Lenses:

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Class:: Standard
Part number:: 2514A002
Introduced:: 1987

Similar Lenses

Canon	EF	50mm	f/1.8				$79.95	Details
Canon	EF	28-90mm	f/4.0-5.6				$109.95	Details
Canon	EF	35mm	f/2.0				$229.95	Details
Canon	EF	50mm	f/2.5		Macro		$239.95	Details
Canon	EF	50mm	f/1.4			USM	$314.95	Details
Canon	EF	85mm	f/1.8			USM	$339.95	Details
Canon	EF-S	60mm	f/2.8		Macro	USM	$384.95	Details
Canon	EF	35mm	f/1.4	L		USM	$1,134.95	Details
Canon	EF	50mm	f/1.2	L		USM	$1,599.00	Details
Canon	EF	85mm	f/1.2	L		USM	$1,999.95	Details

Thoughts

Known by many nicknames, including “nifty fifty” and “plastic fantastic”, this is Canon’s cheapest lens. The build quality is what should be expected from such a cheap lens: the entire thing is plastic, including the lens mount. It does not have a USM, so autofocus is noisy and slow.

Despite that, this lens is exceedingly light, exceedingly small, and is substantially faster than every zoom.

The weight is on par with the little batteries used in the smaller Canon cameras. In fact, I have filter cases that weigh more than this lens. Put another way, the combination of this lens and a Digital Rebel XTi body is comparable to the weight of a 1D’s battery. It’s a feather.

This lens produces acceptable pictures at f/1.8. It’s not as good as the more expensive primes or many L-series zooms, but it will let you shoot at f/1.8. The value of a fast lens cannot be overstated, and when it’s as cheap as this, it’s not a decision. Like most lenses, the sharpness improves as it’s stopped down. At f/4, the “nifty fifty” is about as sharp as most non-L lenses get at any aperture.

If money isn’t a concern, or if you’re shooting at 50mm a lot and want to go two thirds of a stop faster, there’s the 50mm f/1.4. In addition to being faster, it is sharper wide-open.

Bottom Line

Every Canon owner should have this lens. If you have a couple hundred dollars and want a slightly faster or sharper lens, consider the 50mm f/1.4. If not, buy this lens.