The cheap 50s

[Dick Dastardly]

Also someone told me the STM version won't work with a 550D because of the way the STM focus system works...?

I don't think I have ever heard that before. EF lenses will work on EF-S mount bodies, irrelevant of motor type.

Older bodies may not have the most sophisticated focusing systems but they will still work as they have the electrical contacts needed to power the lens motor.

This combo works fine, i tried it. The STM version is slightly better, but AF speed is still slow.

For apsc canon, i would get a used tamron 17-50 f2.8, it's just a better all round lens, especially since i never used the 50mm at f1.8 because of how shalow the depth of field is. But it's a heavy lens, if that's a problem.

My opinion is that the tamron 17-50 is the best used lens a person can buy for an older dslr, i tested it on a Nikon D7500 and it's fantastic in any circumstances, perfectly sharp and fast focusing.

The only reason to get the canon 50mm 1.8 is because it's very cheap and works on full frame, but even the 18-55 STM kit lens is overall more pleasant to use. Yes, the 50mm is sharper but it doesn't even have IS and the kit lens focuses faster.

 

[akustykmagmanetpl]

Helping a friend find a lens for their daughter. They have a 550D. Looking for a 50mm lens.

Question is, how are the current 50mm f/1.8 STM and 50mm f/1.4 USM, compared with each other, both in build quality and in photo quality at the same aperture (f/1.4 isn't really significant in this case)?

define photo quality.

I had 50 STM, at some point replaced it with the 50/1.4

to my eye both are great for their intended purposes, ie. people, pets, plants at f<=2.8 and views/details at f>=4.0. meaning I don't have issues with things like corner sharpness at big apertures as the photos I take at f/2.8 will have nothing within DOF in the corners. while when I switch to f/4.0 or higher value, then it's a subject requiring more DOF and corners will be plenty sharp by then.

major difference is in bokeh and general image. 50 STM has bubbly bokeh with modern look and quite some micro contrast. 50/1.4 is very old school (a real double gauss) with much less microcontrast and pleasant but sometimes more "geometric" bokeh (don't know how to describe it).

I prefer the old school imaging of 50/1.4 but can easily imagine that most people born in 21 century wouldn't really get why

build quality wise - so-so for 50 STM, very under-par for 50/1.4. STM lens is pretty dense built and feels relatively solid in hand, but it's actually a lot of plastic and lacks any sealing along focusing ring etc. so if you keep using it in dusty conditions you will notice it for sure. 50/1.4 has all those issues and also crappy feeling in hand. for many people it's one of the reasons to avoid this lens. some people who love this double gauss (myself included) swear to always carry lens hood on this one, as part of protection of the retracting front lens group against the bumps which are told to be main reason behind EF 50/1.4 deaths.

Also how do they compare with the old 50mm f/1.8 (I don't think it had anything in its name beyond that?) or the II model? I'm familiar with those and the EF 50mm f/1.2, but not the two mentioned above. Is the STM model significantly better? Does it have a quiet(er) focus motor (the old 50mm was terrible, like a Transformer at the dentist)?

50 STM has near-silent AF. STM is optimized for smooth lens travel so it's not as quick as proper USM but FWIW, you wouldn't even notice it on the 550D with it's older AF system.

50/1.4 doesn't actually have a proper USM motor as it's name indicates, but some form of drive which is in between old AFD and proper USM. technology aside - it's whooshing (by far not as loud as old AFDs, but you can clearly hear it), it's not really as snappy as proper USM, but it's relatively fast

FWIW, I think 50 STM is safer option for someone younger. a bit sturdier built, more modern imaging, size-weight more matching a 550D (especially if you consider always having lens hood on 50/1.4).

 

[EduPortas]

Thank you

I've had all three 50s.

By far, purchase the 50 1.8 STM.

Your 550D is a very light camera. It should be accompanied by a light and cheap lens.

You do not need the 1.4. It's old and heavy.

Do yourself a favor and either stick that 50mm 1.8STM or the 24mm 2.8 STM on your camera and leave it be for a long while.

 

[akustykmagmanetpl]

I've had all three 50s.

By far, purchase the 50 1.8 STM.

Your 550D is a very light camera. It should be accompanied by a light and cheap lens.

You do not need the 1.4. It's old and heavy.

the EF 50/1.4?

old it is, aye. but heavy??? have you ever had it in hands?

Do yourself a favor and either stick that 50mm 1.8STM or the 24mm 2.8 STM on your camera and leave it be for a long while.

 

[EduPortas]

I've had all three 50s.

By far, purchase the 50 1.8 STM.

Your 550D is a very light camera. It should be accompanied by a light and cheap lens.

You do not need the 1.4. It's old and heavy.

the EF 50/1.4?

old it is, aye. but heavy??? have you ever had it in hands?

Do yourself a favor and either stick that 50mm 1.8STM or the 24mm 2.8 STM on your camera and leave it be for a long while.

Yes. Compared to the 1.8 STM it's heavy. On the 550D (T2i) it's a whale.

 

[akustykmagmanetpl]

I've had all three 50s.

By far, purchase the 50 1.8 STM.

Your 550D is a very light camera. It should be accompanied by a light and cheap lens.

You do not need the 1.4. It's old and heavy.

the EF 50/1.4?

old it is, aye. but heavy??? have you ever had it in hands?

Do yourself a favor and either stick that 50mm 1.8STM or the 24mm 2.8 STM on your camera and leave it be for a long while.

Yes. Compared to the 1.8 STM it's heavy. On the 550D (T2i) it's a whale.

god forbid anyone ever put something like the monstruous 85/1.8 on a Rebel (bigger than the 50/1.4 whale so I guess we're in the realm of prehistoric beast). an EF 135/2 would be the size of a smaller Pacific island and 70-200/2.8 pretty much the bulk of India then...

but wait... people actually do this. some use 70-200 on 250D size camera (or M/RFs bodies with adapters) and it works just fine...

"whale" does sound like a little bit of exaggeration here.

I would actually argue that for myself, for the sake of stable grip and steadier holding portrait lens should be larger. I'd rather have Rebel with an 80mm equivalent lens sized similiar to EF 85/1.8 as it is generally better balance for hand holding steady. and on heavier body (90D/6D) this EF 85/1.8 is just a little too light (and a little to short). yes, it looks bigger, but it's not about the looks. it's about how it balances in hand. sure, the 50 STM looks better and seems more natural on a 550D than 50/1.4. but the extra length and weight of 50/1.4 with the hood make it better balanced when actually shooting.

---
http://akustyk.fc.pl | https://flickr.com/photos/bartrozanski/sets

 

[EduPortas]

"whale" does sound like a little bit of exaggeration here.

The OP said that a younger person with little to no photographic experience will use the camera.

It would be disservice to reccomend a bulky and heavy lens when the 50 1.8 STM does the job perfectly well for a newcomer into the hobby. With a T2i it's a very agile and practical set-up.

Absolute image quality was not the OP's main concern.

 

[Rock and Rollei]

"whale" does sound like a little bit of exaggeration here.

The OP said that a younger person with little to no photographic experience will use the camera.

It would be disservice to reccomend a bulky and heavy lens when the 50 1.8 STM does the job perfectly well for a newcomer into the hobby. With a T2i it's a very agile and practical set-up.

That would be true, but the 50mm f1.4 is by no means a bulky and heavy lens. It's slightly bigger at 73.8x50.5 mm v the 69.2x39.3 mm of the STM, and yes, nearly twice the weight at 290g v 159g, but 290g is absolutely not a heavy lens in the slightest. Quite the opposite. And if weight is really that critical, the 40mm STM at 68.2x22.8 mm and a weight of 130g would be the better bet.


Hyperbole doesn't reinforce your point, it destroys your credibility. "Whale" is just silly language.

Absolute image quality was not the OP's main concern.

 

[EduPortas]

That would be true, but the 50mm f1.4 is by no means a bulky and heavy lens. It's slightly bigger at 73.8x50.5 mm v the 69.2x39.3 mm of the STM, and yes, nearly twice the weight at 290g v 159g, but 290g is absolutely not a heavy lens in the slightest. Quite the opposite. And if weight is really that critical, the 40mm STM at 68.2x22.8 mm and a weight of 130g would be the better bet.

Hyperbole doesn't reinforce your point, it destroys your credibility. "Whale" is just silly language.

Absolute image quality was not the OP's main concern.

Lugging around a 290g lens + a 530g camera around my neck is not my idea of fun.

The OP said the combo would be used for a female photographer, most probably a younger novice.

Why make her suffer a heavier set-up when the 50mm STM does a very good job on the T2i?

 

[clarnibass]

And if weight is really that critical, the 40mm STM at 68.2x22.8 mm and a weight of 130g would be the better bet.

In this case, the difference between 290g and 160g is much more significant than the difference between 160g and 130g which in practice is no difference at all. Though you are right that the 290g lens would also be fine for her in terms of weight, but the lighter STM is preferable for that reason in spite of that. However it's all a moot point since the f/1.4 is way above their budget (used price) so it's not an option regardless. We are looking for a 50mm STM and they will likely buy one when we find one used locally.

 

[canoniteSG]

Personally, for a start, would probably pair 50/1.8 with the xxxD series.. smaller, lighter, less expensive, less heart pain..

Progress to the next level with xxD and 50/1.4. This to be in the hands of someone a bit more used to handling the camera, and hopefully not so clumsy..

lastly xD (FF) with 50/1.2… just because..

that being said, build quality of 1.8 really feels like a toy.. then 1.4 a bit more solid and heavy, and the 1.2 being very solid, and heaviest among the 3 50s..

 

[RubenJ]

Personally, for a start, would probably pair 50/1.8 with the xxxD series.. smaller, lighter, less expensive, less heart pain..

Progress to the next level with xxD and 50/1.4. This to be in the hands of someone a bit more used to handling the camera, and hopefully not so clumsy..

lastly xD (FF) with 50/1.2… just because..

that being said, build quality of 1.8 really feels like a toy.. then 1.4 a bit more solid and heavy, and the 1.2 being very solid, and heaviest among the 3 50s..

 

[canoniteSG]

Actually yes, I own the 1.8 STM (had the older 1.8II, but gave it to a friend) , the 1.4, and recently the 1.2, with the 400D/70D and 6D..

I’m not basing the pairing of lens/camera based on image quality but rather, cost perspective.

 

[Nick5]

Clarnibass.
I bought the 85 f1.8 EF lens around 2009. Loved it from day 1 and still in my possession. A few months later I bought the 50 f/1.4 EF.
from Day 1 never had that “It” factor compared to the 85. So the 50 sat on the shelf.
2019, I was looking to buy the new 70-200 f/4 L IS Mark II, yes I still have the Version 1 as well, I traded in the 50 f/1.4 towards purchase. Never replaced the 50mm with any other offerings.
50 mm is not my thing I guess.

 

[clarnibass]

Thanks, though that might more relevant to someone who is not sure what focal length they need.