----- advertisement -----
Recommended
----- advertisement -----

Lens review

2007-10-14
 

Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II

11. Summary

Pros:

  • insignificant chromatic aberration
  • unnoticeable distortion
  • good anti-reflection coats
  • satisfactory resolution
  • moderate price
Cons:
  • plastic and not really solid casing
  • plastic bayonet
  • lack of the manual focusing scale
  • loud and unreliable autofocus
What can we write about Canon EF 1.8/50 II in our summary? First of all, the evaluation of this lens should be made in relation to its price. Since, when we compare it with its brothers: Canon 50 mm f/1.4 or Canon 50m f/1.0L, then the 1.8/50 will clearly lose.

It is worth to consider it from another point of view. The two below graphs, presenting the comparison of Canon 1.8/50 to a kit zoom of Canon EF-S 18-55 set at 55 mm, will help us with this issue.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - advertisement - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary
Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary

Canon EF-S 18-55 mm kit lens, added to such cameras like 300D, 350D and 20D is not the best one among lenses of course, but we have to admit that its behavior in a 18-35 mm range is quite good however. Cheap zoom lenses however have such a characteristic that they are usually good at the one end of an optical range and they are unsatisfactory at the other at the same time. 18-55 mm model is not an exception here. Its behavior is below our expectations in 45-55 mm focal range.

Many people think to replace Canon KIT lens with something better though, agreeing to spend even 1000-2000 PLN, but there is some other alternative. One should consider Canon EF 1.8/50 lens actually. For less than 400 PLN we can have a lens which is a very good supplement to the kit lens in its weak focal length range.


Sample shots:

Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary
Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/1600 sec, ISO 200
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB
 Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/1000 sec, ISO 200
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.0 MB		 Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/1.8, exp. 1/5000 sec, ISO 100
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.5 MB
Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary
Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/1.8, exp. 1/6400 sec, ISO 100
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.9 MB		 Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/1600 sec, ISO 100
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 4.1 MB		 Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/800 sec, ISO 100
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB
Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary
Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.5, exp. 1/6400 sec, ISO 100
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.5 MB		 Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/1600 sec, ISO 200
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB		 Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/8.0, exp. 1/250 sec, ISO 200
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.1 MB
Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II - Summary
Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/6.3, exp. 1/250 sec, ISO 200
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 5.1 MB		 Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.0, exp. 1/160 sec, ISO 200
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 2.5 MB		 Camera: Canon 20D
Parameters: 50 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/1000 sec, ISO 200
File: JPG, 3504x2336 pix, 3.5 MB


« Previous chapter | Next chapter »
----- advertisement -----

Chapters