• UPDATE



    The forum will be moving to a new domain in the near future (canonrumorsforum.com). I have turned off "read-only", but I will only leave the two forum nodes you see active for the time being.

    I don't know at this time how quickly the change will happen, but that will move at a good pace I am sure.

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Canon Introduces New EF 50MM F/1.8 STM Lens

Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

kphoto99 said:
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!
 
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Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

Crosswind said:
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?

For me, the main drawback of the 50/1.8 II is/was the build quality - but not the "plastic fantastic" characteristic, but the extended barrel when focusing.

This has been mentioned before, but this makes the lens *very* fragile. No problem if you're just shooting your aunt's birthday indoors, but if it's for street or outdoors you're bound to bang into something sooner or later - and there go your $125 (but you can keep the $35 lens cap :-)).

Disclaimer: I'm sure lotsa people will be just fine with this lens as STM or USM probably is a matter of preference and how important FTM is to you.

ahsanford said:
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.

Thank you, Yongnuo!

Does anybody seriously believe Canon gracing us with this constant price and update just now is a coincidence?
 
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Re: Canon Says Same Optical Formula

Crosswind said:
Mt Spokane Photography said:
"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."

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.

If I didn't already own the 50mm f/1.8 II, I would be all over this new lens. I wouldn't say I'm disappointed, I think they've made a ton of improvements here and it's a worthy successor to the super popular plastic fantastic. I would have no issues recommending it. I am just realizing I'm in the market for an upgrade rather than a replacement. As much as the drawbacks of the plastic fantastic annoy me I think I can live with it, considering I'd basically be getting the same images out of the new one (aside from the less pentagonal bokeh). I'd rather save the money for a 35mm f/2 IS, which is a more fully featured lens (USM and IS) to be my new "normal" prime.
 
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dboris said:
Thanks!!

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/review/lens_review_2/20150514_701745.html

Fascinating. Those side by sides look more like three nifty fifties and less like two nifty fifties and a pancake. I recognize the physical height is similar, but now I see the front element baffle... it really looks more like a more efficiently packed 50 f/1.8 II than a standalone design.

Now we know that it's the same optical formula, this shouldn't surprise me (but it still kind of does).

- A
 
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Pic from the same person who did the above video:

X87FDlb.jpg
 
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SpuTTer said:
Found a video that shows the focus noise (or lack of!),

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7zm5xeVex4

It's hard to determine how much noise it makes because there's so much background noise (intentional to hide the motor sound?). It's obviously quieter than the mkII, but if you listen closely it makes the 40mm STM, Robocop-like noise while focusing. A bit off topic, but do all STM lenses make that noise? How about the 24mm STM?
 
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I was able to track down the originator of the video to this post here at Reddit:

http://www.reddit.com/r/photography/comments/35y57g/today_i_had_a_brief_handson_time_with_the_new/

He said he's open to questions if anyone had any.
 
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