Canon EF 50mm lens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The EF 50mm lenses are a group of normal prime lenses made by Canon Inc. that share the same focal length.
These lenses have an EF type mount, that fits the Canon EOS line of cameras.
When used on a digital EOS body with a field of view compensation factor of 1.6x, such as the Canon EOS 400D, it provides a narrower field of view, equivalent to an 80 mm lens mounted on a 35mm frame body. With a 1.3x body such as the Canon EOS-1D Mark III It provides a less narrow field of view, equivalent to an 65mm lens mounted on a 35mm frame body.
Six EF 50mm lenses have been available. Two of these are L series lenses, and three are USM series.
Since the f/1.2L, f/1.4 and f/1.8 lenses can provide very similar wide-aperture shots but have very difference price tags, they have naturally been the subject of many in depth comparisons. Generally, the f/1.8 lens provides almost identical image quality to the more expenses lenses when used at f/1.8, although the bokeh quality is not as smooth since it's aperture is not as circular. Despite this, many professional users will not use the cheaper lens because of it cheap looks.
- f/1.0L USM[1] (discontinued, replaced by f/1.2L)
- f/1.2L USM[2]
- f/1.4 USM[3]
- f/1.8[4] (discontinued, replaced by f/1.8 II)
- f/1.8 II[5]
- f/2.5 Compact Macro[6]
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[edit] EF 50mm f/1.0L USM
The EF 50mm f/1.0L USM is a professional L series lens, that is now discontinued. It was the only f/1.0 lens that Canon made for the EF mount. This lens is constructed with a metal body and mount, and with plastic extremities. Features of this lens are a wide rubber focus ring that is damped, a distance window with infrared index, and the ability to set the focus range from, 0.6m to infinity, or 1m to infinity. An 8 blade, maximum aperture of f/1.0, gives this lens the ability to create extremely shallow depth of field effects, and be used in very low light situations. The optical construction of this lens contains 11 lens elements, including two ground and polished aspherical lens elements. This lens uses a floating front extension focusing system, powered by a ring type USM motor. The front of the lens does not rotate, but does extend when focusing.
[edit] EF 50mm f/1.2L USM
The EF 50mm f/1.2L USM is a professional L series lens, it was designed to replace the EF 50mm f/1.0L USM. It is the shorter of the only two f/1.2 lenses Canon makes, the other being the EF 85mm f//1.2L USM. It is constructed with a metal body and mount, and plastic extremities. This lens features a wide rubber focusing ring that is damped, a distance window with infrared index, and is weather sealed. A circular 8 blade, maximum aperture of f/1.2, gives this lens the ability to create very shallow depth of field effects. The optical construction of this lens contains 8 lens elements, including one ground and polished aspherical lens element. This lens uses a floating front extension focusing system, powered by a ring type USM motor. The front of the lens does not rotate, but does extend when focusing.
[edit] EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
The EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is a consumer level lens. It is constructed with a plastic body and a metal mount. This lens features a distance window with infrared index. An 8 blade, maximum aperture of f/1.4, gives this lens the ability to create shallow depth of field effects. The optical construction of this lens contains 7 lens elements, without any special lens elements. This lens uses a front extension focusing system, powered by a micro USM motor. Even though this lens uses a micro USM motor, it still has FTM available. Auto focus speed of this lens is fast, but not as quick as most ring USM based lenses. The front of the lens does not rotate, but does extend when focusing.
[edit] EF 50mm f/1.8
The EF 50mm f/1.8 is a discontinued economy level lens, which has been replaced by the EF 50mm f/1.8 II. It is constructed with a plastic body and a metal mount, and features a distance window with infrared index. A 5 blade maximum aperture of f/1.8 gives this lens the ability to create depth of field effects.
The optical construction of this lens contains 6 lens elements, with no special elements. This lens uses a front extension focusing system, powered by a micro motor, Front of the lens does not rotate when focusing, making it compatible with circular polarisers.
Auto focus speed, despite the micro motor, is moderately fast although audible.
[edit] EF 50mm f/1.8 II
The EF 50mm f/1.8 II replaced the EF 50mm f/1.8. Because of its low price but relatively high optical quality, this lens has excellent value. It is constructed with a plastic body and mount and has a very simple design with no features.
Other than the plastic mount and absense of distance window, this lens is almost identical to the first version. It is clear that due to the high optical performance of the design, Canon downgraded the build of this lens in order to promote the two higher priced offerings to professionals.[citation needed]
[edit] EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro
The EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro is a consumer level macro lens. It is constructed with a plastic body and metal mount. This lens features a distance window with infrared index, and magnification markings on the extending lens barrel. A 6 blade, maximum aperture of f/2.5, means this lens is not suited for depth of field effects, except at short focus distances. The optical construction of this lens contains 9 lens elements, without any special lens elements. This lens uses a front extension focusing system, powered by a micro motor. Auto focus speed of this lens is moderate, and does make sound. The front of the lens does not rotate when focusing, but it does extend considerably.
The EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro can produce maximum magnification of 1:2, not the 1:1 of other Canon macro lenses. The optional Life-Size Converter EF[7] will allow this lens to produce a maximum magnification of 1:1. Attaching the converter costs the lens aperture size to f/3.5, as well as a reduced focus range. This converter is propriety to the EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro, and cannot be used with any other EF lens.
[edit] Specifications of the EF 50mm lenses
| Attribute | f/1.0L USM | f/1.2L USM | f/1.4 USM | f/1.8 | f/1.8 II | f/2.5 Compact Macro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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| Image stabilizer |  No |
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| Ultrasonic Motor |  Yes |
No |
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| L-series | Yes |
No |
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| Diffractive Optics | No |
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| Macro | No |
Yes (1:2) |
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| Maximum aperture | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| Minimum aperture | 16 | 22 | 32 | |||
| Weight | 2.2 lb/985 g | 1.2 lb/545 g | 0.6 lb/290 g | lb/190 g | 0.3 lb/130 g | 0.6 lb/280 g |
| Maximum diameter | 3.6 in/91.5 mm | 3.6 in/85.4 mm | 2.9 in/73.8 mm | in/ 67.4mm | in/ 68.2mm | 2.7 in/67.6 mm |
| Length | 3.2 in/81.5 mm | 2.6 in/65.5 mm | 2.0 in/50.5 mm | 1.7 in/42.5 mm | in/41 mm | 2.5 in/63 mm |
| Filter diameter | 72 mm | 58 mm | 52 mm | |||
| Horizontal viewing angle | 40° | |||||
| Diagonal viewing angle | 46° | |||||
| Vertical viewing angle | 27° | |||||
| Groups/elements | 9/11 | 6/8 | 6/7 | 5/6 | 8/9 | |
| # of diaphragm blades | 8 | 5 | 6 | |||
| Closest focusing distance | 2 ft/0.6 m | 1.5 ft/0.45 m | 0.7 ft/0.2 m | |||
| Release date | September 1989 | August 2006 | June 1993 | March 1987 | December 1990 | December 1987 |
| Currently in production? | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| MSRP $ | $4210 | $1599 | $520 | $130 | ||
| Street Price $ | $2500 | $1599 | $315 | $80 | $230 | |
[edit] Reviews
[edit] 50mm f/1.0L USM
[edit] 50mm f/1.2L USM
[edit] 50mm f/1.4 USM
[edit] 50mm f/1.8 II
- photodo (MTF)
- photozone.de
- SLRgear.com
- The-Digital-Picture (includes comparison of 50mm lenses)
- photo.net
[edit] 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro
[edit] Life-Size Converter for 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro
[edit] Comparisons
[edit] References
- ^ Canon Inc.. EF 50mm f/1.0L USM. Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
- ^ Canon Inc.. EF 50mm f/1.2L USM. Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
- ^ Canon Inc.. EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
- ^ Canon Inc.. EF 50mm f/1.8. Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
- ^ Canon Inc.. EF 50mm f/1.8 II. Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
- ^ Canon Inc.. EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro. Canon Camera Museum. Retrieved on 2007-08-06.
- ^ Canon Inc.. Life-Size Converter EF. Canon USA. Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
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