Canon EF 35mm f/2 vs Canon EF 50mm f/1.8

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

EF 35mm f/2 compared with EF 50mm f/1.8

	CanonEF 35mm f/2	CanonEF 50mm f/1.8
Overview
Released
Released	October 1990	March 1987
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	35 mm	50 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/2	f/1.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	Seven elements in five groups	Six elements in five groups
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Five blades according to Canon Camera Museum	Five blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	63° diagonal, 54° horizontal and 38° vertical according to Canon's manual	–
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon EF cameras with full-frame or APS-C sensors	Canon EF lens for full-frame and APS-C cameras (Bob Atkins Photography)
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.25 m	0.45 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.23×	0.15×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	–
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Non-USM autofocus without full-time manual override according to The Digital Picture; Canon's manual requires the MF switch position for manual focus	Micromotor autofocus
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Lens extends towards close focus but its front element does not rotate according to Photozone	–
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No optical stabilisation according to The Digital Picture's exact-model specification table	–
Design
Dust and moisture resistant
Dust and moisture resistant	No	–
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	52 mm	52 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	67.4 mm	67.4 mm
Length
Length	42.5 mm	42.5 mm
Weight
Weight	210 g	190 g (better)
Controls
Controls	AF/MF switch, focus ring, distance window, depth-of-field scale and infrared focus index	Focusing-distance window and separate manual-focus ring; metal lens mount and infrared focus index (Bob Atkins Photography)
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	No weather sealing according to The Digital Picture's exact-model specification table	–
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	67.4 mm maximum diameter × 42.5 mm length; dimensions and 210 g weight are lens-only. Front and rear caps add 21.5 mm according to Canon's manual	67.4 mm maximum diameter × 42.5 mm length
Lens hood
Lens hood	EW-65 II clip-on reversible hood according to Canon's manual; optional according to Photozone and The Digital Picture	–
Release detail
Release detail	Canon Camera Museum records October 1990 marketing; no first-sale day is given	Released alongside the EOS 650 in March 1987, confirmed by Canon's retrospective EOS anniversary release