Used Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
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Condition & contents
| Grading | Exellent overall condition. No significant signs of use, optics are free from haze/fungus. AF/MF fully functional |
|---|---|
| Testing | Fully tested |
| Warranty | 6 month warranty |
| Includes | Lens/Back Caps |
At a glance: The cheapest fast fifty for Canon EF DSLRs - light, sharp at f/1.8, but plastic and basic.
About this lens
Canon's EF 50mm f/1.8 II, launched in 1990, is the classic budget 'nifty fifty' standard prime for EF-mount DSLRs. It delivers bright f/1.8 optics and pleasing sharpness at a rock-bottom price, but its all-plastic build, plastic mount and simple 5-blade aperture make it noticeably more basic than the later STM version.
Build & handling
| Aperture blades | 5 |
|---|---|
| Minimum focus distance | 0.45m |
| Filter thread | 52mm |
| Weight | ~130g |
| Lens construction | 6 elements in 5 groups |
Works with
- Canon EF-mount full-frame DSLRs
- Canon EF-mount APS-C DSLRs
- Canon RF-mount mirrorless via the EF-EOS R adapter
Best for
This is the lens to reach for if you want your first fast prime without spending much - it opens up low-light shooting and shallow depth of field far beyond a kit zoom. Be clear-eyed about its age, though: it is an older design with a plastic lens mount, a noisier micro-motor autofocus that hunts and buzzes, and a 5-blade aperture that gives busier, more angular out-of-focus highlights than the newer STM model's smoother 7-blade diaphragm. On an APS-C body its 50mm focal length gives roughly an 80mm-equivalent field of view, making it a natural short portrait lens; on full frame it stays a true standard 'normal' lens.
Frequently asked questions
How does it differ from the newer STM version?
The STM lens adds a quieter, smoother stepping-motor autofocus better suited to video, a metal mount, a rounded 7-blade aperture for nicer bokeh and a closer 0.35m minimum focus. This II model is older, all-plastic with a plastic mount, has noisier micro-motor AF and a 5-blade aperture.
Will it work on my Canon mirrorless camera?
Yes - fit it to any EOS R-series body using Canon's EF-EOS R mount adapter, which retains autofocus and aperture control.
Is 50mm a good focal length on an APS-C camera?
It behaves like about an 80mm lens on APS-C bodies, which is flattering for head-and-shoulders portraits, though a little tight for general indoor use.
Will it work on Canon RF mirrorless bodies?
Yes, via the Canon EF-EOS R adapter. Autofocus and IS are preserved, and the lens functions normally on R, R5, R6, R7, R8, R50 and other RF bodies.