Great review Chris, it's pretty impressive isn't it. Canon have done a fantastic job with these new STM lenses. Keep making excellent videos, do appreciate them. All the best, Chris
Chris Winter The new STM lens is being underrated in this video. It focuses faster than the old lens did and has much improved bokeh too. I just watched a review live-testing the lenses to demonstrate these points. Ha ha I just realised that the person I was referring to is YOU!!
cooloox No, the older 'mark ii' lens is much faster to autofocus (but much louder). Take a look at my review of that lens to see the autofocus footage, and compare with this lens.
Christopher Frost Photography What makes it hard is that you don't tell us what you are doing. When you were autofocusing this new lens you didn't say whether you were tapping the screen to shift focus from one object to another or whether you were just pressing the shutter button half-way and letting the camera decide which object to focus on. In a busy scene no-one would let the camera decide. Just for the record though - I love your reviews and always watch them :-) It was a just unusual this time coming straight from another review showing the superior focusing to hear you saying the opposite. In the other video the reviewer made it very clear what he was doing and the newer lens was noticeably faster (with his testing method). Can I ask you a question please? Do you know how the original 50mm f/1.8mm lens compares optically to the series 2 and the new STM versions? I have the original from years ago when it came with an SLR film camera. The original had an all metal lens mount, unlike the series 2, which is strange.
cooloox I'm planning to do a review of the Mark 1 lens one day, but optically it is the same. When it comes to autofocus differences between the Mark ii lens and the STM lens: The STM lens may be a little faster in liveview mode, as STM is more efficient that way. But in normal shooting the Mark ii lens is clearly faster. Check out my review of the Mark ii lens and you will see that it focuses faster (while making more noise). Best
Just got one of these for my 2000D after using the standard kit lens for a few months... And as a hobbyist, my life is complete. This feels like and takes pictures like the 50mm on my '80s full manual film camera. I'm in love with this thing.
I wish they would release a 35mm f/1.8 simuliar to this lens at a sumuliar price point. It would make so much sense, as most people who buy this 50mm use APC, so 35mm would make more sense. What do you think, Chris? As always, great work!
Björn Willimzig There's one already available. Check out my review of the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 ART lens. MAke sure it's the ART version of the lens. And check DigitalRev for some good prices :-)
Thanks so much for this review; its many years after you have published it but it still helped me when I purchased one of these today. I evaluated the RF 50, but at the price I paid, and given that I already have an EF/RF converter, I’m happy with the “old” EF lens. Thanks for all the great work over so many years: I don’t buy a lens before seeing what you have to say about it!
My God! This was SUCH a great review! I've just entered the world of DSLRs and Lenses, and you, Sir, just won a new subscriber, more importantly, a fan! I've seen numerous reviews of the same, but I've never really understood the entire jist of the products, until I stopped by your channel! Keep up the amazing work, buddy!
Just add this lens to my collection and I’m so glad I did. I’m not a a photographer I’m a beginner still but even I can see how much better is for the pictures.
Who would have thought i will be watching this review again after 5 years. I just bought the mark ii version of this lens from a nearby thrift store for $20. I was smiling on my way home. Now im using my 5dmkiii again more often after buying this nifty fifty.
I've got a 6D and bought all my lenses following your reviews. Thank you very much. - I bought the 50mm Mk II years ago, and now it broke. Today I received the STM as a replacement and I have two things to remark to your review/comparison: the Mk II and the STM are very similar in size, I do not see that the new lens is more pancakeish. Secondly, for being supposed to have the same optics, I was very surprised to find the 52mm filter thread of the Mk II has shrunk to 49mm on the STM. Finally, the STM is _noticably_ slower focussing, but also _noticably_ more silent. Very much worth the money. Thank you again for all your fantastic reviews!
On an APSC camera, I went for the 40mm 2.8 stm "pancake" lens instead. My reasoning is the 50mm has the angle of view as a 80mm on full frame where the 40mm is like a 64mm which is closer to a normal field of view. The 50mm is not that great wide open and the 40mm is still better in the corners than the 50mm at f/2.8. The 40mm has lower distortion as well. It is also pretty low in cost and very small. I also picked up the 24mm stm. which is also a great lens.
Thank you again for an excellent review Christopher. I have had my Canon 70D for less than a year and you have opened my eyes as to what lens to purchase. I recently picked up a Canon 50mm F1.8 STM lens based on your review. I admire those who can take a complicated subject and bring it down so as a child can understand. Well done. I am very thankful the Holy Spirit led me to your site. Congratulations on the engagement and pending wedding.
This is an excellent review which realistically assesses the lens and shows the main areas they improved it. All I would add is that I personally find that the lens is compromised in the one area I specifically bought it for - in low light shooting with my 6D, I cannot rely on it to focus accurately. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't, depending on light levels and subject contrast. I can tell when it's going to miss according to whether or not it refocuses (which it will do in a different place) when I repeatedly half-press the shutter without moving the camera. In these circumstances I find I get about one out of three or four shots correctly focused. Interestingly the 40/2.8 STM doesn't appear to suffer from this problem, which I've read might be caused by some particular facet of the 50/1.8's optical performance wide open.
Bro..you have prety good voice... what mic do you use bro??? I have behringer b1 and focusrite for audio interface.. but the voice is horrible.. please reply me bro.. thanks for your honest...
Christopher Frost Photography thank you folks... i use behringer b1... but bro.. your breath and your lips sound still annoying... not clear like movie dubbing on television...
Great review as usual. I noticed that Christopher Frost is the only reviewer to say the new STM version has slower AF than the old version. That has been my observation as well. I have to assume that people are so thrilled with the smoother, quieter STM AF, they don't even notice it is actually slightly slower than the old version. While it is slightly slower, I much prefer the new STM AF on this lens as it is still fast enough for most types of photography.
So, if I don't want Bokeh (I want clean and crisp background), this 50mm is not for me? I got 80D. Do you recommend any other lens to get crisp background?
Very nice review, you gained a subscriber! I was wondering if you could help me with my issue. I'm between this lens or the 50mm 1.4 USM lens, is it worth the price difference? Is the 1.4 sharper than the 1.8 at smaller apertures(for example, both at F1.8 or smaller)? I normally shoot at night, so that extra aperture is useful to me, but maybe is better to save up for a camera with better noise performance (I actually shoot on old 450D with a 50mm 1.4 Nikon lens from an old Nikon F2 camera, but I'm struggling to focus and I feel that the pictures are very soft), and also I will shoot moving objects at dayligh (cars) Is the STM gonna struggle at focusing or is it as good and fast as the UltraSonic motor? Thank you very much and happy new year!
I don't think the Canon 50mm f/1.4 is worth the extra price but it would be good to set your sights on upgrading from the little 50mm f/1.8 STM someday in the future
Appreciate this video, even though I'm a Nikon shooter...the nifty fifty is a great walkaround lens that LOVE for its compactness and sharp images...Thanks for your info!
+Christopher Frost Photography, I had the previous MKII version of the lens, which I recently gave to a friend's daughter. I have the sigma 17-50 2.8 HSM on my 70D, which my wife and I love, and you highly recommended. If I am going to have to stop the canon 50 STM to 2.8, and the sigma is already quite good wide open at 50 2.8, is there a place in my bag for the Canon? We have the 24 pancake, 40pancake, and the STM kit(which we unfortunately have to keep for video because of the Sigma's AF noise). Any advice is appreciated. You do great work!
Will purchase this in a couple of days for my 1200D! Wondering how my photography will change after changing lenses. Excited to see what I can do with it :) I'm feeling really limited by the kit lens
With all that ghosting at 1.8 why would you even shoot with it at that? It was very soft, and while I was really considering this, especially for lower light shooting, it doesn't look like the best idea. I have a 7D and I just need a replacement lens, and super low budget so, not sure what I should do. Thanks for this in depth review!
I just made a focus compare with Tamron 24-70 2.8 mk1 and I can tell U the canon 50mm 1.8stm much more sharper! It is not just sharper but the difference is giant!
Hi Chris! As always, great video! Just a question, I have the Canon 40mm 2.8 but I would like a bigger aperture, do you suggest me to change my pancake for this new 50mm STM? In terms of sharpness, however, the 40mm has surely the edge!
Greetings! I just took my nifty fifty ef lens and it's not as noisy as yours. Is there a possibility canon has done some gear upgrade to the next stock or something?
Hate you sold your 70D, but nothing wrong with your 60D. Also the 80D may be coming out next summer anyway. But more importantly, best wishes to you and your bride-to-be on getting married soon. I truly hope the best for you both.
I'm new to photography with a good camera and got an EOS 400D which is in really good condition. It cam with the STM lens . This video has been helpful.
F2.8 on a 50 still shallower than on a 40mm f2.8 because of its higher focal lenght and both of them are sharp on f2.8...so it if you want a portrait lens, get the 50 1.8 stm but step down to f2.8 and the 50 still cheaper in price..... but Chris can you compare the sigma or the canon 17-50-55 2.8 between the canon 24,40,50 on f2.8...if the sigma or the canon can be a better choice than this 3 prime lens, especially the sigma has a wider focal lenght and os
Would you recommend buying this over the lens kit Rebel EOS T5i?? I have the camera and the lens is ok I guess but I feel I can take much better photos. Great video btw.
hi, I've recently got this lens and love the picture quality but they make a weird noise in manual focus. like a groaning squeaking noise, very hard to explain, thought i had a dud but loads of people have complained about it on line so seems they all do it. have you experienced it? other stm prime lenses seem to also suffer this noise. Regards stuart.
Chris, this all nice and well. But when will you finally review the Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm f/0.7? Kubrik told me it is good value for money, but I really need your review to know how it performs on my 6D!
Hi Christopher, do you think this lens would be an addition to my kit for low light situations? I already own a Tamron 24-70 2.8 G2 and have a Canon 6D. In low light i would like to have a little more light to reduce my ISO. Thank you in advance!
I have the 50D and the 6D cameras and so it is great to see a review with cameras I own. Sadly, I ordered this so when I do video of my cats you won't hear the lens as it was advertised on Canon's website that STM lenses are quiet, so I'm disappointed about that. Great review
I was waiting for your review of this lens. your videos are the best in this matter, at least in my opinion, thank you very much for this. I have a question a little out of subject: Which one would you pick to use with extension tubes, this lens or the 24mm STM?
Thanks for your video- I just got the 50mm f1.8 STM lens- but I've found even in manual focus the focus ring has some friction to it and if in video you want to rack focus quickly the faster turning of the focus ring kicks in the friction and that friction makes quite a loud noise which could be picked up by a mic too- lessened if you want to rack focus slower but what about fast focus racking? Is this something you've noticed too or do I have a dud? Thanks for your feedback!
Christopher Frost Photography I've since compared my 50mm f1.8 STM lens to another in a camera store and the one on the store also has the friction/sound in manual focus mode..
Hi Chris, thanks for this excellent review? Which 50mm lenses are sharper? This lens is indeed a major improvement in its build quality compared to its predecessor. I prefer the metal mount over the plastic mount. Best wishes, Ralf
Great videos, thank you, I'm enjoying your channel a lot. Regarding this video, I was considering getting this lens along with a Viltrox speed booster 0.71 for my Canon M50, instead of getting the Sigma 56mm f1.4, or the similar new Viltrox 56mm, do you think this would be a good choice? the 50mm should give an aperture equivalent to almost f1.2 on with a speed booster, and in case I upgrade to full-frame in the future, I would have compatible lenses, but I'm worried that there are not many reviews out there on using this lens with a speed booster on an APS-C, and someone mentioned that this lens on an APS-C shows a pink chromatic aberration even in the center when on f1.8, any advice you can give me here? I mainly need a portrait lens.
Hi Pal. I just want to ask, will the 50mm STM 1.8 be any sharper than my kit 18-55mm on my T3i? I am considering to get the 50mm 1.8 STM as my second lens to my 18-35 Sigma 1.8. I am just after the zoom since the Sigma is so limiting. But if the 5omm STM will be sharper, then I will take it. Thanks.
I don't understand something... The canon EF 50mm 1.8 is a real 50mm for fullframe like 6D and he is about 80mm for apsc (50*1.6). BUT when i take my kit lense (18-55 EF-S, so he does not work with fullframes), the 55mm should be a real 55mm on my apsc right ?? because when i compare my 1.8 with my kit (zooming at 55mm) , the kit lense is still more zoom in... I don't know if u understand what i am telling u, but it seems that the 1.8 is not zooming like a 80mm... i though i understood everything about sensors ... (I HAVE A 500D which is an apsc...)
@Christopher FP, can you please tell me which software you used to edit your photos and videos? Is there suggestion for software that is not complicated like Photoshop or Lightroom?
So I’m an actress and when I have an audition the biggest issue for me is slating my full body. I’m 5’8 so I am always trying to back the camera up so far and then it doesn’t focus on me. Is this the camera lens I need for that? I have a cannon eos mark ii
Hi Chris. I have watched many of your reviews and I value your judgment. I thought you might be able to help me out here. I have just bought the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM lens and for pictures it seems fine but when I tried doing video with it it showed very strong green lines on some of the terracotta tiles of roofs that I was filming. The roofs nearest the lens seemed fine but in the distance that horrible green fringing came. Is there any recommendations you can give me. Many thanks in advance. I know you are a very busy person so I do not expect a reply, but I do hope you will. I am using a Canon 700D for this.
Hi Chris, it's been a while since I last commented but I've been watching you as usual. There's two things I wonder: first one, does this work better on FF or ASP-C? Seeing the issues and at which f-stop they get solved I have a mixed feeling, even though being this a cheapo it's more common on cheaper APS-C as you usaid(even tho there's tons of pros shooting professional work with Canon's 50mm 1.8 II and this is even better). Second thing: you mentioned "better 50mm 1.8's, even if not at this price". Could you name a few? I'm asking because I thought that if you wanted to get more "premium" stuff you'd go for the 1.4, I actually didn't think about more pricey 1.8's.
I used to own this lens and it is indeed very sharp, I gave it away to a friend. Recently I bought Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 (so that I don't have to buy every prime lens 24, 40, 50mm) and it is extremely sharp as well. Also I believe, Canon 50mm is not so much usable at F1.8 anyway. The question I have is that is this lens at F2.8 sharper than Sigma 17-50mm at 50mm F2.8?
Hey, i got the old 50mm ii lense from canon. With the old lense on my canon eos 1100d i have the problem that the autofocus isn't focusing right on every picture. Especially when the non cross tile focus points are selected. Did that improve with this new STM lense? Good reviews by the way ;)
Do you think the sigma 17-50 f2.8 is as sharp or sharper than this lens? Thinking of selling my older canon 50mm 1.8 and the kit lens and going with the sigma to downsize my inventory. Going from f1.8 to 2.8 doesn't bother me, it's the image quality im curious about, cheers
Is it normal to take forever to focus with this lens? Sometimes it is not responsive at all, I just wonder whether the camera or the lens is faulty. Most of the time, it only works when I have to keep turning anticlockwise for a long time to find the focus point.
+Amy Le Make sure it's switched to manual focus, if you're trying to focsu manually. If you're talking about autofocus performance, then it sounds like either your camera or your lens aren't feeling too well.
Hi Christopher, thank you for the helpful review! One question, in manual focus mode, did you experience a weird grinding noise when turning the dial? It's not loud, but definitely noticeable.
Hello Chris I have the older version of this lens and lately whenever I shoot vertical with the lens is never seems to focus. Have you heard of this issue before. shooting horizontal it focus great. I cannot get it to focus for a full body shot with room on the top and bottom of the frame.
I've had a Canon for a few years, and I just purchased this lens. I think I'm missing something.....how do you zoom with this lens? On my last lens, I would manually turn the wheel on the lens to zoom in and out, but on this lens, it just changes the focus. Do I need an add on lens to zoom? Thanks!
Someone agrees with me that Canon should offer either a combo of the 50mm 1.8 stm plus an adapter for M mount or just this lens for M mount? Having to buy the lens and adapter separately is not ideal.
Hi Chris, I'm using a 70D currently and into portrait and wedding photography. I have this 50mm STM. Its really nice for portraits on crop body. But other than that which lenses would you suggest for my style? I won't be upgrading to FF in near future so APSC lenses would be fine.
+Shreyas Pade Depends on if you'd like a wider angle or more telephoto, really. Personally I quite like the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 ART - it gives loves pictures. If you want something more telephoto, then Venus optics are releasing a very interesting looking manual focus portrait lens soon, a 105mm f/2 lens with a special filter that gives exceptional bokeh. I'm hoping to review that as soon as I can - it could be a really exceptional portrait lens
+Christopher Frost Photography Generally i like shots taken with my 55-250 kit, torso or headshots. So yeah, I'm more of interested in tele lenses for portraits. 105mm f/2 seems nice on crop body for headshots. Looking forword to your review for the same. Other than that which lenses you would suggest which are currently available?
If there was just some vignetting at f1.8, or a little more edge blur - ok. But it is actually visible less sharp and contrasty at f1.8 even in the center.
You are a really good Photographer Christ. You know why because I watch many camera and lens rewievs and you are the only one who shoot really good images. Maybe, it came from your mastery on lenses I'm not sure.
Dang I did not know that you get sharper image at higher aperture even though it is within DoF. So even though you have a wide len, if you want a sharp image you still need to use higher f number...
When its in manual focus, does the focus ring stop once the lens reaches its furthest and shortest focus distances? That's the one thing I hate about my 55-250 stm...it kinda sucks for manual focusing and won't work with a follow focus.
Looking at buying a 50mm prime for my 70d is the 50mm stm still the best choice even with my crop senor as im guessing it will make it more like a 70mm?
