujifilm X, Sony E and Nikon Z, ending a launch delay that had been shadowed by the dispute over Nikon’s Z-mount communication patent. The lens is on sale now for ¥699 in China and $169 internationally, with black and white versions available. It is the first Meike Air lens to arrive across all three APS-C systems at the same time.
The timing matters because Nikon’s legal challenge had made Chinese third-party Z-mount support look uncertain earlier this year. According to reports from Nikon Rumours and Digital Camera World, China’s CNIPA invalidated Nikon’s patent 202010127062.4 in July, saying it lacked inventiveness. Nikon has a three-month window to appeal, but the ruling has removed the immediate pressure that briefly pushed some Z-mount products off the market.
Meike first showed the Air series at CP+ 2026 in Yokohama, where it presented the 25mm f/1.7 alongside 35mm and 56mm versions. Fujifilm-focused coverage at the time said the lenses were expected in May, so the August release reflects a noticeable slip. The new 25mm follows the same compact brief as the rest of the range, with a stepping motor, silent autofocus and a target audience of travel, street and documentary shooters.
The headline specification is straightforward. Meike lists a 12-element, 9-group optical design, a 9-blade diaphragm, a 0.25m minimum focus distance and a weight of 169g. The 25mm focal length works out to about 37.5mm full-frame equivalent on APS-C, which is close to a classic documentary field of view. A 52mm filter thread should also keep accessory costs low.
On paper, the lens sits in the same value segment as Panasonic’s Lumix G 25mm f/1.7 for Micro Four Thirds: a small, affordable prime with a bright aperture and stepping-motor autofocus. But the Meike’s APS-C coverage and lower launch price position it more directly against budget autofocus primes from Chinese brands, rather than native system lenses that usually cost more. Meike’s earlier 56mm Air launch at $159 suggests the company is building a family of low-cost, lightweight primes around the same formula.
The open question is optical performance. Meike and Viltrox have both used the Air label, and the two families share similar weights, sizes and mount options, which suggests some common manufacturing heritage. Yet Meike’s published optical formula differs from Viltrox’s, so buyers should not assume identical rendering. In practical terms, the new lens is promising on price and portability, but its real test will be independent review once samples are in circulation.
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