Overview of Features: Canon 50mm

Canon offers two mount types for their 50mm, the Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM lens and the Canon EF 50mm f1.8 STM, designed for use on full-frame mirrorless EOS R and DSLR EOS cameras respectively. This prime lens exhibits a high level of sharpness and contrast in its image quality, with minimal distortion, perfect for creative portraits and low-light photos. If you find yourself wondering ‘Is the Canon 50mm 1.8 worth it?’ We’ll just say, that this focal length has earned the title of the ‘Nifty Fifty’ for a reason; it’s versatile enough to work well for nature, architecture, animal, and especially portrait photography.

Canon RF 50mm vs EF 50mm

	RF 50mm F1.8 STM	EF 50mm F1.8 STM
Mount	RF	EF
Maximum aperture	f/1.8	f/1.8
Minimum focusing distance	30cm	30cm
Lens construction	6 elements in 5 groups	6 elements in 5 group
Special low dispersion glass	PMo Aspherical element	-
Special coating	Super Spectra Coating	Super Spectra Coating
Water/dust-resistance	Not supported	Not supported
Aperture blades	7	7
Image Stabilisation	Not supported	Not supported
Filter diameter	43mm	49mm
Maximum diameter and length	Approx. 69.2mm x 40.5mm	Approx. 69.2mm x 39.3mm
Weight	160g	160g

Compact

The 50mm f1.8 Canon lens weighs only 160g making it suitable as part of your compact travel kit or as an everyday lens. Plus, its tough build, close-focusing capability, and instant manual focus override make the 50mm lens’ an excellent lightweight option for your daily shots and on-the-go hybrid content creation.

Fast and quiet AF

Both feature an STM (Stepping Motor) for fast and quiet autofocus performance. Enjoy smooth near-silent STM focusing when shooting movies. This works well when you need to capture audio while filming or when shooting in a noise-sensitive environment.

Low light

These 50mm lenses feature a wide f/1.8 aperture, ideal for producing stunning bokeh that makes your subject ‘pop’ and impactful images at lower ISO, even in low-light shooting environments.

Focus control

Very discreet with a combined focusing and control ring for intuitive control as well as a control focus switch, the RF lens has a 7-blade circular aperture for superb bokeh and focuses to 0.3m so you can bring your subject into sharp focus with beautiful background blur. The EF 50mm, while also being a wide aperture lens, features a minimum focusing distance of 0.35m and the tactile manual focus ring is easy to find and use without taking the camera away from your eye.

Sharp images

Image quality and colour rendering are further improved with a super spectra coating, which prevents flare and ghosting when shooting into the light. The RF version has the addition of an aspherical lens element that provides superior sharpness from centre to edge and reduces chromatic aberration.

FAQs

Does Canon 50mm 1.8 have image stabilisation?

Unfortunately not, the 50mm f/1.8 relies on the in-body stabilisation of your Canon camera to correct types of camera shake that are difficult or impossible with optical IS alone, such as shift and rotational camera shake.

What is the filter thread of the 50mm f1.8?

The 43mm (for the RF lens) or 49mm (for the EF lens) filter thread allows you to add situational filters as needed.

What is the difference between the EF and RF 50mm lenses?

While being of a similarly compact design, the RF lens offers better performance than its EF counterpart and the mirrorless system as a whole is more compact. The RF 50mm f1.8 lens is a great choice for ambient light portraits with a natural, flattering perspective.

Can I use the EF lens on a Canon mirrorless camera?

To use the EF lens with the EOS R system you would need a Canon Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R.