LensTip.com

Lenses

There are 2161 lenses in our database and 3523 owners opinions.

You can also
compare lenses side-by-side

Search by:

Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II

Pictures:
Specifications:
Manufacturer Canon
Model EF 50 mm f/1.8 II
Lens style Normal
Focal length 50 mm
Maximum aperture f/1.8
Angle of view 46.8 o
Closest focusing distance 0.45 m
Maximum magnification 1:6.67
Minimum aperture 22
Number of diaphragm blades 5
Auto focus type AF
Lens Construction 6 elements / 5 groups
Filter diameter 52 mm
Macro No
Available mounts Canon EF
Dimensions 68.2 x 41 mm
Weight 130 g
Additional information Marketed December 1990
Average rating (31 owners reviews)
Build quality
Optical quality
Value for money

Overall

3.51 Average
Owners reviews (31)
  1. els
    els 30 March 2016, 19:15
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 82.40.x.x
    Owner since: 5 years
    Price:
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: Autofocus. Build quality. Bokeh, Focus ring is useless.

    Pros: Cheap. Sharp when stopped down. Small and lightweight.

    Summary: In spite of being cheap, I consider it quite overrated. The new STM version is a better choice for anyone in the long term.

  2. T
    T 20 October 2015, 05:02
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 82.217.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: 50
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Tacky build quality, plastic mount, noisy AF, often misses focus, has to be handled carefully as a hard knock would break something or knock elements out of alignment. Everyone raves about the image quality, but it is not that impressive for a prime lens. My 24-70 f/4L IS USM zoom lens outperforms it in every way (except possibly quality of bokeh) at 50mm and f/4

    Pros: Sharp, contrasty, good resolution, wide maximum aperture, small, light, takes 52mm filters. Very cheap, especially second-hand. Best "bang for buck" you can get.

    Summary: It has its uses. Some examples: you are on a very tight budget; you are going somewhere where your gear might get stolen; you are mountaineering or Orienteering. But a 50mm prime is supposed to be beyond reproach. If you can save up and buy something better then you should. For quality of construction and for the tactile pleasure of using it this is by far the worst lens I have ever handled.

  3. me
    me 26 September 2015, 19:55
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 87.147.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: 110
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: build quality, noisy AF motor, no usm

    Pros: picture quality, f=1.8 forlow light, full format

    Summary: very good value for 110€

  4. Daniel
    Daniel 2 March 2015, 06:14
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 110.174.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 120
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: Quality is CRAP! More plastic than a toy! AF is noisy. Manual Focus ring is too thin. No internal focusing.

    Pros: Sharpness. Bokeh. Price. Weight

    Summary: A great portrait lens. One that every beginner would do well with. If you have to own a prime, a 50mm would be the one. The quality is terrible though!!!

  5. Alby
    Alby 20 June 2014, 00:47
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 2.31.x.x
    Owner since: 6 months
    Price: £70
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Poor build, poor bokeh, over the top colours, soft up to 2.8.. Very unreliable focus makes it almost unusable!

    Pros: Can produce very sharp pics from F4 if you get focus, very cheap to buy and play about with short term

    Summary: Bought 1.4usm cos got frustrated with unreliable focus.. 50mm 1.4 usm or 40mm 2.8stm are a better buy long term

  6. DigiDinu
    DigiDinu 14 April 2014, 13:07
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 85.2.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 80€
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Build quality is really cheap and looks and feels like that. Autofocus is loud. Optical quality not better than a good zoom. Vignetting is quite heavy if shot wide open on full frame.

    Pros: Good aperture for a very low price. Compact and light.

    Summary: If you need a fast lens and you don't want to pay a lot then this is for sure an economical choice.

  7. evogt500
    evogt500 27 March 2014, 03:43
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 67.169.x.x
    Owner since: 6 months
    Price: $80 USD
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Noisy AF. Manual focus ring difficult to use. Cheap plastic construction. 5 aperture blade diaphragm makes bokeh into pentagons.

    Pros: Very good image quality. Quick but noisy AF. Easy to fix when broken.

    Summary: If you can deal with the cons of this lens, you will be happy with the image quality.

  8. Mister Spaccato
    Mister Spaccato 28 January 2014, 10:21
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 151.66.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price:
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Entirely made of plastics. The manual focus gear is impossibe to use. A bit soft wide open. The 5 blades aperture renders highlights as pentagons if stopped down (it may look cool in some situations :D)

    Pros: Image quality of this lens is on par with much more complex and expensive lenses. Very light and compact.

    Summary: Very good image quality at a bargain price. You just can't skip this.

  9. RJ
    RJ 24 January 2013, 18:59
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 82.181.x.x
    Owner since:
    Price:
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Worst in this lens is bokeh, it is simply awful. Not with all backgrounds but it can really spoil your pictures. Of course if you just need a fast prime and don't value artistic aspects very much this could be a lens for you. Manual focus is almost unusable. You have to switch af off and focus ring is a bad joke.

    Pros: Good optics at low price.

    Summary: I got mine free with the body I bought used and got very soon rid of it. I would spare money for a while and buy 50/1.4

  10. Wolf
    Wolf 23 January 2013, 15:33
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 95.178.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 50 Euro
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Built quality...low plastic lens.

    Pros: Great and sharp lens , on APS-C is very good for portrait. From f2.8 it is very sharp lens , on f1.8 is soft corners like other prime 50mm lenses... Best sharpnes is from f4 to f8

    Summary: Very good lens for value.

  11. JiMu
    JiMu 15 July 2012, 04:39
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 84.173.x.x
    Owner since: 3 years
    Price: 80€
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: Quite a bad build quality, plastic mount, not a solid lens

    Pros: Very nice image quality, very sharp images, good amount of light and a shallow depth of field if needed - and all of it for a low price.

    Summary: Very nice lens for both portraits (especially on an APS-C camera) and product photography (when stopped down). I'm very sad they didn't keep the build quality of the late 50mm 1.8 FD lenses, which were optically similar or identical but felt much better.

  12. M22
    M22 21 May 2012, 22:35
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 188.106.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: 100 €
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: build quality is just a bad joke; manual AF is almost unusable; bokeh can be very nervous and ugly; contrast and sharpness wide open is not impressive; AF is loud and inaccurate

    Pros: low price; very sharp from f/2.8 on; weights nothing

    Summary: Good lens for trying out fast primes, but the build quality and AF-system is so 1980s ... if you can afford it, go directly to the 50 1.4.

  13. AlexJ
    AlexJ 28 March 2012, 14:31
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 60.240.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: $130 AUD
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: Won't take much abuse, slightly soft wide open (though still usable). Bokeh can be harsh on certain backgrounds. Autofocus is weak in lowlight on my 550D. Manual focus ring is useless.

    Pros: Crisp at f/2.2 and very sharp from f/2.8 onward. Absolutely no lateral CA and distortion is minimal. Autofocus is effective on a 5D, or when using an AF assist lamp

    Summary: Makes a perfect second lens, especially for someone interested in portraits. It's a perfect social lens, sharp but the small size and full plastic build makes it non-intimidating. Canon's 50mm 1.4 only really has the full time manual focus, better build and better bokeh at more than twice the price. The 50mm f/1.8 is exceptional value.

  14. wmaldito
    wmaldito 10 February 2012, 19:20
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 79.147.x.x
    Owner since: 6 months
    Price: 110
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Weak, without lens hood, soft construction to f1.8 at edges.

    Pros: Sharp from f/2.8, focus fast and quite accurate.

    Summary: Good lens for APS-C (equivalent to 85 mm EOS 50D) portrait

  15. tukai
    tukai 12 October 2011, 21:24
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 115.117.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: $110
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: poor manual focus ring causing pinpoint focusing very difficult, loud autofocus, persistant front focusing(very annoying), hi degree of missfocusing in lowlight.

    Pros: very good optical quality for this price, upto f1.8, almost no CA,.

    Summary: only buy this lens if IQ is your prime importance & you tight on your budget.

  16. Stel121
    Stel121 26 July 2011, 16:59
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 78.158.x.x
    Owner since: 6 months
    Price: 84 Euro
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: All plastick

    Pros: Sharpe, colors, good for night (low light) esepcialy if your camera cant go more than 1600 ISO

    Summary: Feels like toy, is light and fast on focus i can say. For the money is fantastic.

  17. Quarl
    Quarl 29 June 2011, 04:02
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 87.2.x.x
    Owner since: 3 years
    Price: 60 €
    User profile: Professional

    Cons: indecent build quality, inaccurate autofocus, image quality at f/1.8, unusable manual focus ring

    Pros: Excellent image quality from f/2.8.Lightweight.

    Summary: Good if you have a low budget, otherwise save your money for a better prime

  18. Lex
    Lex 24 June 2011, 00:34
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 92.152.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: 100
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: Trop plastique à mon gout (too plastic) AF lent et bruyant (AF slow and noisy)

    Pros: Très léger (very light) Petit (Small) Images superbes (Beautifull pictures)

    Summary: Un super 50mm, une super image, léger, il peut s'emporter partout, et pour les portraits, c'est impeccable ! A good 50mm, good picture, light, you can take it anywhere, and for the faces picture, it's perfect !

  19. AllenIL
    AllenIL 1 June 2011, 18:20
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 98.228.x.x
    Owner since: 6 years
    Price: 90
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: slow focus

    Pros: light weight, low cost, good optics

    Summary: It is funny that many people expect lens to withstand falling to concrete ground. Which other lens you want to drop? Anyway, I found that it is extremely convenient to use it on T2i. I can put it in my coat pocket without carrying a bag. I just wish to have another one good value lens at 24 or 35mm

  20. Alberto
    Alberto 7 April 2011, 13:34
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 93.42.x.x
    Owner since: 3 months
    Price: 100€
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Plasticky build, noisy slow and imprecise autofocus, awful manual focus ring, a bit unsharp at the widest aperture.

    Pros: Extremely cheap, extremely small and lightweight, very wide aperture, very sharp from f/2.8 on, very versatile focal lenght, cheap filter size.

    Summary: A piece of equipment you can't miss! For a ridiculous price you get a 50mm lens which already at f/2.8 gives you very sharp pictures. At f/1.8 the sharpness is not amazing, but still acceptable. It's so small and lightweight you can easily carry it around in your pocket. A perfect travel lens to be paired with a multipurpose zoom for low-light situations. Focal lenght, although fixed, is a very useful and versatile one. Build is very cheap, but in my opinion it feels better than the typical 18-55 kit lenses. Pay attention to the focus, sometimes it engages the wrong target, especially when you use valutative exposure meter.

  21. Bioibon
    Bioibon 9 March 2011, 17:27
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 150.241.x.x
    Owner since: 3 years
    Price: 85 euro
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Toy plastics and construction. Noisy and imprecise AF. Unusable manual focus ring.

    Pros: Better IQ than 50 1.4! Amazing at this price.

    Summary: Best 50mm for little money. Unfortunatly, the build quality is a joke.

  22. Ywo
    Ywo 25 February 2011, 17:37
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 213.151.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: 100€
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: plastic

    Pros: everything else

    Summary: excellent chooice for amateurs!

  23. Che
    Che 12 February 2011, 02:06
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 109.186.x.x
    Owner since: 3 months
    Price: 120 dollar
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Lousy auto focus. Flares.

    Pros: Very sharp - produces great pictures, especially stepped down 2-3 stops. Very light. Low price.

    Summary: It's my low light lens - almost never used with daylight, when it has flare issues. A wonderful lens for low light work. When possible, recommend to stop down to 2.2 or further - get's sharper. Beautiful shallow depth of field. On the other hand, if you need large depth of field - this one is not for you. 50 mm on 1.6 crop sensor gives 80 mm - perfect portrait lens. However, I seldom use auto focus - loud slow and lousy, mostly use manual focus.

  24. Liamnardos
    Liamnardos 2 December 2010, 02:38
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 58.175.x.x
    Owner since: 6 months
    Price: $100 Austr
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Build Quality - its all plastic! Focussing Ring is annoying, especially for video work.

    Pros: Price - a bargain ANYWHERE Optical Quality - this is easily the best optical quality you will get for $100 - most other lenses of similar quality cost around $400-500! F-stop - again, amazing for the price you pay, creates great background blur which is brilliant for video work or portrait photography.

    Summary: While I own the 18-55mm kit lens, which is a lot more practical (especially the 18mm wide side) I never use it, because it just looks rubbish compared to this lens. Low light video is also dazzling on the 550D, with the bokeh just looking brilliant. While you can buy better 50mm primes, they would set you back at least 4 to 5 times more. A great lens for a great price :D

  25. canoner
    canoner 20 October 2010, 06:24
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 202.155.x.x
    Owner since: 1 month
    Price: 85
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: - Poor Autofocus precision - Plastic casing

    Pros: - Cheap price - satisfactory resolution and bokeh

    Summary: For $85, it's amazing lens

  26. Feby
    Feby 22 September 2010, 18:47
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 24.130.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: 110$
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: Build quality... Manual focus is difficult..

    Pros: Price, Sharpness, 1.8!, awesome low light capability, blurry bg. ok bokeh...

    Summary: A must buy! A great portrait lens... Recommend 200%!

  27. Nikonicus
    Nikonicus 13 June 2010, 23:06
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 80.4.x.x
    Owner since: 6 months
    Price:
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Plastic mount, manual focus hard with tiny ring

    Pros: A gem of a lens in nearly all respects: great for low light wide-open, sharp, distortion free, decnt bokeh, light and perfect for portraits on 1:6 DSLRs.

    Summary: Fabulous bargain, not worth the extra money for the 1.4

  28. Plasma
    Plasma 14 March 2010, 19:08
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 95.222.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: 50 Euro
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Completely made of plastic; significant frontfocus on my sample (3-4 cm); AF pulsing; very thin fous ring (hard to use even with small fingers)

    Pros: Very nice in lowlight (1.8); sharp if focussed manually; small & light

    Summary: Good value, fun to use, but who wants to use this focal length more often should consider other lens

  29. bEnE91
    bEnE91 8 January 2010, 17:13
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 79.192.x.x
    Owner since: 6 months
    Price: 100€
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: build quality is not the best .. + AF strikes sometimes ..

    Pros: f1.8 - great sharpness (in combination with a EOS 450D great for portraits)

    Summary: Amazing lens for the price of ~ 100€. Even if the build qualitiy is a bit too cheap for me I would buy it again and again , because if you are an amateur you can not afford at an L lens ;)

  30. Ilya Snopchenko
    Ilya Snopchenko 21 October 2009, 10:04
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 92.101.x.x
    Owner since: 1 year
    Price: ~ $ 110
    User profile: Semipro

    Cons: - The build quality is notorious. It cost my copy of this lens its life (and by that point it accumulated LOTS of dust beneath the front element, despite sporadic use). - 5 aperture blades produce "USSR quality mark" bokeh at wide apertures. - MF ring very poor, just a little better than that of a 18-55 kit zoom.

    Pros: - Sharp when stopped down a bit. - Decent even wide open (on an APS-C body mind you). - Very compact and lightweight.

    Summary: My lens was killed when it fell out of a backpack just 0.5 m above ground - a fall that both Tokina 12-24 and Sigma 15-30 have survived and continued to provide sharp pictures. But in the (exact) year that I had it, it helped me in low light situations a lot, or whenever I felt like bridging the focal length gap between my 17-35 and 70-200 lenses. It's the first choice for any Canon shooter on budget.

  31. MasterB
    MasterB 23 June 2009, 01:31
    Build quality
    Optical quality
    Value for money

    Overall

    IP 217.96.x.x
    Owner since: 2 years
    Price: 100 USD
    User profile: Amateur

    Cons: Build quality - plastic all around, except for lens of course. Narrow and not at all precise manual focusing ring.

    Pros: Optical quality is superb. For lens that cost $100 you can't really ask for more.

    Summary: Very good lens for it's price, just don't expect it to survive a fall on concrete from height over 1 inch ;)

Add your opinion

Build quality 0 1 2 3 4 5
Optical quality 0 1 2 3 4 5
Value for money 0 1 2 3 4 5