Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM vs Canon EF 50mm f/1.8

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EF 50mm f/1.4 USM compared with EF 50mm f/1.8

	CanonEF 50mm f/1.4 USM	CanonEF 50mm f/1.8
Overview
Released
Released	June 1993	March 1987
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	50 mm	50 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/1.4	f/1.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	Seven elements in six groups	Six elements in five groups
Special elements
Special elements	Two high-refraction glass elements according to Canon Camera Museum	–
Coatings
Coatings	Super Spectra coating according to Canon UK	–
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Eight blades; Canon UK's store describes a circular diaphragm, while Photozone finds angular highlights when stopped down	Five blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	46° diagonal, 40° horizontal and 27° vertical	–
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon EF full-frame and APS-C cameras	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	0.45 m	0.45 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.15×	0.15×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	No	–
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Micro USM with mechanical full-time manual focus; Canon's manual permits adjustment after One Shot AF while holding the shutter button halfway	Micromotor autofocus
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	Overall linear extension focusing according to Canon USA; front filter thread does not rotate according to The Digital Picture	–
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	EF12 II extension tube gives 0.24–0.39×; EF25 II gives 0.53–0.68× according to Canon UK	–
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	No image 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	58 mm	52 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	73.8 mm	67.4 mm
Length
Length	50.5 mm	42.5 mm
Weight
Weight	290 g	190 g (better)
Controls
Controls	AF/MF switch, focusing ring, distance scale and infrared index according to Canon's manual	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	73.8 mm diameter × 50.5 mm length in the retracted state according to Canon UK; Canon's manual measures length from the mount surface to the front, with caps adding 21.5 mm	67.4 mm maximum diameter × 42.5 mm length
Weight detail
Weight detail	290 g for the lens only according to Canon's manual	–
Lens hood
Lens hood	Optional ES-71 II hood; reversible for storage according to Canon's manual	–
In the box
In the box	Lens, E-58II cap, Lens Dust Cap E and user manual according to Canon UK's store	–
Release detail
Release detail	Canon Camera Museum records June 1993 marketing	Released alongside the EOS 650 in March 1987, confirmed by Canon's retrospective EOS anniversary release