EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

50mm
f/1.8
Prime
160 g
Min focus 0.35 m

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Quick answer

Compact 50mm f/1.8 prime with an STM stepping motor and a metal mount, replacing the older f/1.8 II. Covers full frame and works on APS-C EOS bodies.

Pros

Fast f/1.8 aperture
Light and small
Quiet STM focusing
Metal lens mount

Cons

No image stabilization
Corners soften at f/1.8
Focus ring is electronic rather than mechanically coupled

Verdict

A sensible first prime for anyone moving past a kit zoom. Stop down a little for crisper corners.

About this lens

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is an affordable prime lens known for its sharp images and beautiful bokeh. Ideal for portraits, street photography, and low-light shooting.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM specifications

Brand: Canon
Mount: Canon EF
Focal length: 50mm
Maximum aperture: f/1.8
Minimum aperture: f/22
Lens type: Prime
Format coverage: full-frame
Released: 2015
Optical construction: 6 elements in 5 groups
Aperture blades: 7
Autofocus motor: STM
Minimum focus distance: 0.35 m
Maximum magnification: 0.21x
Filter thread: 49 mm
Weight: 160 g
Length: 39.3 mm
Diameter: 69.2 mm

Specification source: global.canon

What can you shoot with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM?

Portraits
Low-light handheld shooting
Everyday walk-around
Video with quiet AF

Its fast maximum aperture helps in dim light and gives good subject separation.

Full-frame equivalent and field of view

Calculated from the focal length and crop factor. Not measured.

Sensor	Crop	Equivalent	Horizontal FOV	Diagonal FOV
Full frame	1.0x	50mm	39.6°	46.8°
APS-C	1.6x	80mm	25.4°	30.3°

Try the field-of-view calculator

Frequently asked questions

Is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM full-frame compatible?

Yes. It is an EF lens and covers full-frame sensors as well as APS-C. On APS-C bodies the field of view is roughly that of an 80mm lens.

Does the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM have image stabilization?

No. Use a faster shutter speed or rely on in-body stabilization where the camera has it. The wide aperture helps keep shutter speeds up in dim light.

EF 50mm f/1.8 STM vs EF 50mm f/1.4 USM: which should I buy?

The STM is lighter and has quieter autofocus. The f/1.4 USM gains a stop of light and has a metal-built ring USM with full-time manual focus, but is larger and older in design.