Photo: BenGrantham from Portland, OR, USA (CC BY 2.0)
Quick answer
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 MkII is a standard prime lens covering 50mm at f/50.0 for the Canon EF mount. Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
About this lens
This 50mm f/1.8 fast standard prime lens from Canon fits Canon EF mount cameras. 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 f/1.8 MkII specifications
- Brand
- Canon
- Mount
- Canon EF
- Focal length
- 50mm
- Maximum aperture
- f/50.0
- Lens type
- Prime
- Format coverage
- full-frame
- Released
- 1990
- 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
- 130 g
- Length
- 41 mm
- Diameter
- 68.2 mm
Specification source: global.canon
What can you shoot with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 MkII?
At 50mm this is a standard prime, which typically suits:
- Everyday and street photography
- Natural-perspective portraits
- Documentary and travel work
Its smaller maximum aperture favours daylight shooting and keeps the lens compact.
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° |
Frequently asked questions
What mount does the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 MkII use?
It uses the Canon EF mount, so it fits Canon EF cameras directly.
What is the focal length of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 MkII?
It is a fixed 50mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/50.0. That makes it a standard lens.
Is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 MkII 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/50.0.
What is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 MkII 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.
Which cameras does the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 MkII fit?
Any Canon EF-mount camera, including Canon EOS 1D X, Canon EOS 5D, Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EOS 5D Mark III, and Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and 7 more.
Alternatives for Canon EF from other brands
All Canon EF lensesSame mount, overlapping focal range, closest maximum aperture first.
Tamron
AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF)
28-300mm · f/28.0 · Canon EF
Tamron
SP AF 28-105mm f/2.8 LD Aspherical IF
28-105mm · f/28.0 · Canon EF
Tamron
SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical (IF) Macro
28-75mm · f/28.0 · Canon EF
Tamron
SP AF 24-135mm f/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical (IF) Macro
24-135mm · f/24.0 · Canon EF
.jpg){kind=link}