Canon Introduces New EF 50MM F/1.8 STM Lens

[Woody]

Yawn. Minimal re-hash of the old formula.

I checked the performance of the recent (Sep 2014) Nikon 50 mm f/1.8G against the ancient (since 1990) Canon equivalent. Look very similar even though one is fairly recent and the other ancient. What's there to complain?

 

[mistaspeedy]

Absolutely amazing - they kept the price the same and any improvements made are welcome.
More accurate autofocus, better construction, better aperture blades, better lens coatings, closer minimum focus distance. I will certainly buy it

 

[Policar]

The lens is a replacement for the existing low cost 50mm, and is badly needed. Metal mount, better center resolution (at f/8), hopefully more accurate and repeatable autofocus. For beginning photographers and those on a budget, there is excellent performance when stopped down.

I do expect that it is a Gauss optical design as used for the past 100+ years, and similar to the existing optical design. The existing design is plenty sharp, but needs the improvements they have made, better AF motor, metal mount, 7 aperture blades. Taken together, its a substantial improvement.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-Gauss_lens

There is only do much that can be done to a lens and sell it for a low price. Exotic glass, 22 elements, and the like would run the price way up. That kind of stuff is for the "L" lenses.

The Nikon 50mm f1.8 G updated the double guess design significantly and Canon's pancakes all incorporate aspherical elements, which it appears this won't.

Going to be hard to decide between this and the pancake for me. 40mm is a delicious focal length for landscape, but I already have it on my 17-40mm, just with brutally low mtf.

 

[Sporgon]

Looks like it's coming with a new 8000D too

http://www.lens-rumors.com/canon-ef-50mm-f1-8-stm-lens-sample-images/

 

[benique]

Looks like it's coming with a new 8000D too

Nope. It came out already. It's the Japanese name for the 760D.

 

[Sporgon]

Looks like it's coming with a new 8000D too

Nope. It came out already. It's the Japanese name for the 760D.

Oh darn...! ;D

 

[AlanF]

Is spending $30 on a protective filter for a $125 lens sensible, especially when the front element is deeply buried?

 

[vjlex]

Ah, I just realized why the price seems so cheap. The dollar is really strong compared to the yen right now. The MSRP in Japan is 19,500 yen (historically about $195). That said, for anyone in Japan thinking about this lens, it can probably be picked up for about 14,000 yen if you know where to shop. Still a pretty sweet price for what it offers in my opinion.

 

[Maiaibing]

It its good to see Canon understands that the cheap 50mm option fills a key role in the Canon lineup.

It comes at a price that allows each and every Canon DSLR owner to dramatically increase his/hers shooting options and flexibility when it comes to visual impact just as it adds a couple of extra shooting hours every day compared to the f/4-5.6 standard zoom options that many (most?) DSLR seem to rely on.

A lens that can add more to your photography than moving from a Rebel to a 5DIII - for 128$. Almost a must buy for anyone without a fast prime to work with.

 

[Ashran]

Honestly I was hoping to change my old 50mm 1.8 with a new edition of the 50mm 1.4 ... but given the low price of the new 50mm 1.8 I think I'll end up buying it.

 

[Bennymiata]

It's great to see Canon making a good update to the nifty fifty AND keeping the price so low.
This update makes the nifty fifty a very viable lens (especially for the money) and far more useable than the II.

I look forward to the test results and if they are decent, I'll add one to my collection.

 

[Hjalmarg1]

+2 (and circular) aperture blades
Reduced minimum focus distance
Optically more than decent...
Price lower than expected

=> 1. Hard to resist the temptation to give it a try
=> 2. Leaves room for a better (and more expensive) 50mm 1.4 II

Agreed, however, looking at the MTF charts there isn't any improvement in contrast and resolution for wide open aperture. Just slight improvement for the curves at f/8.
It sounds that Canon didn't want to canibalize the sales for current or a new 50mm f/1.4 (II) lens

 

[Hjalmarg1]

If it weren't for the nearly identical MTF charts this would probably be an instant buy for me, but knowing that it's basically the same lens in an improved body, and knowing I probably won't be able to sell my old one has me hesitating. Most of all I'm personally facing the realization that I may actually prefer 35mm to 50mm, and upgrading my nifty fifty will mean I have to wait even longer before I can give the 35mm f/2 IS a try.

35mm f/2 IS runs in another (superior) league.

 

[meywd]

I have loved the nifty fifty since before I owned it, but the slow AF and the softness wide open makes me use it rarely, after getting the 70-200 2.8 IS II it only gets out when I am lazy or when its too dark, and even with the 5D3 I rarely get a picture I like due to the noise, which makes the photo extra soft, and so I plan on getting the Sigma 50 or 35 Art or if canon comes up with a new 50 1.4 that is as sharp as the Art series, still at this price point, if the focus issue is solved I might get it.

 

[exquisitor]

Good news! This means the new 50 f/1.4 will come!
The new 50 f/1.8 is essentially in the same price and optical range as the old one, so there is definitely a room for 50 f/1.4.

 

[NorbR]

Well I'm certainly happy with this price ! I really expected it to be introduced at $199. Excellent news.

So it will be the same optically as the old nifty fifty. Hey, more good news. I never had any problem with the optical quality of that old lens, and at that price and for that small a lens, I'll take the slight softness wide open. What I couldn't bear on the old one was the crappy, inaccurate, loud micro-motor. And here I have no doubt that the new STM will be better on all counts.

 

[Chaitanya]

I remember in India anyone who wants to grt serious with photography and move away from kit lens, old 50mm 1.8 was their first choice as it was cheap and had better IQ. Looks like this new lens will sell like hot cakes amongst that crowd. I would like to give it a try for use with extension tubes/bellows for macro work.

 

[Joey]

who intends to buy the lens, and what do you intend to use it for?

I will buy it, for crop sensor portraits. My current portrait lens is the EFS 60mm f/2.8 macro, and the 50mm lens will be a better focal length in tight spaces, and will let in over a stop more light, so stronger differential focus effects. I don't currently have a nifty fifty or any other 50mm lens, so the new lens, which appears to be optically identical to the old one but with better coatings, closer focussing, different AF motor more suited to video work, and better construction quality, will be a valuable addition to my bag.

Also it appears to have a deeply recessed front element, so I won't be buying a lens hood or 'protective filter' for it, saving pennies.

The US price is $125.99 plus local taxes so about $140 for many buyers over there? The UK price (Wex Photographic the only supplier who have a price yet) appears to be £129 including VAT or about $199.70 - aren't you all glad you're US purchasers?!

 

[ajperk]

For the same price as before, it looks like Canon improved all the major flaws of the nifty-fifty: bad focusing, bad bokeh, bad build quality (okay, it's still plastic and all, but if it's like the 40mm then it will feel plenty solid for it's price). It indeed looks optically nearly the same, but for me (and for the price) it was never the optical quality that I was bothered by.

I went ahead and pre-ordered one.

 

[Loswr]

Yawn. Minimal re-hash of the old formula. ... How ridiculous. Same old stupid canon. Innovation? Zilch.

Well if there's one thing more boring and non-innovative than Canon, it's AvTvM's incessant complaining about their supposed lack of innovation.

:

As for the new lens, it's a straightforward and modest update to an entry-level fast prime, while maintaining a very reasonable cost.