EF 50mm F1.8

50mm
f/1.8
Prime
190 g
Min focus 0.45 m

Quick answer

The Canon EF 50mm F1.8 is a standard prime lens covering 50mm at f/1.8 for the Canon EF mount. Its fast maximum aperture helps in dim light and gives good subject separation.

About this lens

A 50mm f/1.8 fast standard prime lens, the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 is designed for Canon EF mount bodies. Nicknamed the "nifty fifty", this lightweight and affordable fast prime is a popular first step beyond a kit zoom for portraits and low light.

Canon EF 50mm F1.8 specifications

Brand: Canon
Mount: Canon EF
Focal length: 50mm
Maximum aperture: f/1.8
Lens type: Prime
Format coverage: full-frame
Released: 1987
Optical construction: 6 elements in 5 groups
Aperture blades: 5
Minimum focus distance: 0.45 m
Maximum magnification: 0.15x
Filter thread: 52 mm
Weight: 190 g
Length: 42.5 mm
Diameter: 67.4 mm

Specification source: global.canon

What can you shoot with the Canon EF 50mm F1.8?

At 50mm this is a standard prime, which typically suits:

Everyday and street photography
Natural-perspective portraits
Documentary and travel work

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

What mount does the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 use?

It uses the Canon EF mount, so it fits Canon EF cameras directly.

What is the focal length of the Canon EF 50mm F1.8?

It is a fixed 50mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8. That makes it a standard lens.

Is the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 a prime or a zoom lens?

It is a prime lens with a fixed 50mm focal length. Primes usually open wider than zooms; this one opens to f/1.8.

What is the Canon EF 50mm F1.8 equivalent on a crop sensor?

On APS-C (1.6x crop) it frames like 80mm on full frame, with a 25.4° horizontal and 30.3° diagonal field of view. These figures are calculated from the focal length and crop factor.