Rating 4.2 75 reviews

The Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II is the lightest EF lens of all at a mere 4.6 oz. (130g). Enjoy high performance every time you shoot photos. The optics offer sharp delineation from near to far focusing distances.


This lens is affordable and reliable. It has been on the market since the 1990s. This lens has delivered successful photos for many people since that time. The fact that it is still on the market, goes to show how popular it has been. There are many excellent features that you will enjoy.


This lens was designed for 35mm film. Today it is more likely to be used on APS-C format DSLRs. It is affordable and is popular with new photographers. Individuals looking to start working with lenses for low light and shallow depth of field work tend to purchase it. It is an excellent option for those working in rugged conditions that don't want to invest a lot in a lens that may be damaged. There is no doubt that the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II is an excellent bargain. It delivers many features for the price. It is reliable and an excellent option for photographers just starting out.


The EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens from Canon offers a fast aperture. Plus, it does an excellent job in low light. It also offers excellent focus. On top of that it does a good job when there is a lot of light during the day time. Only weighing 4.6 oz it is excellent for taking photos when hiking and mountain climbing. Gaussian optics deliver excellent results throughout the focus range down to its minimum focus distance is 17.8".


Taking breathtaking photos is enjoyable. Anyone who loves the outdoors, will enjoy using the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II lens. It can also be used to take indoor photos and family photos. No matter the occasion, capture outstanding photos with this lens. It is ideal for vacations and capturing the ocean. However, the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II isn't waterproof, so you can't take it underwater. That is the only limitation that it has.


Manufacturer: Canon
price $779.00
Camera Labs
12 years ago

Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II

The Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II is a prime lens with a standard focal length of 50mm and a bright focal ratio of f1.8. Announced in 1991, it replaces an earlier 50mm f1.8 model, employing the same optics but housing them in a simpler all-plastic case to keep costs down; indeed it's the cheapest lens in...
Read more on Camera Labs
Ken Rockwell
11 years ago

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Review

The Canon 50mm f/1.8 II has fantastically good optics, better than Canon's "L" series wide lenses like the 16-35mm f/2.8 L II .
Read more on Ken Rockwell
LensTip.com
11 years ago

Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II

Among Canon devices you can find the more expensive EF 50 mm ff/1.4 USM and the cheaper Canon EF 50 mm f/1.8 II along with the macro Canon EF 2.5/50 Compact Macro Standard and the horribly expensive EF 50 mm f/1.2L USM L-series lens. The cheap 1.8/50 model is a real treat for the beginners.
Pros:
  • excellent image quality in the frame centre (apart from the maximum relative aperture)
  • very good control of chromatic aberration
  • moderate distortion
  • imperceptible coma in the corners of the APS-C
  • slight vignetting on the APS-C
  • moderate astigmatism
  • good colour rendition and sensible total...
Cons:
  • not especially solid
  • plastic barrel and mount
  • horrible performance of manual focus ring which is devoid of any scale
  • loud and unreliable autofocus
  • huge vignetting on full frame
  • high coma in full frame corners
Read more on LensTip.com
OpticalLimits
7 years ago

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II (Full Format) - Review / Test Report

At just 130g it is an ultra light-weight lens and with a size of 68x41mm it's also extremely compact. The build quality is sufficient to use a positive phrase. The lens barrel is made of plastic down to the mount. All-in-all you feel the price tag here.
Read more on OpticalLimits
REVIEW STREAM
6 years ago

Canon EF 50mm f1.8 MK2 lens

The Canon EF 50mm is a compact standard lens . It has fixed focal length, high light sensitivity and is very small and light. Weighing in at 130 grams you don't really notice it at a normal SLR.
Read more on REVIEW STREAM
PriceGrabber
19 years ago

Good optical, poor mechanical

I used this lens to shoot newspaper at 1.2m F1.8. 9 out of 10 times the image was out focus, unreadable characters. Manual focus is hard due to short rotating angle and not damped.
Pros:
  • Sharp image if on focus
  • Good boken wide open
Cons:
  • Poor focusing mechanism
  • Usually off focus when large aperture
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Buy.com
13 years ago

Quite dissapointed with the condition it arrived

It was listed as brand new. But when I opened the shipping box, in the foams, I saw the lens in a plastic zipper bag. No packages, no warranty cards, not a single piece of paper. I even don't know whether the lens is new or used. I haven't tried the lens. But i am very disappointed.
Read more on Buy.com
Photo answers
13 years ago

Canon 50mm 1.8II

Any new lens at this price has got to be worth adding to your collection. The picture quality for this price is a bargain, but then I'd expect nothing less from any prime lens. It is an extremely noisy lens and the suspect build quality was confirmed when the focus ring started to stick after a...
Read more on Photo answers
Bestbuy
16 years ago

Dissapointed

I purchased this lens based on reviews and value for money. Its very cheap for a 1.8 lens, so it was worth a try. I did however return it. I could have lived with the very lightweight plastic construction, but I found the picture to be very soft at apertures larger than f2.8.
Pros:
  • Price
Cons:
  • Very soft pictures at larger apertures
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beachcamera.com
13 years ago

Great Product, Terrible Customer Service

The product is a great entry-level lens. It's made of plastic, so be careful. I'd give it a four star, if it weren't for the poor service I received.
Pros:
  • Easily Interchangeable
  • Lightweight
Cons:
  • Slow Focus
  • Weak Casing
Read more on beachcamera.com
4.2 from 75 reviews
5
43.0%
4
40.0%
3
11.0%
2
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1
3.0%

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