Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro vs Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
Side-by-side comparison from our catalogue data. Better values are highlighted only where a clear difference exists.
Verdict at a glance
- Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM is faster by 7.7 stops (f/3.5 vs f/50.0), letting in more light.
- Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro is lighter by 810g.
- Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro goes wider (50mm vs 180mm).
- Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM reaches further (180mm vs 50mm).
- Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM is the newer design (1996 vs 1987).
| Spec | EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro | EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Canon | Canon |
| Mount | Canon EF | Canon EF |
| Type | Macro | Macro |
| Focal length | 50mm (wider) | 180mm |
| Max aperture | f/50.0 | f/3.5 (faster) |
| Released | 1987 | 1996 |
| Blades | 6 | 8 |
| Format | full-frame | full-frame |
| Groups | 8 | 12 |
| Elements | 9 | 14 |
| Weight g | 280.0 (lighter) | 1090.0 |
| Filter mm | 52 | 72 |
| Length mm | 63.0 | 186.6 |
| Diameter mm | 67.6 | 82.5 |
| Min focus m | 0.23 (closer focusing) | 0.48 |
| Max magnification | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| Af motor | n/a | USM |
Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro
The EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro is a compact macro prime that reaches half life-size natively. A separate Life-Size Converter was sold to reach 1:1.
Pros
- Compact and light
- Sharp
- Simple macro option
Cons
- Only 1:2 without converter
- Slower AF
- No stabilization
Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L Macro USM
A long macro lens with 1:1 magnification and a generous working distance, popular for insects and skittish subjects.
Pros
- Long working distance
- Sharp
- 1:1 magnification
- L build
Cons
- No image stabilization
- Heavy (about 1.1 kg)
- Very narrow depth of field