Samples: Canon EF 50/1.8

Samples: Canon EF 50/1.8

mount: Canon EF
format: Full Frame
year: March 1987 (I) December 1990 (II) May 2015 (STM)
max aperture: f/1.8
min aperture: f/22
elements/group: 6/5
aperture blades: 5 (I,II) 7 (STM, rounded)
min focus distance (mm): 450mm (I,II) 350mm (STM)
filter diameter (mm): 52mm (I,II) 49mm (STM)
length (mm): 42.5mm (I) 41mm (II) 39.3mm (STM)
weight (g): 190 gram (I) 130 gram (II) 160 gram (STM)

There are three versions of this lens, the basic design remained the same, but the STM version has a closer MFD.

Additional information (I): From Canon Camera Museum

This is one of the most popular lenses, having a long history as a standard lens. Compact and lightweight lens with orthodox 6 elements in 5 groups. High image quality with a good balance of aberration correction is obtained throughout the entire focusing range from the closest focusing distance of 0.45m to infinity. Micro-motor operated AF system. This lens was improved to become the model II by simplifying the focusing distance window and manual focus ring.

Additional information (II): From Canon Camera Museum

This is the lightest EF lens of all at a mere 130 g. Compact and high-performance, standard lens. Its Gaussian optics provide sharp delineation from near to far focusing distances. The color balance is excellent for a standard lens.

Additional information (STM): From Canon Camera Museum

The Canon compact, lightweight EF50mm f/1.8 STM offers a fast f/1.8 maximum aperture and a standard 50 mm angle of view, which is comparable to that of the human eye. In addition to maintaining the proven optical design of its predecessor, the new prime lens employs a lens coating that is optimized for shooting with digital cameras to minimize the occurrence of ghosting and flare. Furthermore, it includes a 7-bladed aperture—an improvement over the previous model’s 5-bladed aperture—making possible impressive circular background blur that accentuates the subject. Equipped with a gear-type stepping-motor (STM) drive, the new EF50mm f/1.8 STM achieves autofocusing that is quieter than that realized by its predecessor. In addition, a full-time manual focusing function* allows users to focus manually after autofocusing, even when the lens is in AF Mode. Delivering enhanced operability, the lens offers a minimum focusing distance of 35 cm and a maximum magnification of 0.21x, allowing users to get even closer to their subjects to make possible a wider range of imaging possibilities. The EF50mm f/1.8 STM features a sophisticated exterior design with a premium satin-like finish, a distinctive black ring around the lens barrel and a metal mount.

This thread is open for C&C and for posting additional pictures. Please ONLY post pictures taken with the lens in the title- or start a new thread.
Please state camera, version of the lens and adapter in your post!

This lens arrived by post this morning. For those who don't know it this is Canon's bargain basement nifty, brand new for £129.99 in the Canon UK online shop (£30 student discount available).

Mine was considerably cheaper via Ebay. I bought it to see how Canon lenses would work with my Sony 7Riv and a Commlite AF mount adapter (also Ebay).

All worked well though the testing was very limited. STM lens are, I read, specially developed for video use and are silent in operation - so I had to try silent mode! It is a very quiet lens in operation, but you can hear a click as the aperture closes, but nothing like as loud as Minolta A-mount lenses. If there is any ambient noise I doubt that the person in the next seat would hear it.

The hood is excellent, deep enough to make me believe it will do a good job when the sun reappears. It also has the best fitting of any hood I have experienced to date - a locking bayonet fitting (not a massive selling point as hoods falling off is not something that happens very often, but it's always good to see attention to detail.

AF is good but it does miss occasionally, a second blip on the shutter release and it homes in quickly, not great, but not a big deal with my style of shooting. This may, of course, be down to the adapter. I haven't tried advanced AF modes - Eye AF, tracking etc - but I suspect performance there will depend more on the adapter than this lens.

Optically it's very nice, not stellar, but, considering the price, very good indeed. The obvious comparisons from my collection are the Minolta AF 50mm f1.7 and the Sony DT 50mm f1.8, and it's lighter (when I picked up the parcel, I thought they had forgotten to put the lens in it), smaller, and I have yet to see any CA. If you want a prime on a budget it's well worth considering.


1. Autumn colour.


2. Bokeh - nice and smooth


3. Pub sign - nice and sharp (but I really should get rid of that lamp post).


4. Red cars.


5. Postbox - I just can't resist them,


6. More bokeh.





Edited by Phil Wood - 01 December 2023 at 01:04

There is already a thread for this lens: https://www.dyxum.com/dforum/samples-canon-ef-50-1-8_topic132604.html

This is the third version of the same lens. The first was released in 1987 with the first EOS camera. It was a proper lens. In 1990 they made the mark II version, a cheap plastic lens with plastic mount. One of mine broke:

In 2015 they released the STM version. Same lens but build to a slightly higher standard.