Canon EF 50mm f1.8 Mk II Review  Hot

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Lenses Canon EF / EF-S
User rating
4.4
out of 5
Editor's rating
3.5
out of 5
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Reviewed by:
Editor
Wednesday, 28 November 2007
Average user rating: 4.4 
910 User reviews
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Lens Summary
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Overview

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.

Lens Specifications

Generic Lens Specifications
Lens Type: Prime
IS / VR / OS: None
Min Focal length (mm): 50
Max Focal Length (mm): 50
Number of Elements: 6
Element Groups: 5
Max Aperture: 1.8
Minimum Aperture: 22
Diaphragm Blades: 5
Closest Focus Distance (m): 0.45
Maximum Magnification: 0.15
Filter Type: Screw In
Filter Diameter (mm): 52
Diameter at widest (mm): 68
Lens Length (mm): 41
Weight (g): 130
Release Date: December 1990

Details




Depth-of-Field Data for EF50mm f/1.8 II
[unit:m]
D F1.8 2 2.8 3.5 4 5.6 8 11 16 22
ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD ND FD
Inf. 40.87 Inf. 38.02 Inf. 26.90 Inf. 21.35 Inf. 19.03 Inf. 13.47 Inf. 9.54 Inf. 6.76 Inf. 4.79 Inf. 3.40 Inf.
5 4.47 5.67 4.44 5.73 4.24 6.09 4.08 6.46 3.99 6.70 3.68 7.80 3.32 10.18 2.92 17.91 2.50 Inf. 2.07 Inf.
2.5 2.37 2.65 2.36 2.66 2.30 2.74 2.26 2.80 2.23 2.85 2.13 3.02 2.01 3.31 1.86 3.82 1.69 4.91 1.49 8.25
1.5 1.45 1.55 1.45 1.55 1.43 1.58 1.41 1.60 1.40 1.61 1.37 1.66 1.32 1.74 1.26 1.87 1.18 2.08 1.08 2.48
1 0.98 1.02 0.98 1.02 0.97 1.03 0.96 1.04 0.96 1.04 0.94 1.06 0.92 1.09 0.89 1.14 0.85 1.21 0.81 1.32
0.8 0.79 0.81 0.79 0.81 0.78 0.82 0.78 0.82 0.78 0.83 0.77 0.84 0.75 0.86 0.73 0.88 0.71 0.92 0.68 0.98
0.6 0.59 0.61 0.59 0.61 0.59 0.61 0.59 0.61 0.59 0.61 0.58 0.62 0.57 0.63 0.57 0.64 0.55 0.66 0.53 0.69
0.5 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.50 0.49 0.51 0.49 0.51 0.49 0.51 0.49 0.51 0.48 0.52 0.48 0.52 0.47 0.54 0.46 0.55
0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.45 0.44 0.46 0.44 0.46 0.44 0.46 0.44 0.46 0.43 0.47 0.43 0.48 0.42 0.49
* D = Focusing Distance ND = Near Distance FD = Far Distance Inf. = Infinity

 

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Editor review : Canon EF 50mm f1.8 Mk II
Overall rating (weighted)
3.5
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
2.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
4.0
Canon's 50mm f1.8 II is probably the worst kept lens secret around. It has legendary sharpness and ultra fast f1.8 optics you cannot get more bang for your buck. It is both the lightest and cheapest EF lens available from Canon. Everything apart from the optics seems to be made from cheap plastic (including the lens mount). Picking up the lens alone feels like a cheap toy. When you put it on you camera it's as if there's nothing there.
The plastic fantastic doesn't have a focus scale, or full time manual focus - with its tiny manual focus ring it's hard to focus manually even in the best of situations. It doesn't have a USM focusing mechanism but the old fashioned micro-motor. In use, the AF is a little noisy and buzzy and not particularly fast. Compared to the previous, mark 1, version, the build quality is horrible but this might just be deliberate. Rumor has it that Canon could not sell many copies of the more up-market 50mm f1.4 because photographers were already satisfied with the f1.8, so they made the Mark II less attractive. Certainly, if you hold a mark I and II in your hands you will see where this rumor comes from. What the two lenses share, however, are the same optics.
No zoom lens that I own or have used can quite match the sharpness of the 50mm f1.8. Of course, being a prime lens the 50 is not as flexible as a zoom but, if you're prepared to move your feet, it is very useful. On a crop fact DSLR it is the equivalent of about an 80mm lens which makes a great portrait lens. I also use it in low light situations where I don't want to have to use flash. Crank up the ISO a Bit and mount the 50mm on your Digital Rebel and you can shoot in most party or group situations with the added advantage that the combined weight of this rig is not much more than a point and shoot.
I would not recommend the nifty fifty as your only lens, although I have heard beginners starting out this way. I would recommend it to anyone, especially those on a budget, as an early purchase though - it's so light you may forget that you're carrying it, but when you do remember you will find it very useful. The build quality may be awful but the optics are fantastic. If it breaks after a couple of years you can throw it away and replace it without any regrets.
Why should you care what I think?
My relationship with this item: I have borrowed a friends
Where did you buy this item?: N/A
Price paid: 0
When did you buy this item?: N/A
Conclusions at a glance
Would you recommend this Item: Yes
Pros: Sharp, cheap
Cons: Plastic

User Lens Reviews

Average user rating from: 910 user(s)

Overall rating (weighted)
4.4
Sharpness
4.4
Build Quality
4.4
AF Speed
4.4
Value for Money
4.3
 

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II Camera lens (Macro), Friday, 03 July 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens

I was so surprised that this lens took such wonderful pictures, crystal clear and well well worth the money. it is quiet and works like a charm. Can't wait to find more like these lens. Got a great deal and appreciate the shipper that I purchased it from. Very fast service.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Great lens for novices and pros alike, Friday, 03 July 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
4.3
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
I am by no means a professional photographer, but I am very impressed with what this lens can do. This is the third lens in my collection so far, and am very pleased with the quality of photos that come from it compared to the others I have. It allows you to capture amazing photos in low light conditions, and gives an opportunity to capture images almost exactly as can be seen by the human eye. Some reviews and complained about the plastic housing of the lens, but I have not had an issue. I have had my Canon XTi for about 3 years, and have not broken a single lens. I guess it all depends on how hard you use your things. If you are continually dropping your lenses, you may have an issue. Since I keep everything in a padded case and always have the neck strap on, I have not had a problem.

I would strongly recommend this lens to anyone looking to capture low-light or portrait images, as it seems to excel in both categories for me. Good luck and happy shooting!
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Great Lens, Tuesday, 30 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
4.3
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
4.0
Great Lens! I wish it was Image Stabilized, but for the price, I can't complain. I Guess it is plastic and somewhat cheaply made, but that doesnt bother me since I like the light weight of the lens for carrying and I tend to take care of my lenses.
Over all, A Great Lens!! A must-have for my Rebel T1i
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Fast, Cheep but also cheep, Tuesday, 30 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
3.5
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
3.0
Value for Money
3.0
Great fast lens, f/1.8 for under $100!! does some great outdoor night type shots without a tripod and without cranking the ISO too high!

a little cheep feeling , all plastic, I don't foresee this taking all that much abuse, but for the price, i will just get another later.

AutoFocus speeds are ok, not the quickest, but i have not lost a shot due to focus time!
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Great bang for the buck, Monday, 29 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
4.0
Sharpness
3.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
5.0
What can I say? Is the focus loud? Yep. Is the focus ring a joke? yep. Can you get more bang for the buck? Nope. Unbelievable sharpness for $89.00.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Amazing, Saturday, 27 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
4.0
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
3.0
Value for Money
4.0
The best lens for the price! I shoot in low light. and almost no light at all and get the detail.
Now I know why this lens should be in everyone's camera bag.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Great little lens!!, Friday, 26 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
3.8
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
3.0
Value for Money
4.0
Absolutely love this lens! Some reviews about this product will say that due to it's build quality buy the canon 1.4, instead of spending an extra $200 dollars for a .4 difference in aperture and a metal mount, give this thing a try!! Yes it is made entirely of plastic but for the price and optics it can't be beat.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Unbelievable Value, Thursday, 25 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
5.0
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
5.0
This lens is so light there's no reason not to carry it with you everywhere you go. For < $100, it is super sharp in the center, even wide open at 1.8. It produces a nice bokeh IMHO and, with the addition of an extension tube (I use a 13mm or 21mm), becomes a fantastic macro lens.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Great, Fast Lens, Thursday, 25 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
4.0
I don't regret this purchase one bit. This lens is awesome. The amount of light and speed you get at this price, you can't pass it up.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Worth every penny, an essential lens, Tuesday, 23 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
4.5
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
4.0
I sold my 50mm F1.4 and bought this because I didn't think there was a big difference between them. Honestly, there isn't. Unless you are a pro that shoots with the 1.4 every day then you probably won't be able to tell the difference in picture quality. The build quality is less to be sure, but not any worse than their kit lenses that come with the Rebel series cameras. Also, it doesn't have the USM motor, but it's still faster than most aftermarket brand focusing motors it seems. Get this lens, you won't regret it.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

This should be the first lens you buy, Thursday, 18 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
4.0
If you are new to photography, this lens makes for a great entry level prime lens that will help you understand aperture and show you how selective you have to be when shooting a prime lens.

For the money, you won't be missing one bit and the f/1.8 is great for low light shooting or excellent bokeh.

For those with cameras with HD video capabilities, this lens has the potential to stay on your camera the whole time.

My only complaint is that on a crop sensor, its pretty narrow. This could be a good thing when shooting portraits, but makes it weak for a walk-around lens. Another complaint is that the build is moderate and it's made of plastic. Yet after those two negatives, I still give it 5 stars because it's still such a great lens. I've owned this lens for two years yet it still looks brand new, even after regular use and for the most part, I can deal with the narrowness of the lens.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Not intended for dSLR small-format cameras, Wednesday, 17 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
3.8
Sharpness
4.0
Build Quality
3.0
AF Speed
4.0
Value for Money
4.0
While this is an excellent lens, if you're planning to use it with a small-format dSLR camera such as the Digital Rebel XSi be aware that it is designed for full-format 35mm. On the XSi it is equivalent to a 80mm lens with significantly smaller field of view. Don't forget the 1.6x multiplier (like I did).
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

front focus, Wednesday, 17 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
1.3
Sharpness
1.0
Build Quality
2.0
AF Speed
1.0
Value for Money
1.0
Maybe I had bad luck. I bought this a new 50mm/1.8 from amazon, unfortunately it is front focus. I sent it back to Canon service center twice, first time they replaced the motor (they said the motor was not working well), second time they replaced the barrel (they said the barrel was distorted). But it still has the "front focus" problem. So this lens is almost useless for me, and I almost never used it, and it is still "NEW" in the box.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

A budget prime for the rest of us, Tuesday, 16 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
3.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
4.0
AF Speed
3.0
Value for Money
3.0
I bought this to add an inexpensive fast lens to my gear. It provides great optical quality. I took off one star because of its cheap build. I have used Nikon 50mm f1.8 AF lens which sells for similar price which has much better build quality.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Canon 50mm EF lens, Thursday, 11 June 2009


Overall rating (weighted)
4.8
Sharpness
5.0
Build Quality
5.0
AF Speed
5.0
Value for Money
4.0
- Very fast lens (F1.8)
- Very true in color
- Does not look like a sturdy design, on time can tell.
- Good price ($100)
- Recommended for novice photographers.
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