Canon Introduces New EF 50MM F/1.8 STM Lens

[Mt Spokane Photography]

EF 50MM F/1.8 STM Lens Sleazy Advertisement from Beach Camera

I received a e-mail today with a title line saying to save $75 on the new lens. What it claimed was that the MSRP was $200 and I could get it for $125. Canon says estimated street price of $125.99 or close to that. I've lowered my already low opinion of them even lower. I have bought a lens from them several years back, and it was fine, but nothing since.

http://www.beachcamera.com/assets/thehub/23435/23435-bc.html



B&H and even Amazon do not claim a $200 MSRP.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X8MRBCW/ref=sr_ob_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431471914&sr=8-1

 

[meywd]

Re: EF 50MM F/1.8 STM Lens Sleazy Advertisement from Beach Camera

I received a e-mail today with a title line saying to save $75 on the new lens. What it claimed was that the MSRP was $200 and I could get it for $125. Canon says estimated street price of $125.99 or close to that. I've lowered my already low opinion of them even lower. I have bought a lens from them several years back, and it was fine, but nothing since.

http://www.beachcamera.com/assets/thehub/23435/23435-bc.html



B&H and even Amazon do not claim a $200 MSRP.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X8MRBCW/ref=sr_ob_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431471914&sr=8-1

If you check Amazon Japan, you will see a different story, and as someone said earlier, the current exchange rate is affecting this price, if it were released in early 2013 it would have cost more.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

Canon Says Same Optical Formula

No optical improvement?

http://www.cameraegg.org/ef-50mm-f1-8-stm-lens-sample-images/

Look at those samples.

On 8000D/760D, at 1.8, 1/250.
Nice sharpness on the eye.
Impossible to get a such quality-shoot at 1.8 with the MKII version.

So I'm 100% sold on this. I will take one day 1.

Edit: I wonder if these pic are fake?
Only seen on this website
I hope not...

Canon has confirmed that it uses the same optical formula.

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/News/News-Post.aspx?News=15070

"Does the new 50mm STM contain the same optics design as the 50mm f/1.8 II?" question, Canon U.S.A.'s extremely knowledgeable Chuck Westfall responded:

"Yes, the optics of the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM are the same as the original EF 50mm f/1.8 and EF 50mm f/1.8 II."

So, there it is, right from Canon.

There is a long list of improvements, including a focus ring wide enough to actually use for manual focus.

 

[Marsu42]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

"Yes, the optics of the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM are the same as the original EF 50mm f/1.8 and EF 50mm f/1.8 II."

Ugh, that's not exactly exciting given the performance of the 50/1.8 which I own but never use for a reason - bad bokeh, blurry wide open & dangerous construction b/c a hit on the extended barrel is likely to kill the lens.

If I understand this correctly, the main reason seems to be to get ahead of Yn and add a patented tech (stm) that cannot be copied yet. Let's hope they'll do a real update of the 50/1.4 soon...

 

[Loswr]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

"Yes, the optics of the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM are the same as the original EF 50mm f/1.8 and EF 50mm f/1.8 II."

Ugh, that's not exactly exciting...

They improved nearly everything but the optics, and kept the price the same. I think that is pretty exciting given that it's an entry level lens and the optics are pretty darn good for the price.

If it's any consolation, DxOMark says it's as good as the 600/4 II which is >90x more expensive.

 

[JohanCruyff]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

"Yes, the optics of the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM are the same as the original EF 50mm f/1.8 and EF 50mm f/1.8 II."

Ugh, that's not exactly exciting...

They improved nearly everything but the optics, and kept the price the same. I think that is pretty exciting given that it's an entry level lens and the optics are pretty darn good for the price.

If it's any consolation, DxOMark says it's as good as the 600/4 II which is >90x more expensive.

Some people expect the new 50mm to have an improved T-value, which is a very important parameter according to DxOMark. It would be no surprise to discover that the 50mm F/1.8 STM outperforms the 600 F/4, as every creature living in this world expects.

 

[chromophore]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

"Yes, the optics of the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM are the same as the original EF 50mm f/1.8 and EF 50mm f/1.8 II."

Ugh, that's not exactly exciting...

They improved nearly everything but the optics, and kept the price the same. I think that is pretty exciting given that it's an entry level lens and the optics are pretty darn good for the price.

If it's any consolation, DxOMark says it's as good as the 600/4 II which is >90x more expensive.

Lens redesigns are not frequent events. They happen to a given model maybe once every 10-20 years, if that. So I see these updates as opportunities to make changes that look toward the future, because this version is going to be around for a long time.

In this context, the lack of any optical formula revision is a disappointment, not because the current formula is bad or unsatisfactory, but because the inherent nature of photographic optics design is that there is always room for improvement. Compromises are always made. For something as simple as a double-gauss design, I find it inconceivable that there should be such "perfection" attained at this price point that there is no further improvement possible, or that the state of lens design and materials science have not advanced in the past two decades to permit some kind of revision to the optics.

In fact, let's consider that there exist old, manual-focus lenses that were built with comparable or faster apertures that easily outperform the 50/1.8's formula. If this was possible with the processes available almost half a century ago, why can't it be done today for less?

I don't expect the 50/1.8 to be Zeiss quality for $125. It's a budget lens for a budget audience. But if a mechanical/cosmetic update is all that users get for yet another 20 years, does that not seem like a wasted opportunity for a company that professes to strive for the best possible products to offer their consumers?

 

[ahsanford]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

I don't expect the 50/1.8 to be Zeiss quality for $125. It's a budget lens for a budget audience. But if a mechanical/cosmetic update is all that users get for yet another 20 years, does that not seem like a wasted opportunity for a company that professes to strive for the best possible products to offer their consumers?

This, of course, begs the question for those folks salivating for the 50 f/nooneknows IS USM:

If the 50 f/nooneknows IS USM has all the 'infrastructure' upgrades we're expecting (IS, modern/fast/reliable ring USM, internal focusing, etc.) but it has the exact same optical formula as the EF 50 f/1.4 USM, would you still buy it?

I probably still would, as AF speed/reliability is a huge issue with that lens, but I'm guessing that many people would not. They want something sharper, especially on the wide open end.

- A

 

[bereninga]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

"Yes, the optics of the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM are the same as the original EF 50mm f/1.8 and EF 50mm f/1.8 II."

Ugh, that's not exactly exciting...

They improved nearly everything but the optics, and kept the price the same. I think that is pretty exciting given that it's an entry level lens and the optics are pretty darn good for the price.

If it's any consolation, DxOMark says it's as good as the 600/4 II which is >90x more expensive.

Lens redesigns are not frequent events. They happen to a given model maybe once every 10-20 years, if that. So I see these updates as opportunities to make changes that look toward the future, because this version is going to be around for a long time.

In this context, the lack of any optical formula revision is a disappointment, not because the current formula is bad or unsatisfactory, but because the inherent nature of photographic optics design is that there is always room for improvement. Compromises are always made. For something as simple as a double-gauss design, I find it inconceivable that there should be such "perfection" attained at this price point that there is no further improvement possible, or that the state of lens design and materials science have not advanced in the past two decades to permit some kind of revision to the optics.

In fact, let's consider that there exist old, manual-focus lenses that were built with comparable or faster apertures that easily outperform the 50/1.8's formula. If this was possible with the processes available almost half a century ago, why can't it be done today for less?

I don't expect the 50/1.8 to be Zeiss quality for $125. It's a budget lens for a budget audience. But if a mechanical/cosmetic update is all that users get for yet another 20 years, does that not seem like a wasted opportunity for a company that professes to strive for the best possible products to offer their consumers?

Couldn't agree more here.

I feel like Canon just gave the customers what they already could have given previously, and made this seem like an upgrade.

 

[JohanCruyff]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

I don't expect the 50/1.8 to be Zeiss quality for $125. It's a budget lens for a budget audience. But if a mechanical/cosmetic update is all that users get for yet another 20 years, does that not seem like a wasted opportunity for a company that professes to strive for the best possible products to offer their consumers?

This, of course, begs the question for those folks salivating for the 50 f/nooneknows IS USM:

If the 50 f/nooneknows IS USM has all the 'infrastructure' upgrades we're expecting (IS, modern/fast/reliable ring USM, internal focusing, etc.) but it has the exact same optical formula as the EF 50 f/1.4 USM, would you still buy it?

I probably still would, as AF speed/reliability is a huge issue with that lens, but I'm guessing that many people would not. They want something sharper, especially on the wide open end.

- A

I think that
a) I'll buy the new 50 F/1.8 STM,
b) then I'll see the specs (and the tests) of the 50 f/nooneknows IS USM,
c) then decide whether to keep the 1.8 STM or
d) to sell the 1.8 STM (with an expected 20 Eur loss) and move to the f/nooneknows.
In case (d), it will be like renting a lens for a year (or two?) and paying a rental fee of about 1 Eur per month. I won't sue Canon for this unexpensive deal.

 

[e17paul]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

"Yes, the optics of the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM are the same as the original EF 50mm f/1.8 and EF 50mm f/1.8 II."

Ugh, that's not exactly exciting...

They improved nearly everything but the optics, and kept the price the same. I think that is pretty exciting given that it's an entry level lens and the optics are pretty darn good for the price.

If it's any consolation, DxOMark says it's as good as the 600/4 II which is >90x more expensive.

Not to mention, the new aperture will probably fix the bokeh. I'm not sure whether the new aperture blades will do anything to change the wide open characteristics.

I sold my 50/1.8 II to move to a 50/2.5 macro. The new featurea, and newly acknowledged (or enabled) close focus (0.35m instead of 0.45m) may tempt me to switch back to the 1.8, but the new STM model.

 

[Loswr]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

"Yes, the optics of the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM are the same as the original EF 50mm f/1.8 and EF 50mm f/1.8 II."

Ugh, that's not exactly exciting...

They improved nearly everything but the optics, and kept the price the same. I think that is pretty exciting given that it's an entry level lens and the optics are pretty darn good for the price.

If it's any consolation, DxOMark says it's as good as the 600/4 II which is >90x more expensive.

Lens redesigns are not frequent events. They happen to a given model maybe once every 10-20 years, if that. So I see these updates as opportunities to make changes that look toward the future, because this version is going to be around for a long time.

In this context, the lack of any optical formula revision is a disappointment, not because the current formula is bad or unsatisfactory, but because the inherent nature of photographic optics design is that there is always room for improvement. Compromises are always made. For something as simple as a double-gauss design, I find it inconceivable that there should be such "perfection" attained at this price point that there is no further improvement possible, or that the state of lens design and materials science have not advanced in the past two decades to permit some kind of revision to the optics.

In fact, let's consider that there exist old, manual-focus lenses that were built with comparable or faster apertures that easily outperform the 50/1.8's formula. If this was possible with the processes available almost half a century ago, why can't it be done today for less?

I don't expect the 50/1.8 to be Zeiss quality for $125. It's a budget lens for a budget audience. But if a mechanical/cosmetic update is all that users get for yet another 20 years, does that not seem like a wasted opportunity for a company that professes to strive for the best possible products to offer their consumers?

R&D resources are finite. Would you have preferred a slightly improved optical formula but the same plastic lens mount? As you state, compromises are made – that applies not only to the product but also to the design process.

Just to point out, they did add, "Super Spectra Coating (SSC), translating into less ghosting and flaring than the previous model, while at the same time helping to enhance light transmission and optimize color reproduction accuracy."

 

[ahsanford]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

You're right, sir. Well, the optics are the same - that doesn't mean it's delivering the same optical performance. I have a feeling that some people here are kind of disappointed with Canon's new 50. I can't see why. Is it because of the missing IS or focus window (lol)... or is it because of STM-only?

Is STM actually that bad when compared to USM-driven lenses? I never really had one. If it's slower... that's ok (as I expect it to be) - as long as the focus is precise.

Yes. I'm holding out for USM at the next-higher price point. It's markedly faster for stills. But I'm not upset about the new 50 1.8 STM at all -- it should be a fine lens.

I think some folks are bummed that this 50 1.8 STM lens lacks a clear must-have over its predecessor, like IS, USM, or a new optical formula. But I'm sorry, folks are getting 2 more blades, curved blades, STM, increased max magnification -- all for no increase in price. Photographers should say thank you to Canon for that.

Anyone with more demanding/exacting expectations should be ponying up more money for a more fully-featured lens, like the Sigma Art, the current EF 50 f/1.4, etc.

- A

 

[Loswr]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

I think some folks are bummed that this 50 1.8 STM lens lacks a clear must-have over its predecessor, like IS, USM, or a new optical formula. But I'm sorry, folks are getting 2 more blades, curved blades, STM, increased max magnification -- all for no increase in price. Photographers should say thank you to Canon for that.

Blasphemy! We should get much more, and they should charge even less.

I bet Canon is paying you to post here....

 

[slclick]

Folks would complain if you gave them world peace

 

[meywd]

Folks would complain if you gave them world peace

+1 because what they really want is world domination

 

[kphoto99]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

You're right, sir. Well, the optics are the same - that doesn't mean it's delivering the same optical performance. I have a feeling that some people here are kind of disappointed with Canon's new 50. I can't see why. Is it because of the missing IS or focus window (lol)... or is it because of STM-only?

Is STM actually that bad when compared to USM-driven lenses? I never really had one. If it's slower... that's ok (as I expect it to be) - as long as the focus is precise.

Yes. I'm holding out for USM at the next-higher price point. It's markedly faster for stills. But I'm not upset about the new 50 1.8 STM at all -- it should be a fine lens.

I think some folks are bummed that this 50 1.8 STM lens lacks a clear must-have over its predecessor, like IS, USM, or a new optical formula. But I'm sorry, folks are getting 2 more blades, curved blades, STM, increased max magnification -- all for no increase in price. Photographers should say thank you to Canon for that.

Anyone with more demanding/exacting expectations should be ponying up more money for a more fully-featured lens, like the Sigma Art, the current EF 50 f/1.4, etc.

- A

It may be that the "all for no increase in price" is true in US, but here in Canada, the old one is C$130 and the new one is C$170 (about US$140 at current exchange rate).

As a side thought, how long does it take from the time Canon decides to update this lens and announcing it for sale?
The reason I'm asking is I think that the process would be at least a year. A year ago there was no way of knowing how the Yongnuo 50 f/1.8 would compare to the 1.8II. So Canon felt safe not to update the optical formula for the 50 STM. Recent test have shown that the YN 50 f1.8 is a bit better optically then the 50 1.8 II.

 

[zlatko]

I predict it will be an excellent lens at f/5.6.

Just kidding. It might be good even wide open. Let's wait and see.

 

[degos]

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

It may be that the "all for no increase in price" is true in US, but here in Canada, the old one is C$130 and the new one is C$170 (about US$140 at current exchange rate).

Likewise in the UK, £129 versus various prices less than £88. The Mk II is currently £72 on Amazon UK, for example, and has been as low as £61 ( new, from Amazon ).

Still, better than what they did with the prices of the 24 / 28 / 35 primes!

 

[slclick]

Yeah but you have all that great food and royalty we lack in the colonies.