Canon Introduces New EF 50MM F/1.8 STM Lens

[ahsanford]

A decent usm 50/1.4 update, anyone?

I'm up for a 50/1.4 update.

Sight unseen, I'd pre-order on day one if it's the non-L IS refresh that we expect is coming.

- A

 

[LonelyBoy]

It's the same optical formula but the results are different. How many years has it been since the MkII? Surely Canon has figured something out in regards to improving IQ using the same formula in that time?

I expect so - and that's not very hard to do considering the 50/1.8 II was intended to be a cheap low-iq lens even back then, plastic mount at all. So a relative improvement is all nice and such, but not necessarily something to get excited about in the year 2015 a.d. unless this is just what you're looking for. A decent usm 50/1.4 update, anyone?

Plastic fantastic was my first prime and I loved it and yes a slightly better version for cheap is exactly what I'm looking for! Placed my order today!

Me too. Damn you all!

 

[jocau]

I tried to use mine as a reverse macro lens, but it's useless as it isn't sharp enough wide open and there's no manual aperture control.

It's not useless because for macro you just don't use it wide open. Way too little DoF that way. Set it to F/8 and then use it as a reverse macro lens. At least that's the way I do it. To achieve this you...

- Mount the lens normally on a Canon DSLR.
- Set the camera to e.g. Av or M mode.
- Set the desired aperture (e.g. F/8).
- Press and hold the DoF Preview Button (near the lens mount).
- While holding down the DoF Preview Button, unmount the lens. The aperture will stay at your selected aperture.
- Attach the lens to the macro reverse ring and the macro reverse ring to the camera.

 

[Solar Eagle]

Well, for a good giggle look at this: http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ISO-12233-Sample-Crops.aspx?Lens=941&Camera=453&Sample=0&FLI=0&API=1&LensComp=989&CameraComp=453&SampleComp=0&FLIComp=0&APIComp=0

Same image quality at f4 and beyond for 1/5 the weight and 1/7 the price? That IS good for a giggle. Wide open to wide open is not that far off either.

 

[Solar Eagle]

Re: TDP: 50mm 1.8 MkII vs. STM Image Quality

Since Chuck Westfall of Canon has already said that the lenses use the same optical formula, and difference is likely to be sample related.

The elements do have a totally different appearance. The formula is the same but I don't think the lenses are. Maybe its just the coating that gives that look but I would think all Mk II were made with aged glass and machine standards while the STM is made with their current methods.

 

[tolusina]

......

It's not useless because for macro you just don't use it wide open. Way too little DoF that way. Set it to F/8 and then use it as a reverse macro lens. At least that's the way I do it. To achieve this you...

- Mount the lens normally on a Canon DSLR.
- Set the camera to e.g. Av or M mode.
- Set the desired aperture (e.g. F/8).
- Press and hold the DoF Preview Button (near the lens mount).
- While holding down the DoF Preview Button, unmount the lens. The aperture will stay at your selected aperture.
- Attach the lens to the macro reverse ring and the macro reverse ring to the camera.

How does one adjust focus on an STM lens when it's reverse mounted and electrically disconnected from the camera body?

 

[jocau]

......

It's not useless because for macro you just don't use it wide open. Way too little DoF that way. Set it to F/8 and then use it as a reverse macro lens. At least that's the way I do it. To achieve this you...

- Mount the lens normally on a Canon DSLR.
- Set the camera to e.g. Av or M mode.
- Set the desired aperture (e.g. F/8).
- Press and hold the DoF Preview Button (near the lens mount).
- While holding down the DoF Preview Button, unmount the lens. The aperture will stay at your selected aperture.
- Attach the lens to the macro reverse ring and the macro reverse ring to the camera.

How does one adjust focus on an STM lens when it's reverse mounted and electrically disconnected from the camera body?

The way I do it with my EF 50mm F/1.8 II and my reverse ring is by moving towards or away from the subject. You can clearly see (parts of) the subject come into focus that way.

 

[Solar Eagle]

- Mount the lens normally on a Canon DSLR.
- Set the camera to e.g. Av or M mode.
- Set the desired aperture (e.g. F/8).
- Press and hold the DoF Preview Button (near the lens mount).
- While holding down the DoF Preview Button, unmount the lens. The aperture will stay at your selected aperture.
- Attach the lens to the macro reverse ring and the macro reverse ring to the camera.

THANKS for posting this.

 

[jocau]

- Mount the lens normally on a Canon DSLR.
- Set the camera to e.g. Av or M mode.
- Set the desired aperture (e.g. F/8).
- Press and hold the DoF Preview Button (near the lens mount).
- While holding down the DoF Preview Button, unmount the lens. The aperture will stay at your selected aperture.
- Attach the lens to the macro reverse ring and the macro reverse ring to the camera.

THANKS for posting this.

You're welcome.

 

[Marsu42]

I tried to use mine as a reverse macro lens, but it's useless as it isn't sharp enough wide open and there's no manual aperture control.

It's not useless because for macro you just don't use it wide open. Way too little DoF that way. Set it to F/8 and then use it as a reverse macro lens. At least that's the way I do it. To achieve this you...

Thanks for pointinting out this method, I didn't know that back than... but now I've got a "real" macro lens .

In any case, 50mm isn't the optimal focal length for this purpose b/c in reverse mode you usually want to have something as wide as possible for larger magnification.

 

[Zv]

I got mines yesterday. Only had a quick play about with it but I'm liking the results at f/1.8!

 

[Bennymiata]

I bought one today in Sydney for Aus$166.00 from a bricks and mortar retailer.
This includes a 10% tax, and with today's exchange rate, it's actually a few $$ cheaper in Oz than it is in the US including our tax.

Seems to work OK, especially for the money.

 

[guidoz]

any good review already available?

 

[markdc70]

Here is the only one I have found so far: http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/905-canon_50_18stm Although they haven't completed the review yet, the digital picture has it in their lens comparison tool data banks.

 

[ahsanford]

any good review already available?

PZ's is up:

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/905-canon_50_18stm

 

[Meerkat]

This lens is a lot of fun. Small and focuses accurately. Feels very good on a 6D. The out of focus areas look ok most of the time, sometimes ugly...

I'm having a great time with it.

 

[Sporgon]

This lens is a lot of fun. Small and focuses accurately. Feels very good on a 6D. The out of focus areas look ok most of the time, sometimes ugly...

I'm having a great time with it.

I guess you got a lens and she got a handbag ? Guys toys are so much better value !

 

[Meerkat]

Right on, Sporgon! But this lens doesn't count because of the low cost

 

[dcm]

Just received mine. Plan to use it mostly wide open for low light, sometimes for background blur. Initial tests with the M3 are promising. MF with focus peaking works well for DOF control, but the MF-by-wire can be a little clumsy. Doubt I will use it much with the 6D.

 

[Marsu42]

This lens is a lot of fun. Small and focuses accurately. Feels very good on a 6D. The out of focus areas look ok most of the time, sometimes ugly... I'm having a great time with it.

No doubt it's just fine in an absolute sense for smaller export sizes, but considering the wisdom of "glass first" one could question the combination of a €140 lens on a €1400 camera body.

I have to admit the longer I read this thread, the stranger it feels that Canon is - of all things - updating their ancient 50/1.8 with a rather similar version with same optical design after decades.

For a full frame camera, an update of their equally ancient micro-usm "hit or miss" 50/1.4 would be what what should have taken place, but obviously Canon marketing vetoed that b/c they want to keep selling their L...