Canon 50mm 1.8 STM Hidden Gem Or Overrated?

[@0ecka]

That's one of my favorite lenses too. Its size, its weight, its character, its superb sharpness when stopped down a little, its 0.21x magnification, its front element sitting deep inside the barrel safely and no lens hood required (for the EF STM version, not the RF), all of those things plus the low price make it unbelievably practical and capable tool, or should I say "nifty" 😊 It's fun to use, it's always with me and the results can be stunning, just like the ones in this video. Well done!

[@bertjeeninga36]

Thanks for mentioning the Canon 80D with the 1.8 50 mm as a good match. I own this combination and use it mostly for concert and street photography. Indeed in low Light it somtimes hunts for focus.

[@jallythekid]

I have some more premium L lenses than the 50mm f1.8, but I have to say, the 50 1.8 stm is my favorite and most used lens so far, because it's so small and lightweight, like he said, you can have it with you anyway, why not. And it goes everywhere with me. It's so cheap, you don't have to worry about it at all, it's so easy to replace. The photos are sharp enough and the renderin is pleasing

[@sharpskilz]

This lens has paid for itself a thousand times over, ive bought 3 copies of it so far. I do have a sigma 50 f1.4 but I rarely use it. I love its character at F1.8 buts its a banger around f2.8 totally smokes both versions of the 24-70 f2.8 at 50mm. Ive sold/used 1000s of images from this lens in my professional work.

[@MartinCastein]

yeah its just a no brainer really to own.

[@sharpskilz]

@@MartinCastein yes, and as you say its small, i put in on my m6mk2 and its a nice little walkaround lens, not in your face.

[@kaidiemulan6061]

Absolutely love your content!

[@MartinCastein]

I appreciate that!

[@Mikey1421985]

I used it one my crop body, Canon Rebel T5, and something was not perfect in that combination and it was more out of focus. But on my Canon 5D classic it is al most always in focus which has really helped me getting to be confident in photography cause I know, it will be in focus. I has helped me a lot to grow.

[@infinitesky-59]

A used 40d with this lens is an unbeatable value for money combination if someone is on a very tight budget and will produce some lovely looking images.

[@andrefelixstudio2833]

I highly recommend this lens for a crop sensor. it’s ideally suited for a three-quarter image or a headshot as it has the same similar look as an 85 mm on a full frame camera!

[@joopruck924]

Your review is absolutely right, Martin. I use this lens extensively on my 6D Mark I and 700D, primarily for portraits, and I'm very satisfied with it. As you mentioned, the lens does have its limitations, so you need to be aware of them and adjust your shooting accordingly. But that's part of the fun of photography (at least for me).

[@Nekojitablog]

Thank you for your videos! Not many people talk about those old cameras and lenses anymore. I bought this lens recently but my copy is very soft or maybe my 5D suffers from front focusing or back focusing. My 50mm never gets sharp and the rendering is flat and boring. I mean, there is no a sense of three dimensional space. I shot the 50mm f1.4 during 2009-2010ish and the pictures came out great. Now I use Zeiss/Leica/Voigtlander and the images look so 3D it is impressive. I would buy the 1.2L but it is too big for walking the streets the whole day😅. Have you tried manual lenses like the 50mm Planar?

[@bestill1018]

Thank you for all of you in depth insights. This lens is my everyday carry lens on my Canon Rebel T2i. One of the best things about using it for indoor on-the-spot portraits is that it’s helped me to learn to value having my people face the window during daylight, and face the neon lights of the signs in the bar, along with the overhead lights above the bar. So much fun!

[@ianphillips1989]

Totally agree. My copy of the F1.8 50mm STM lives in a pocket in the camera bag as a go to 2nd lens when with one of the more premium L/F4 zooms are not giving the image. Have used the lens on all 3 of the currently owned Canon cameras, purchased initially when only shooting on APS, but still gets used when shooting the 5D.

[@snakechmr5191]

Martin: I just subbed your channel and have referred your work to a couple of my photo buddies. Absolutely love it! Please keep them coming. I’m a fan of the “Nifty 50”. On a recent trip to the UK, I challenged a buddy of mine to a 50mm contest where both of us came away with some fantastic photos. BTW, we both had the Canon R6MkI and RF 50mm 1.8 STM. In addition to great photos, we also came away with a renewed appreciation for that lens. Despite being a BIG fan of my RF 24-70 2.8L - my “money-maker”, I still keep the 50mm in my bag and is a key lens in my travel kit. Great lens at a great price. I wish folks would stop calling it “cheap” - it’s inexpensive and a tremendous value for dollar/pound especially the RF version’s better build quality. Canon is announcing its 50mm 1.4 tonight. I’ve been waiting for 1.4s in that focal length and the 85mm. We’ll have to see how it performs.

[@Sooch900]

You should do a video on how you color grade your photos, would love to see that and hear your thoughts

[@Sooch900]

Excellent topic and video! Your portraits are so good! Can I ask what led light you used for these?

[@clay_atc]

Side note: I actually tried to shoot with the 50 1.8 and my 7d mii for a basketball game. It performed just fine. I loved the images from the 50 1.8. The images were sharp (f2.8) and had this holographic quality to them. Definitely recommend!

[@iphoneography]

I use the 50mm 1.8 on my 90D, great combo.

[@michaelbell75]

Nice shots! Ive been shooting fashion and glamour professionally for 20 years now. I have used this lens, as well as the 50 1.8 II before it, on plenty of shoots where the photos have been published in well known mens publications around the globe. I rarely, if ever, shot it wide open. I mostly shoot it between f/2.2-f/4. I still have one of these attached to a Canon 60D I still use to this day at times. Like you mentioned, Ive always liked using it on crop sensor cameras to get around that 85mm focal length I prefer, on the cheap. I actually prefer this lens to the RF 50 f/1.8 STM which has terrible quality bokeh IMO and weird coma smearing wide open that doesnt clean up until around f/4. My two cents 😊

[@AbkenariFarang]

Very nice video as always. Subscribed. My 50 mm f1.8 is on my 5Dii the most of the time. I even put it on my m43 bodies using focal reducer and it renders beautifully

[@MartinCastein]

thank you! very nice lens on the 5dii for sure.

[@crsantin]

It’s a brilliant lens. I’m always pleased with the results I get from it. Nice colours.

[@L.Spencer]

I was finding that I had to back up too much with the 50mm (crop sensor), and sometimes couldn't back up any further, so I just got the 24mm 2.8 and I think it will be a nice compromise. I always use either a 10-18mm or 18-135mm so this is going to be fun.

[@Twobarpsi]

This was the first "real" lens I bought. Way better than the kit lens. It is my favorite lens, and is always attached to one of my bodies. For a quick photo shoot, I use it for how small and light it is. No complaints here, and I will continue to use it in the future.

[@photobugz]

I do like your video style! As for this lens it is quite simple. Simply everyone should have one!!

[@daemon1143]

I've been using the RF 50mm 1.8 for the last 3 years, because it's not a focal length I use enough to justify the order of magnitude more expense and weight of the f 1.2 lens. I find it a perfectly good little lens which is pretty much directly comparable to the EF nifty fifty. Though the RF version focuses very nicely. I see a lot of people commenting that the lens elements are plastic; this is not correct, they're cast glass and strangely, these lenses have pretty much the highest copy accuracy on the market. It lives in my gear bag because it's so small and light, as you say.

[@MartinCastein]

thanks for the comment!

[@karlbrodowsky7744]

For my system the 50/f1.4 is really small and I often take it if I take multiple lenses along and anticipate that it might be useful. Interesting point that you have the 1.8 and the 1.2, but the way you explained it it makes perfect sense. Btw. I did start with a 50/f1.7 as very first lense, but I don't have that anymore.

[@olafzijnbuis]

It would be nice if you could program the camera to make 3 exposures in quick succession: - correct autofocus - slightly closer - slightly further away Just like you can make 3 or more exposures for HDR or to select the best. I took a few photos in Thailand with the 50 mm 1.8 that are slightly out of focus. Now I have to go back to Thailand to take the same pictures again, drink LEO beer, and fight off the girls 🙂

[@CanoeToNewOrleans]

I had the 50 mm 1.8 Mark I, but the focusing motor was too loud. It would distract people at events I was photographing. I upgraded to the STM version. It's much quieter. Great lens at a good price.

[@Needacreate]

Very fair points that would hold for many cheapo 50-mil F1.8 lenses around. Optically they tend to be more than decent, they're highly portable and low-profile, and on crop, they give you a nice short-telephoto FOV, so you basically can't go wrong with them. Some quite engaging proof shots of yours in the video, too, Martin.

[@thenexthobby]

Your observations match mine. I do see however heavy vignettes at 1.8 and yeah I do not like the 1.8 blurs because of the busyness. I’d consider the 40mm pancake for street, being smaller and that extra touch wider. The fact that it’s a little slower shouldn’t matter. I’d often be at f/4 or more anyway there.

[@sergeantcrow]

Excellent photos Martin.... 😀

[@the13thhour64]

You are great man !! Easy to listen to !!

[@MartinCastein]

thank you so much!

[@Paul_Kretz]

Yes, it has its flaws and limits, but *this little thing saved me so many times* on so many different shoots that now I take as a rules not to leave home without it. Truly. E.g. it was great supporter both to 24-105 indoors and 70-300 outside in totally different scenarios. Not to mention shooting unexpected portraits if suddenly asked. Never disappointed. Absolutely must have for every photographer. And cherry on the cake: try it on 5D Classic to see what the photography itself is all about. P.S. Cheers, Martin, always nice to watch!

[@billb8262]

Love this! Martin, would you consider the 50mm 1.4 from Canon to be a step up from this lens if affordability on the 1.2 is not there yet, or would you recommend the 1.8 over the 1.4 and just save for the 1.2?

[@MartinCastein]

No, id go for the 1.8 or the 1.2, the 1.4 i have never found to be very good personally.

[@Mikey1421985]

Haven't watched yet, but I can answer right away that I love that lens. Not perfect, but it gets the job done!!! Sunday I shot a maternity shoot and used the 50mm STM on my 5Dclassic and boi those pictures are amazing!!!

[@MartinCastein]

haha yes, thats spot on. glad you got on well with it on your shoot

[@Mikey1421985]

@@MartinCastein end of last year I bought a Canon 5D mark 3 and haven't used the 5D classic for a while and when I used it at a wedding with 85mm I just loved the colors, look and feel so much I just had to use it more. So for now the 50mm will be on my Canon 5D classic when I do shoots in good light and I will try to get some pictures with it every time. The other day at the wedding I had left on RAW and small JPEG and the JPEGs straight out of camera were beautiful.

[@niceyesplease]

It rendered amazing on my 600D. It renders even better adapted to my R5 - even at f2.

[@pauldarville3843]

Informative video, thanks Martin!

[@olafzijnbuis]

What about the 50 mm F=1:1.4 Canon EF lens? The step in weight and price from a 50 mm F=1:1.8 to the 1.2 model is huge. I had the 50 mm F=1:1.8 on a Canon 750D camera. The autofocus is sometimes a bit off when fully open. When possible I took a few extra shots. On a tripod using manual focus on zoomed-in LifeView it is great.

[@MartinCastein]

The 1.4 isn’t a particularly good lens. Lots of focus issues might do better on mirrorless though not tried.

[@olafzijnbuis]

@@MartinCastein Thanks. I noticed that the AF is sometimes a bit off.

[@Alma_1992]

I just bought this along with a 5D Mark ii for $220. Very versatile combo.

[@dmjohn65]

Hi Martin, insightful video as usual. I was wondering what are your thoughts on the f1.8 SMT verses the f1.8 II 50mm. Does one have the edge over the other?

[@charlesfisher2134]

Use the 50 1.8 on the Canon M-50 II great results.

[@ian_lewono]

A great lens, especially when stopped down to f/2.8. paired with my 5d mark 2, it does very well for considering the whole setup was under $450

[@dan.knows.photography]

Absolutely stunning images Martin. Which is the light stick you were using?

[@MartinCastein]

thanks, its the zhiyun cf100 but I should mention I was sent it for free.

[@jean-francoishector4232]

I love the EF 50 1.8 STM on my 5D Classic. I compared it to the EF 50 1.4 but I liked the skin tones colours of the 1.8 better. I also use the Zeiss Planar 50 1.4 which is my fav lens. I bought the EF 50 1.2 but I felt uncomfortable about how big and expensive it was for my casual, family photo use cases so I returned it. I don’t know if the EF 50 1.2 would give me much better rendering than the Zeiss Planar. I shoot at 50mm most of the time, and generally at f2.5-f4 as I feel that’s way more than enough background blur. This is also were the Zeiss Planar’s bokeh looks best. I also have the RF 50mm 1.8 for my R8. I love how small that lens is, but I feel like I like the colours less (than even the EF version). I could be wrong. But I enjoy shooting the EF version more than the RF because of the nice skin tones. Really helpful video thank you!

[@sergeantcrow]

Can't seem to get the cash opportunity to get one yet.... however seeing as NK, OM, and M42 works... manual focus only of course... on EOS, I'm spoiled for 50mm choices for my 5D.. and 20D..

[@campbells0ups]

had the older II model. autofocus was no good but the images were nice. slightly warm tint

[@janedagger]

Oh.... my. I am definitely interested in the 1.8, if for nothing else than to have at least on 50mm with AF. Thank you, SIR !!!!

[@MartinCastein]

What-ho V, hope you are well.

[@janedagger]

@@MartinCastein LOL! I'mma enjoying life ... celebrating too much and knuckling down on a little series for Daz... more portrait-ish for a change and its moving quite nicely danke. I work on a new model starting morning and grind thru it... start a render, get pissy. change things, render again. Rinse and repeat till happy. So, all's normal. Hope all's well on your side o da pond... be safe !

[@RiccardoPareschi]

I’ve bought the 50mm 1.8 when my main camera was an apsc, and was perfect match, sometimes a bit too long, but always a funny lens.

[@LetiB76]

Martín , I bought some used canon 5d mark 2s. could you do a video on , the absolute best lenses for these type of older canon cameras. Thanks 🙏🏻

[@MartinCastein]

Great suggestion!

[@mikafoxx2717]

Good for making us thing. Gas is too easy to come by. I like my EF 40mm a little bit more, but for portraits, the 50 has a more vibrant rendering to it, wonderful and a little soft wide open with a bit of vignette. The 40 is better for landscape where it's pretty much corner to corner sharp at f4. The 50mm is very usable from 2.8 onwards for sharp photos, though, just not quite as good. Both are small and light and great. I did get a bit of GAS and picked up a tamron 35 1.8 for that image stabilizer, since the 40 was a bit poor for lowlight, now I can do magic hour without a tripod reasonably well. Not quite as light, though, which really does add up. And yeah, it's easy to forget that it's better than most zooms. I use a 1987 version, which is really quite close to the STM, both much better than the MkII.

[@ChasWG]

When you are saying "50mm f1.8 STM" you're talking about the EF version, right? I own the RF 50/1.8 STM and I have used it for some video shoots, but I haven't used it all that much. I love my Canon FD 50/1.4 SSC lens much, much more! Such a great looking lens. I gravitate towards the vintage lenses a lot more than the newer stuff. Maybe I'll take the RF 50/1.8 STM out and see if I get something cool with it. I only own two native RF lenses in my 50 to 60 lens collection!

[@MartinCastein]

yes sorry its the stm version, i understand liking the vintage lenses more and they sure are more fun thats for sure!

[@altafhasen4739]

Martin what is a good camera (low pixel count, good value etc. ) now a days that has the greatness of 6d but also has a better auto focus system?

[@kermitage]

Very well thought and objective video, thank you! Would you consider the 1.4 version a worthy upgrade - or is it just between this and the 1.2?

[@MartinCastein]

Not personally no, i never got on well with the 50mm 1.4, i owned 3 of them but never liked it as much. For me its the 1.8 or the 1.2

[@L.Spencer]

I think I bought the 1.4 and didn't like it. It was used, but I don't think that was the issue, but it made a lot of noise when focusing. I returned it to BMH and got the 1.8.

[@Jmg8-vm8me]

I have it, its my only lens for my canon 5d m2, its great. I have a separate question for you, I'm strongly considering selling & changing to nikon d740 & wide zoom for starters, which is financially accessible (just about). Mainly for lowlight & dynamic range, then bracketing, hdr & astro experience, then tilt screen, size & lighter weight as im female & not getting younger😂i need to b able to recover shadows well for evening photos, parties, etc., this camera will do this really well. Q is, I've seen a few mentions of how the recovered shadows look purple-ish, not sure if it's in the noise, or as some say its so good it removes some but leaves an imbalance of some other colours....? Anyway, I can't find a guide anywhere to fix this, I guess in pp? Can u help? It's the biggest factor in my decision to buy one. The z6ii is good at this, similar lowlight, 3 times the price still, lenses too dear too. Want to progress I dslr b4 I change over, if ever I could even justify the financial cost either😂 thanks in advance.i respect your opinion, I learn so much from u.

[@duncanthorn6338]

My only concern with this lens is its softness at f1.8, particularly when shooting full length portraits. I use it on my 5D Classic, 5D mark ii and my 40D. It is soft on all 3 at f1.8, so I just shoot it at f2.8 where it is very sharp at all focal distances. Not sure if this is the lens in general, or just my particular lens. It came used with my 40D. I too particularly like it on my 40D at the 80mm equivilant.

[@MartinCastein]

No no, softness in a portrait lens is just fine, although I hear you in the full length portraits as it struggles a little at distance

[@duncanthorn6338]

@@MartinCastein No, No, I’m talking unusably soft at 1.8 at all distances, but particularly at full length.

[@sexysilversurfer]

@@duncanthorn6338. Is this due to the autofocus being off or just general softness around the top and bottom of the frame but sharper around the middle?

[@Nekojitablog]

I understand you. It happens the same to me on my 5D. I don’t shoot portraits but I shoot candid scenes on the street and the lens is soft and glows a lot no matter what I do. For my editing style, which looks like negative film, the softness is not a bad thing, but sometimes I wish this lens was at least decent😂

[@AbbasBinYounas]

Hello Mr C, have you ever used or considered using 100mm focal length for portraits? It doesn't appear to be as common or preferred as the 85s or 135s... What could be the reason for that?

[@helstor]

Great video. Thanks. How does the 50mm F/1.4 compare to the 1.8?

[@MartinCastein]

ohhh ive never been a fan of the 50mm 1.4. i have owned 3 copies and the focus on them has always been a bit of a mess and they are just not my favourite at 1.4. For me its the 1.8 or the 1.2

[@Adogcallednoortje]

I have the STM version and I like it. But it’s way noisier than my other stm lenses. I always wondered if it’s just my copy.

[@NalinKhurb]

Hi Mr. Castein, I really appreciate your work and your videos on how to do better at photography But there is a slight doubt in my mind regarding the f stop on crop sensor. Since the focal length of a 50mm becomes 80mm equivalent on crop sensor, the f stop number also increases to f/2.9 based on calculations. Does this only affect the DoF/Bokeh or also affects the light gathering capabilities on the crop sensor? Would like to hear your thoughts on this

[@Nekojitablog]

Hi! It doesn’t affect the DOF or light gathering. The dof is exactly the same on full frame or crop sensor BUT, as you have a tighter framing, you step back a few meters. That’s what affects the DOF, the distance to your focus area.

[@NalinKhurb]

@@Nekojitablog Thanks for the comment, it clears a very persistent doubt of mine

[@shaokhan310]

Hi Have anyone of you used sigma art 50 1.4? Whats your opinion about this glass?

[@MartinCastein]

problem with sigma is focus reliability and they are maybe too sharp, depends what you like though.

[@johnnevin2887]

Canon f 1.8 love it

[@olafzijnbuis]

Funny thing about the title of this video... Did you mean: "Canon 50mm 1.8 STM Hidden Gem Or Overrated?" The "or" suggests a contradiction.

[@droe90]

Is the tamron 45mm 1.8 better?

[@kaidiemulan6061]

The EF 50mm 1.2 is €789 here used, I recently picked up a used 50mm 1.8 stm for €55 shipping included. 50mm 1.2 seems like a long way for me for now :) I would love to know if you have thoughts on how it compares to the 40mm 2.8 pancake they are also quite cheap and very small

[@MartinCastein]

the 40mm 2.8 stm is a wonderful lens and well worth owning.

[@kaidiemulan6061]

One more thing I was surprised there was no sunhood even when bought new… the front lens is quite deep so maybe you dont need it but it seems weird coming from Nikon and Sony

[@MartinCastein]

yeah thats a canon thing, I think they despise their customers haha

[@MartinCastein]

like if canon did a restaurant, it would be bring your own cutlery if you spend less than $100

[@Dngrov257]

6 elements in 5 groups, just what a 50MM 1.8 should be and not one of these 10+ element they are making these days. Both the EF and RF versions are very good, but not quite as good as the Nikon Series E 50MM f1.8, which has no distortion despite having the same optical design. Nikon somehow sprinkled a little magic into the Series E 50MM.

[@darylcheshire1618]

when I bought the R5, the retailer threw in the RF 50mm.

[@bigrobotnewstoday1436]

I saw another video here on KZbin and someone was reviewing the new Canon RF 85mm f1.2 vs the Canon EF 85mm f1.8 and people in the comments and also myself like the Canon EF 85mm f1.8 better because the Canon RF 85mm f1.2 was way to sharp. Unless your like 20 years old then I guess the RF will work but for anyone older the RF is way to sharp.

[@kaidiemulan6061]

This is my only lens on the 5D M2 havent watched the whole video yet but I enjoy the lens so far. Honestly for me its not that quite, my Nikon 50mm 1.8G is more quite so is the sony 50 1.8 fe

[@MartinCastein]

have you got the STM version or the mark ii version?

[@kaidiemulan6061]

@@MartinCastein stm version, got it used so maybe there is some dust inside but it is for sure the 50mm 1:1.8 STM

[@MartinCastein]

might be the motor or gears are a little worn or something not sure

[@mudgie069]

It's an excellent lens especially for the price. Unless you are a professional I would say this lens is perfect for everyone else. I think I only paid £65 second hand for mine which is a bargain.

[@MartinCastein]

i think even a professional its one for me i just put in my bag anyway because why not. its a backup, its a portable lens, its inconspicuous, its my pop out from the hotel and wander the streets taking snaps lens etc

[@photos4045]

I like mine

[@mrgringo7289]

Bought my second 1 today for €60

[@MartinCastein]

nice!