Last updated Front and rear views of a Canon EF50mm f/1.4 USM
The EF 50mm lenses are a group of normalprimelenses made by Canon that share the same focal length. These lenses are based on the classic double-Gauss lens,[1] with the f/1.8 being a standard six-element double-Gauss with an air gap and powers between element 2 and 3[1] and its faster cousins adding additional elements.[2] The 50mm focal length, when used with a 35mm film or full-frame sensor, has been widely considered to match the perspective seen by the human eye.[3]
Canon 50mm lenses have an EF type mount that fits the Canon EOS line of cameras. When pairing a 50mm lens to a Canon DSLR with an APS-C sized sensor, the crop factor effectively turns the 50mm focal length into an 80mm field of view.
Seven EF 50mm lenses have been sold by Canon:
f/1.0L USM[4] (discontinued, replaced by f/1.2L USM)
The discontinued EF50mm f/1.0L USM is a professional L series autofocus lens. On the used market sells for as much as double the original retail value.[citation needed] It was the fastest SLR lens in production during its lifetime.[4] This lens has a metal body and mount, and plastic extremities. It also features a wide rubber focus ring that is damped, a distance window with infrared index, and the ability to set the focus range from 0.6m to infinity, or 1m to infinity. In common with the EF 85mm f/1.2L USM it uses an electronic "focus by wire" system and requires power from the camera in order to manual focus. The 8-blade diaphragm and maximum aperture of f/1.0 give this lens the ability to create extremely shallow depth of field effects and to support low light situations. The optical construction of this lens contains 11 lens elements, including two ground and polished aspherical lens elements. This lens uses a floating front extension focusing system, powered by a ring-type USM motor. The front of the lens does not rotate, but does extend when focusing.
Despite its price and large maximum aperture, the 1.0L was not a particularly sharp lens at any aperture, and the two cheaper 50mm options offered far better sharpness when stopped down beyond about f/2.8.[9] This, combined with the high production cost and low sales volume, led to it being discontinued in 2000 and eventually superseded by the f/1.2 edition.
EF50mm f/1.2L USM
The EF50mm f/1.2L USM is a professional L series lens designed to replace the EF50mm f/1.0L USM. It is constructed with a metal body and mount, and plastic extremities. This lens features a wide rubber focusing ring that is damped, a distance window with infrared index, and is fully weather-sealed, when a filter is added to the front. A circular, 8-blade diaphragm and maximum aperture of f/1.2 give this lens the ability to create very shallow depth of field effects with smooth background blur. The optical construction of this lens contains 8 lens elements, including one ground and polished aspherical lens element. This lens uses a floating front extension focusing system, powered by a ring-type USM motor. The front of the lens does not rotate or extend when focusing.
EF50mm f/1.4 USM
EF50mm f/1.4 USM, showing its large maximum aperture; at f/1.4 and 50mm, the entrance pupil diameter is 35.7mm.
The EF50mm f/1.4 USM is a consumer- and professional-level lens. It is the least expensive f/1.4 aperture lens that Canon currently manufactures. It is constructed with a plastic body and a metal mount. This lens features a distance window with infrared index. An 8-blade diaphragm and maximum aperture of f/1.4 give this lens the ability to create shallow depth of field effects. The optical construction of this lens contains 7 lens elements including 2 high refraction elements, but no aspherical, high dispersion or calcium fluoride elements. The lens uses a front extension focusing system, powered by a micro USM motor. Even though this lens uses a micro USM motor, it still has FTM (full-time manual focus) available. Auto-focus speed of this lens is fast, but not as quick as most ring-USM-based lenses. The front of the lens does not rotate, but extends by up to about one centimeter when focusing.
While similar to ring-USM lenses in terms of operation, the micro-USM motor is very prone to damage from impacts. Owners of the lens are encouraged to store the lens with the barrel fully retreated into the housing (that is, set to focus at infinity) to avoid damaging the AF motor during storage or transport. For a similar reason, use of a lens hood is recommended when the lens is mounted on a camera.
EF50mm f/1.8
The EF50mm f/1.8 is an economy level lens (discontinued in 1990), which has been replaced by the EF50mm f/1.8 II. The body is plastic while the lens mount is stainless steel, and it features a distance window with infrared index. A 5 blade maximum aperture of f/1.8 gives this lens the ability to create depth of field effects. Note that this housing and use of a 5-blade aperture were shared with the EF28mm f/2.8 and EF35mm f/2 lenses, in the case of the latter to speed date of release and keep production costs low.
The optical construction of this lens contains 6 lens elements, with no special elements. This lens uses a front extension focusing system, powered by an AFD motor. The front of the lens does not rotate when focusing, making it compatible with circular polarisers.
Although auto-focus speed, despite the AFD motor, is moderately fast but audible, the lens is still very popular.
Because of its low price (it is sold used only) and very sharp optical quality, this lens has earned the preference of a lot of photographers. Obviously, when shooting at f/1.8, it offers a very shallow depth of field which is beneficial for isolating subjects against a blurred background (bokeh).
EF50mm f/1.8 II
The EF50mm f/1.8 II
The EF50mm f/1.8 II replaced the EF50mm f/1.8 in 1991, until it was replaced by the EF50mm f/1.8 STM version in 2015.
The EF50mm f/1.8 II lens has a plastic lens mount, as opposed to the metal one on the original EF50mm f/1.8. The manual focusing ring from the original was replaced by a very small thin focusing ring on the front tip of the lens, and the distance scale and the IR focusing label were removed. However the lens does not suffer from rotating front lens element and can be used with polarizing filters. The optics for both lenses are identical, with 6 elements in 5 groups and a 5 blade diaphragm, and both lenses have a 52mm filter thread.
Because of its low price and sharp optical quality, this lens earned the nicknames 'nifty fifty' and 'plastic fantastic'. When shooting at f/1.8, it offers a very shallow depth of field which is beneficial for isolating subjects against a blurred background (bokeh).
EF50mm f/1.8 STM
Canon introduced the EF50mm f/1.8 STM on May 10, 2015. This lens utilizes Canon's STM (STepper Motor) focusing mechanism, which supports the Movie Servo autofocus mode. The lens features a metal mount and has a rounded seven-blade aperture. Its filter diameter of 49mm is the smallest among all lenses in the family.[10]
EF50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro
Close-up taken with 50mm Compact MacroCanon EF50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro with inner lens barrel extendedCanon LIFE-SIZE Converter for the EF50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro to get a magnification up to 1:1
The EF50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro is a relatively inexpensive macro lens with a minimum focusing distance of 23cm (9 inches) offering a maximum magnification of 0.5x actual size.[8] Reviewers describe the lens as having "decent"/"mid-level" build quality, with very good color and contrast, "absolutely negligible" distortion, very sharp after f/4 and peak performance at f/5.6. However, auto-focusing is relatively slow and noisy.[11][12]
The maximum 0.5x magnification means this lens is more suitable for photographing documents, products and objects at least 5cm (2 inches) wide than small insects etc. The outer barrel is grooved to accept Canon's MR-14 ring flash which can be used as the principal light source for close-ups or as on-axis fill lighting for portraits. The six-blade diaphragm provides reasonably good out-of-focus blur (bokeh) for portrait work.
First introduced in 1987, it is the oldest lens in Canon's current lineup (as of January2014[update]) that is still available new.[13] The lens is constructed with a plastic body and metal mount, and features a distance window with infrared index and magnification markings. The optional Life-Size Converter EF[14] adapts the lens to produce a maximum magnification of 1:1. Attaching the converter increases the lens focal length to 70mm, reduces the maximum aperture to f/3.5 and limits the focal range. Magnification markings for the converter are shown on the (extending) inner lens barrel.
The EF lens mount is the standard lens mount on the Canon EOS family of SLR film and digital cameras. EF stands for "Electro-Focus": automatic focusing on EF lenses is handled by a dedicated electric motor built into the lens. Mechanically, it is a bayonet-style mount, and all communication between camera and lens takes place through electrical contacts; there are no mechanical levers or plungers. The mount was first introduced in 1987.
The Canon FD lens mount is a physical standard for connecting a photographic lens to a 35mm single-lens reflex camera body. The standard was developed by Canon of Japan and was introduced in March 1971 with the Canon F-1 camera. It served as the Canon SLR interchangeable lens mounting system until the 1987 introduction of the Canon EOS series cameras, which use the newer EF lens mount. The FD mount lingered through the release of the 1990 Canon T60, the last camera introduced in the FD system, and the end of the Canon New F-1 product cycle in 1992.
The Canon EF-S 18–55mm lens f/3.5–5.6 is a Canon-produced wide-angle to mid telephoto zoom lens for digital single-lens reflex cameras with an EF-S lens mount. The field of view has a 35 mm equivalent focal length of 28.8–88mm, and it is a standard kit lens on Canon's consumer APS-C DSLRs. In February 2017 Canon announced the new Canon EF-S 18–55mm lens f/4–5.6 IS STM with a smaller aperture, which made the lens 20% smaller according to Canon.
The Canon EF 24–70mm lens is a family of professional EF mount wide-to-normal zoom lenses manufactured and sold by Canon. The first of the family, the EF 24–70mm f/2.8L, was introduced in 2002 to replace the well-regarded 28–70mm f/2.8L. Two later versions were announced in 2012. The first of these, the EF 24–70mm f/2.8L II, was announced by Canon in February, but would not ship to customers until September of that year. This lens replaced the Mk I, and had an MSRP of US$2299 when introduced. The latest member of the family is the EF 24–70mm f/4L IS USM, which became available in January 2013. The f/4 version, which is the first of the family to include image stabilization, was initially reported to be the standard kit lens for the Canon EOS 6D, but did not appear in 6D kits in most markets until late 2014, and 5D Mark IV kit in 2016.
The Canon EF 35mm lenses are a family of wide angle prime lenses with EF mount made by Canon Inc. The family also includes one EF-S lens that only mounts on Canon bodies with APS-C sensors.
The Canon EF 28–135 f/3.5–5.6 IS USM is a "standard" zoom lens that was introduced in February, 1998. The lens has a 4.82x zoom range and is based on the EF Lens Mount and works with all film and digital EOS cameras that support this mount.
The Canon EF 28–105 mm f/4–5.6 is an inexpensive zoom lens often included as a kit lens with Canon 35 mm single-lens reflex cameras. 28–105 mm is a standard wide to telephoto zoom range. The Canon EF 28–105 mm f/3.5–4.5 USM is a higher quality zoom lens with a better build quality. Currently every version of this lens is discontinued. Some versions of the lens may include the word macro or a flower icon which indicates macro capability, however due to the 1:5.2 image magnification ratio it cannot be considered as a true macro lens.
The EF 85mm lenses are a group of medium telephoto prime lenses made by Canon Inc. that share the same focal length. These lenses have an EF type mount that fits the Canon EOS line of cameras.
Eight designs of Canon FD 200 mm lens were produced for the Canon FD lens mount. These spanned two generations and varied by aperture and macro ability. These photographic lenses were:
The EF 24–105mm f/4L IS USM is an EF mount wide-to-telephoto zoom lens. It was introduced by Canon in 2005 to complement the well-regarded 17–40mm f/4L USM and 70–200mm f/4L USM.
The Canon EF 100 mm lenses are used for Canon DSLR cameras. There are four different types of EF 100 mm lens for Canon. Certain lenses are best for macro photos, whereas other lenses are good for taking pictures of subjects from a distance.
The EF 500mm lenses are a group of super-telephoto prime lenses made by Canon that share the same focal length.
The EF 300mm lens refers to a family of telephoto prime lenses made by Canon, five of which have been sold to the general public and one of which was only made on special order. The lenses have an EF type mount which fits the Canon EOS line of cameras.
The Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens is Canon's first EF-S macro lens, and also the company's first prime lens made specifically for the EF-S mount. Introduced in 2005, it was the only EF-S prime lens until the announcement of the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM in September 2014; a second EF-S macro lens, the EF-S 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS STM, was added to the lens lineup in April 2017. As an EF-S lens, it can only be used on cameras with a 1.6x crop factor and is the equivalent of a 96mm lens mounted on a 35mm format camera. As such this lens also can be a good choice for portrait photography.
The EF 70–300mm lenses are a series of telephoto zoom lenses made by Canon Inc. They have a Canon EF lens mount to work with the EOS line of cameras.
The MP-E65mm f/2.8 1-5x Macro Photo is a photographic lens that was released in September 1999 and is manufactured by Canon for use on the EOS photographic system. It is a manual focus lens for the EF mount and is specifically designed for macro photography. Unlike other macro lenses, such as the EF50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro and the EF-S60mm f/2.8 Macro USM, it does not focus to infinity and cannot be used for conventional photography.
The Sigma 150mm f/2.8 APO Macro EX DG HSM is a telephoto macro prime lenses made by the Sigma Corporation.
The Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC Macro is a wide to normal angle, zoom lens made by the Sigma Corporation.
The EF 35–350mm f/3.5–5.6L USM lens is a discontinued telephoto zoom lens manufactured by Canon.
The Canon RF lens mount is an interchangeable-lens mount developed by Canon for its full-frame mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, and featured first by the EOS R, followed by the EOS RP. The RF mount was announced in September 2018. In May 2022, Canon announced APS-C EOS R cameras and RF-S lenses designed for these cameras.
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