Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Announced May 11, 2015
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a compact, affordable prime that provides a significant handling upgrade over its predecessor with a metal mount and improved focus motor. Although it offers sharp results and attractive background blur for the price, it still exhibits noticeable vignetting and softness at its widest aperture.
Weighted from 22 reviewer scores
Pros
- Quiet, fast, and smooth STM autofocus
- Improved build quality featuring a metal mount
- Excellent sharpness and optical performance for the price
- Compact, lightweight, and versatile handling
- Attractive bokeh with seven rounded aperture blades
Cons
- Strong vignetting and corner softness at wide apertures
- Autofocus is not silent and can be slow
- Bokeh quality can appear busy or smeared
- Lack of weather sealing and basic construction
- No included lens hood and non-standard filter size
- Launch price $129.99 (USD)
- Focal length & aperture 50mm f/1.8
- Mount & coverage Canon EF Full-Frame
- Stabilization None
- Close focus 35 cm (0.21x)
- Filter thread 49mm
- Autofocus motor STM
- Weight & size 160g · 69.2 x 39.2 mm (2.72 x 1.54 in)
What the Reviewers Say
All 22 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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Canon's EF 50mm f1.8 STM finally upgrades the 24 year old EF 50mm f1.8 II with smoother focusing, more rounded aperture blades, closer focusing and a tougher lens mount.
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The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM can certainly produce nicely blurred out-of-focus areas due to the sheer power of its large aperture. However, the technical quality of the bokeh in the critical focus transition zone is not a strength of the lens.
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Between test results that showed improvement by almost every optical metric and Canon’s numerous small but significant handling and cosmetic upgrades, this lens is undeniably a winner and a welcome addition to the Canon lens catalog.
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The EF 50mm f/1.8 II has long been due a replacement and the arrival of the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM has been met with great interest from the Canon faithful.
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It is easy to love a lens with perfect optical quality, best-available AF and first-class build quality.
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The “nifty fifty” was already one of the best values in photography; the new lens raises the value even higher. It is pretty much better in every area while remaining the exact same price.
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At the end of the day, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is incredible value for money, lots of fun, and a much more modern piece of equipment than the old Mark I version. It's highly recommended for anyone looking to greatly improve their photography on a budget.
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I can only recommend this lens in case you are looking for a very light and sharp, yet very 50mm lens for your landscape kit. In case budget and/or weight are less critical to you there are plenty other options which are better optically and more enjoyable to use.
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For most people that are interested in spending just a little bit this lens is going to be really great.
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Even though this lens costs more than its predecessor, it still represents great value due to the high levels of sharpness it produces. The improved build quality is welcome too and should win over many fans as a result.
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The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is an appealingly simple, compact and capable lens that's equally at home on an APS-C or full-frame DSLR camera.
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The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is the company's least expensive lens. It's an excellent value, even if it does have some flaws.
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I might even go as far to say that it's the best Canon 50.
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If you are a Canon shooter and you don’t have a 50mm lens in your bag, the new EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is the next lens you should buy. It’s useful enough and affordable enough that everyone should consider picking one up.
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The Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM is optically superb and handles very well.
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The reality is that Canon has given us far more lens and charged us no more for it, making this lens officially one of the best bargains (if not the best) in DSLR photography.
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The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is an excellent, versatile option for smaller budgets.
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The EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is good for the money, but more importantly it’s a good lens in general.
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Got to say, autofocus on the new Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens is a massive upgrade.
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Yes, it's cheap, but don't let the price fool you because this little lens is a very, very capable piece of gear.
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I think the results are much better, again, than you would think you would be getting out of such an inexpensive lens.
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[I] think this is an absolutely fantastic lens and it's a must-have in I think everybody's camera bag.
