DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

Canon’s RF 50mm f/1.8 lens is a nifty fifty with a very appropriate $199 price tag

Nov 5, 2020 by John Aldred 3 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Well, Canon did it. They actually released a full-frame mirrorless lens designed for entry level users with a cost comparable to its DSLR counterpoint. Yes, that’s right, we’re talking about the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. Coming in at a measly $199, this is quite possibly the cheapest full-frame mirrorless lens on the market for any system that actually comes from a camera manufacturer.

The lack of inexpensive lenses to attract newer or lower budget users into the full-frame mirrorless market (especially when there are full-frame cameras under $1K) has been one of the biggest complaints about all the new systems that have come out over the last couple of years. Panasonic just started to address that a little more with their new 85mm f/1.8 for L mount and now Canon seems to be doing so as well.

The new Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens is a breath of fresh air in a world of overpriced (vs their DSLR equivalent) lenses. It’s a basic bare-bones essential that’s been a staple of many photographers for decades, and arguably the one that most people believe camera manufacturers should develop for their new systems first. Well, now RF mount users have their wish.

Focal Length 50mm
Maximum Aperture f/1.8
Minimum Aperturef/22
Lens MountCanon RF
Format CompatibilityFull-Frame
Angle of View46°
Maximum Magnification0.25x
Minimum Focus Distance30cm
Optical Design6 Elements in 5 Groups
Diaphragm Blades7, rounded
Focus TypeAutofocus
Image StabilizationNo
Filter Size43 mm (Front)
Dimensions (ø x L)69x40mm
Weight160g

It is a “normal” length prime lens for full-frame, offering what popular belief is the standard field of view most equivalent to human vision on a full-frame camera. Regardless of how you feel about that particular debate, it is an extremely popular focal length for full-frame. It was with DSLRs and it was with 35mm film before them. It offers a decidedly average f/1.8 maximum aperture, which is decent enough in low light and offers a shallow, controlled depth of field.

It features just a single ring, which can be configured to adjust a variety of exposure settings. There’s also a switch on the body of the lens allowing you to switch it between focus and aperture control, which is rather handy.

It will be interesting to see how this lens really compares, both to the rest of the much more expensive RF lens lineup as well as its EF counterpart. Will it reflect the level of quality that users have come to expect from more expensive full-frame mirrorless lenses? Or will it be as bad and much-loved as most other 50mm f/1.8 lenses throughout history?

Well, I suppose we’ll only find that out once it starts getting into the hands of users and we can see what they’re creating with it. But I still think it’s probably a lens that every Canon RF mount shooter should buy, whether they think they need it or not (but I think everybody with a full-frame camera of any system should own a 50mm for it).

The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is available to pre-order now for a mere $199 and begins shipping on December 4th.

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Panasonic officially announces is full-frame L mount “nifty fifty” 50mm f/1.8 Sigma’s Unbelievable Price Tag for its Upcoming 50mm f/1.4 Art Lens: $790 Is This Canon’s New Nifty Fifty f/1.8 STM Lens? Why you need to own a “Nifty Fifty” lens

Filed Under: Gear Tagged With: 50mm f/1.8, Canon, Gear Announcement, Lens Announcement, nifty fifty, RF Mount

John Aldred: from diyphotography.net

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

« Angle grinder vs tripod plate – How to still access your battery slot with small cameras
Full Nikon Webcam Utility software is now out for Windows and Mac »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • This is how to get photography clients on Instagram – even with few followers
  • “I prefer using smaller cameras” – an unorthodox take on size
  • A pigeon scares a meteorologist as it photobombs a live camera
  • Photographer files lawsuit against NFL receiver and teams after shoving incident
  • Comparing iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14 for astrophotography

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy