EF 50 1.8 STM

[sulla]

I spend a lot of thought into lenses like those, I mean around f/2 sort of apertures.
With the fantastic 2.8 II zooms, I somehow don't feel the need for a prime that is only one stop faster, even if it has good IQ.
So, I decided for myself I would get primes only if they are 1.4 at least, and to not to touch e.g. the 85 f/1.8 or the 35 f/2 or the 135 f/2.
Then again, I don't shoot video, so the STM / IS combination does probably not attract me as it does others.

Did any of you arrive at a different reasoning?

 

[Khufu]

I'd happily engage in this conversation but at this point in time you're choice of title and forum seems to be some kind of bating strategy and I'm not really into engaging with people who misdirect and waste people's time from the go, sorry brah :

 

[Sporgon]

Yes I do.

Going back to around 2004 I dumped all my heavy duty a Nikon gear for a smaller, lighter system. I was sick of lugging around big, heavy bodies with big, heavy f2.8 zoom lenses. Within about the first 24 hours I realised that I'd made a big mistake; the system that I had chosen was, at that time, not in the same league as Nikon.

Then Canon brought out the 'affordable' 5D - if you can call £2600 in 2005 affordable, and I changed to Canon.

With the exception of the 1 series the bodies on their own are not heavy, in fact the 5D was only a little heavier than a bare Nikon F3; it is the lenses that make them bulky and heavy, or to be more precise, the zoom lenses.

The reason I use primes is not because they are faster. It's because they are cheaper, lighter, smaller, better in the corners of the frame at wider apertures, less chromatic aberration in the corners, entry pupil that is close to the camera body making stitching that much easier, less distortion, brighter viewfinder, balance on the camera body better.

However if I am in a fluid changing environment; sports, social etc. I would use zoom.

@ Khufu; get out of the wrong side of bed this morning ? I see nothing sinister about sulla's post.

 

[Khufu]

Ha, probably - Grumpy meee!

But I was curious about this 50mm f/1.8 STM post in the 'lens rumours' forum... New info? Intriguing insight?! But the content was unrelated and disappointing, I've seen mods lock/move posts for less.

Besides, as I said it's not a bad thread and I'd have contributed off the bat - but when I've got up on the wrong side of the bed I don't feel being baited makes for a friendly me

I was excited (and thus disappointed) by the 50mm title, okay?

 

[lintoni]

I've bought primes for specific purposes - 100mm macro and 14mm UWA, both of which are f/2.8.

I dread to think how big and heavy a f/1.4 135mm lens would be!

 

[Sporgon]

Ha, probably - Grumpy meee!

But I was curious about this 50mm f/1.8 STM post in the 'lens rumours' forum... New info? Intriguing insight?! But the content was unrelated and disappointing, I've seen mods lock/move posts for less.

Besides, as I said it's not a bad thread and I'd have contributed off the bat - but when I've got up on the wrong side of the bed I don't feel being baited makes for a friendly me

I was excited (and thus disappointed) by the 50mm title, okay?

Understand

 

[pdirestajr]

I like primes because they can be smaller, lighter, faster, have less moving parts...

I like being able to stop down to f/2.8 as opposed to being wide open at 2.8. Then having the option to open a little more if/ when needed.

The single focal length at a time also pushes my creativity with its "limitations".

 

[sulla]

ups, sorry for the topic title. I didn't want to wake wrong expectations.

It is just that I really, really was happy to hear Canon will bring a new 50 immediately, and then I learned it was 1.8 and therefore violated my own resolutions, so sudenly I was felt disappointed. I thought that was strange, because it might be a really fine lens, but then I thought again and re-confirmed my view: not enough faster than my 2.8 zooms. Just because of this I chose the title.

If you find it appropriate to move the thread from Rumors ==> Lenses to something else, please, somebody, feel free, I think I can't.

 

[tcmatthews]

Lets face it both the EF 50 1.8 and the EF 50 1.4 are in desperate need up updating.

The EF 50 1.8 is the gateway prime. It is likely that canon sells more of them than any other non kit lens. It makes perfect sense for Canon to update it. The design has likely been around for a while. They likely stopped production on parts for the FE 50 1.8 and waited for supplies to run low to finished the final run. It seems that Canon is moving all of the old micro motor lens to STM.

This makes perfect business sense. But, we all want a upgraded new version of the EF 50 1.4 with IS.

 

[zlatko]

50/1.8 STM doesn't violate any resolutions for me. I would love to see it! I use f/2.8 zooms, 4.0 zooms, 1.4 primes, 1.8 primes, 2.0 primes, 2.8 primes, etc. They're all good for something. The smaller aperture primes are great at being lightweight & small and offering fine IQ at the same time.

Some of the best 50mm lenses ever made have been f/2.0 — Leica makes two of them, one for $2K and one for $8K. The EF 35/2.0 IS justifies itself every time I use it, as do the 85/1.8 and 135/2.0. And I enjoy the 20/2.8, 24/2.8 and 28/2.8 primes — small and delightful to use.

 

[bholliman]

Even though I own some great zoom lenses, I think I enjoy shooting with my primes more. Lighter, smaller and faster are always good things and I find an am often more creative with composition when limited to one or two focal lengths. I think the OP`s f/1.4 limit it too restrictive at longer focal lengths. f/1.4 is a reasonable expectation for 50mm and less, but not for 85mm and above in my opinion. I couldn't imagine how much a 300/1.4 lens would weigh and cost!

I think it makes perfect sense for Canon to update the venerable nifty fifty. Especially with Youngo coming out with a reportedly better 50/1.8 for less. I'd really love to see a new 50/1.4 or /1.8 IS with the same optical quality and features as the terrific 35/2 IS and 28/2.8 IS.

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

Zoom lens F2.8 has great quality these days, but price and weight are the bad side.

Having the knowledge I have today, I do not buy a F1.8 lens that only will be sharp and contrast when used in F2.8, for my zoom already do this.

It is difficult to justify the purchase of some great lenses that do what my zoom already do. Some examples are:
EF 200mm F2.8
EF 24mm F2.8 IS
EF 28mm F2.8 IS

However, an F1.8 lens that is sharp and contrasted when used wide open, has a place in my wish list.

 

[Sporgon]

Some of the best 50mm lenses ever made have been f/2.0 —

So true. The favourite 50mm lens of my career is the Nikkor 50mm f/2. It was sold as a 'budget' alternative to the f/1.8 and ( in those days ) very expensive f/1.4.

Well like you do, I thought the four times more expensive f/1.4 Nikkor must be better, so I saved up for one. For years I was completely baffled as to why it wasn't as good as the f/2 lens ! Fortunately I hadn't traded the f/2 one in. I ended up trading the faster lens for something else.

So if we got an f/2 50mm STM lens that was as good at f/2 as the 40 pancake is at f/2.8 I'd be in there.

 

[beforeEos Camaras]

if its got a metal lens mount and circler iris ill get it stm ok.

I still use the 50 1.8 mk 1 its slow and noisy but built like a tank compared to the mk2 plus it even has a distance scale.

 

[zlatko]

It's worth noting that Sony's FE 55mm f/1.8 is one of the sharpest autofocus lenses ever measured by DxO, and it's not a big lens. It's not exactly a 50, but close.

 

[siegsAR]

A 50mm 1.8 STM would be perfect for me, plus it can be a carry-over if I'll go FF.

 

[Hjalmarg1]

ups, sorry for the topic title. I didn't want to wake wrong expectations.

It is just that I really, really was happy to hear Canon will bring a new 50 immediately, and then I learned it was 1.8 and therefore violated my own resolutions, so sudenly I was felt disappointed. I thought that was strange, because it might be a really fine lens, but then I thought again and re-confirmed my view: not enough faster than my 2.8 zooms. Just because of this I chose the title.

If you find it appropriate to move the thread from Rumors ==> Lenses to something else, please, somebody, feel free, I think I can't.

Hi Sulla,

I like primes because they can be smaller, lighter, faster, less CA and very good sharpness. I am with you that normally I don't buy primes that are as fast as my zooms but, two primes that I have have changed completely my thinking. These are my 100mm f2.8L IS that is the best (specialty) Macro lens and the (light-weight) 35mm f2 IS since this single focal length pushes my creativity and it's my best walk-around lens (in my 5D3) for street photography. The later features excellent IQ, color rendition, AF and effective IS. I can carry it the whole day and not feeling I am lugging a 24-70/2.8 brick.

 

[AvTvM]

if EF 50/1.8 STM is as small, cheap and sharp wide open as the EF 40/2.8 STM, I'll buy it. Otherwise, no thanks.

 

[Marsu42]

if EF 50/1.8 STM is as small, cheap and sharp wide open as the EF 40/2.8 STM, I'll buy it. Otherwise, no thanks.

For me, it depends on the price. As I don't use primes very often buying a (still unsealed) Sigma 50mm "art" doesn't make sense, but neither does using the abysmal Canon 50/1.8 I already own.

If they want my business, they really have to pull a rabbit out of the hat - i.e. the 50/stm should be sharp wide open, have good bokeh and arrive under €200 (comparison: the 50/1.4 is €300). Won't happen, of course...

 

[Maximilian]

Did any of you arrive at a different reasoning?

Hi sulla!

I very often end up with a zoom not knowing what I am to expect so I have all the flexibility.
But I have a soft spot for primes because they are light, optimized for one dedicated focal lenght and lack the need of making compromises like zooms. OTOH you'll have to know what you want to do when you pick up a prime.
Having a prime with an aperture close to the (high quality) zoom alternative makes it hard to argue.
But a 50 mm f/1.8 STM is surely not aiming at the owners of a f/2.8 zoom but at the kit zoom owners and those wanting to access the "prime world" with low budget.

So ...

If they want my business, they really have to pull a rabbit out of the hat - i.e. the 50/stm should be sharp wide open, have good bokeh and arrive under €200 (comparison: the 50/1.4 is €300). Won't happen, of course...

... seeing what Canon did with the pancaces and other STM lenses I wouldn't say "Won't happen". Maybe they can take us by surprise.

I'd still prefer a 50 mm f/1.4 USM (not as big and complex as the "Art" or the "Otus") but I also haven't ever thought about buying the shortyfourty when it was announced. And now I think it's a really funny, nice little lens (but with slow AF).