Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

[ahsanford]

And I apologize for my tone about your tone. ;-) Been a yucky morning, and I seem to have less patience than normal for the "everyone shoots exactly like me and has exactly the same budget and equipment needs as I do" approach that is often prevalent around here.

Anyhow, there are enough major unknowns about this lens (like IQ and price point) that those of us in the market for a 50 probably can't--or at least shouldn't--jump to any major conclusions.

No worries. I'm a nut on 50 prime discussions. I had it coming.

My guess for prices:

The 50 f/1.8 STM will run perhaps $199 at first and then settle down around $149. Reason: the other pancake STMs had the same trend as this, and this new lens has an almost pancake-y size and feature set. Yes, all of those were f/2 (EF-M) or f/2.8 (EF and EF-S), but I think this lens needs to stay cheap -- even if Canon sells it at a loss until production ramps up -- to get early-in-their-development enthusiasts hooked on the value proposition of primes. This lens has pull-through in that it helps Canon sell pricier primes.

The someday new 50 f/nooneknows IS USM is a $600 future state lens based on the 24/28/35 IS refresh price history, but there is such massive pent-up demand for an 9 out of 10 at everything 50mm with IS, not immense and heavy, modern/reliable/fast USM, etc. that I honestly believe they could briefly sell it for anywhere up to $1,000 at first offering and just clean up sales-wise.

The next 50L will no longer be priced for mortals. I see that thing costing near Otus money, but I could be talked down on that.

- A

 

[ahsanford]

NO ONE is going to ask about the photo pointing to the "missing IS switch"?

Could this thing end up having IS? I can't see why not if the kit 18-55's have sported IS forever.

That just seems like it would scratch an irritating itch in the minds of their fan base.

I think those photos came first, but that caption has been debunked by the later (more formal looking) photo that the article lead with. That missing IS switch was just for the Canon badge. This will not have IS unless there's another photo I've missed.

- A

 

[rfdesigner]

Well done Canon, a new nifty fifty that looks decent and with a metal mount.

As others have said, I hope it's 7 blades and the price is at the 40mm pancake level. I could well pre-order despite really wanting a ringUSM 50mm.

 

[LonelyBoy]

W00t! Will be buying one of these until the 50 1.4mm Replacment is released.

And that's the thing - I'll be doing that too, because I refuse to buy the current 1.4, so I'll get this to tide me over. Then, of course, I'll buy the premium (hopefully) 50/1.4 IS USM twin to my 35/2 IS USM. Then, presumably, they'll release the new 50/1.2Lii (not buying that one, personally).

Now, of course, I get to ask about where that new 70-300 "non-L, non-DO" is.

 

[deleteme]

I am glad Canon are offering this lens at what will most likely be a great combination of quality and price. However, I bought a Sigma 50 1.4 a few years ago precisely because Canon's offering at 1.8 and 1.4 fell far short of current expectations.

The Sigma is not perfect as its AF is slow-ish and hunts a bit but the lens is very sharp. The Canon 50 1.4 may have been sharp at some focal distance but I could never find out as all 4 copies (new) I bought could not focus accurately.

Here's hoping this is a lens that will do justice to 50MP.

 

[JohanCruyff]

This will likely be an excellent lens, at a low price point. It also, IMO, still leaves room for an EF 50mm f/1.4 IS USM. Good work Canon.

Looking forward to this lens. It will replace my 50mm 1.4 USM which I've had to repair twice myself.

I would do the same, but if it can focus manually without power. The 50 f/1.4 still has advantages and Canon definitely will try to differentiate the new 50 STM even more to protect 50 f/1.4 sells. Otherwise they need an update for 50 f/1.4 ... or to discontinue it.

How many old >300$ish_50mm_F/1.4_sharp_from_F/2.0 will Canon sell when we can buy a new <200$ish_50mm_F/1.8 hopefully sharp wide open?


I don't think we'll have to wait very much for a new 50mm F/1.4 (or to see the present one discontinued).

 

[slclick]

And meanwhile the Sigma ART is Street Pricing at $854 and putting dents in both Canon 50 1.2's and the Otus. .I mean really, who has an Otus besides 3-4 guys on forums?


All in all, I'll try this new 50, I've had two copies of the so called 1.4 USM and they did nothing for me. I am also in the camp that thinks modern coatings, better/rounded blades will make this a slam dunk ala the pancakes.

 

[PhotographyFirst]

Speaking of distance scales. I wonder why Canon doesn't have a digital distance scale that can be displayed on the LCD with STM lenses. Their old Pro-1 had this feature and it would work well with STM lenses too.

 

[ahsanford]

How many old >300$ish_50mm_F/1.4_sharp_from_F/2.0 will Canon sell when we can buy a new <200$ish_50mm_F/1.8 hopefully sharp wide open?
I don't think we'll have to wait very much for a new 50mm F/1.4 (or to see the present one discontinued).[/font][/size]

If sharpness is the only thing you care about, I agree. All of the STM pancakes are stellar in that regard.

But there's a reason why those lenses are cheaper. I need fast/modern/reliable USM autofocusing. I still use my EF 50 f/1.4 micro USM lens over my 40 f/2.8 STM -- even though I know it is not as sharp -- because even that old hunt-y USM lens is faster than the pancake.

And IS is a really nice add for hand-held low light work, which I do pretty often.

But you have a great point -- as the majority of the market is more sharpness-oriented than AF speed oriented, I expect the current 50 f/1.4 USM sales to plummet as soon as people see how sharp this new 50 f/1.8 STM is.

- A

 

[ahsanford]

Speaking of distance scales. I wonder why Canon doesn't have a digital distance scale that can be displayed on the LCD with STM lenses. Their old Pro-1 had this feature and it would work well with STM lenses too.

Sony is actually doing this with their new Batis lenses. Looks pretty handy in that it only shows near/far distances for the current aperture -- that's a huge clarifier over the traditional slide-rule like lines we deal with today.

- A

 

[LonelyBoy]

Speaking of distance scales. I wonder why Canon doesn't have a digital distance scale that can be displayed on the LCD with STM lenses. Their old Pro-1 had this feature and it would work well with STM lenses too.

While we're wishing, I'd like a digital focal length scale for zooms.

 

[exquisitor]

This will likely be an excellent lens, at a low price point. It also, IMO, still leaves room for an EF 50mm f/1.4 IS USM. Good work Canon.

Looking forward to this lens. It will replace my 50mm 1.4 USM which I've had to repair twice myself.

I would do the same, but if it can focus manually without power. The 50 f/1.4 still has advantages and Canon definitely will try to differentiate the new 50 STM even more to protect 50 f/1.4 sells. Otherwise they need an update for 50 f/1.4 ... or to discontinue it.

How many old >300$ish_50mm_F/1.4_sharp_from_F/2.0 will Canon sell when we can buy a new <200$ish_50mm_F/1.8 hopefully sharp wide open?


I don't think we'll have to wait very much for a new 50mm F/1.4 (or to see the present one discontinued).

That was my point, the sells of 50 f/1.4 will go down, if the new 50 STM is very good. That's why imo it will be a solid upgrade from the old 50/1.8, but still leave a room for desires. STM is definitely better than micro motor, but for manual focusing it is a PITA. I suppose it will be only able to focus by-wire like 40 f/2.8 STM. And that would be a deal breaker for me, because I focus my 50 f/1.4 almost only manually.
The 50 f/1.4 is a very good lens, even wide open. It is hazy - yes, but it's still sharp and very nice for portraits and moody stuff. Nevertheless I would be glad to see an upgrade for the 50 f/1.4 some time soon. I would be definitely in the market for that one.

 

[grainier]

I do not understand fascination with metal mounts. I mean the fact the current 50/1.8 is a complete pos has nothing to do with mount, and it's not the part that breaks most often.

 

[ahsanford]

I do not understand fascination with metal mounts. I mean the fact the current 50/1.8 is a complete pos has nothing to do with mount, and it's not the part that breaks most often.

Roger Cicala at LR did a wide-ranging review of a battery of different lens designs from all his tear-down experience. What was interesting to me what the some of the most sturdy lenses (the tank-like 24-70 f/2.8L I) have metal bayonet plates sitting on plastic pillars beneath.

This is a decent read:
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2013/12/assumptions-expectations-and-plastic-mounts
(For clarity -- a 'mount' to Uncle Rog is what the bayonet bit rests on, not whether the bayonet bit is metal or plastic.)

- A

 

[Chaitanya]

49mm filter thread for a Canon lens sounds a little odd. I have a lot of Pentax lenses that use that filter thread, but never thought Canon would use that small sized filter mount. It is nice that Canon is moving to smaller size so now I can use all my Cpl, Nd and Gnd from pentax lenses with Canon kit.

 

[grainier]

Roger Cicala at LR did a wide-ranging review of a battery of different lens designs

I've read it, naturally.

 

[JohanCruyff]

What minimum focus distance (or magnification ratio) do you expect, fellow friends from Canonrumors?

 

[nc0b]

Maybe I am atypical, but I don't use a 50mm lens that often except for macro work. If I need speed, I use my 85mm f/1.8, and also usually need the extra reach on a FF body. I happen to have to residences, and the only duplicate lens I have at each place is the ancient but excellent 50mm f/2.5 lens. If I was going to buy a fast 50mm lens, I would want IS since I would likely be shooting in a dark environment where I was having to cope with ISO/noise issues and slow shutter speeds. My 6D is darn good on low noise, but I still have to worry about shutter speed and having a steady hand.

 

[ahsanford]

49mm filter thread for a Canon lens sounds a little odd. I have a lot of Pentax lenses that use that filter thread, but never thought Canon would use that small sized filter mount. It is nice that Canon is moving to smaller size so now I can use all my Cpl, Nd and Gnd from pentax lenses with Canon kit.

Surprised it's not smaller actually, given how tiny the front element appears to me. I've always wondered why a FF equiv 35-40mm FOV with the other three pancakes warranted the filter sizes they did. See attached. Looks like the rumor photo also shows a pancake tiny front element.

Anyone know why they landed on the filter diameters that they did? Could they not go smaller due to limited industry support of such tiny filters, or are those diameters actually needed (FOV / lens-design-wise) for those focal lengths for some reason?

- A

 

[aussielearner]

I can't understand how this lens can't have IS and still not be cheap.
I picked up a 55-250 STM here in Australia brand new for AUD$179.

Surely Canon could make a 50mm f1.8 with IS and still keep it under AUD$200.