Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CanonEF 50mm f/1.8 II | CanonEF 50mm f/1.8 STM | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | December 1990 | May 2015 |
| Optics | ||
| Lens type | Prime | Prime |
| Focal length | 50 mm | 50 mm |
| Maximum aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.8 |
| Minimum aperture | f/22 | f/22 |
| Optical construction | Six elements in five groups; Gaussian optical design | Six elements in five groups |
| Coatings | – | Lens coating optimised for digital cameras to reduce ghosting and flare |
| Aperture detail | – | Minimum f/22 with one-third-stop camera aperture increments |
| Diaphragm | Five blades | Seven blades with a circular aperture |
| Angle of view | Full-frame diagonal 46°; vertical 27°; horizontal 40° | Full-frame horizontal 40°; vertical 27°; diagonal 46° |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Canon EF | Canon EF |
| Image circle | Full frame | Full frame |
| Compatibility | Canon EF mount for full-frame, APS-H and APS-C cameras (DPReview) | Canon EF cameras, including full-frame and APS-C DSLRs |
| Adaptor support | – | Canon UK supports EOS M cameras with an EF-EOS M mount adaptor |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.45 m | 0.35 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.15× | 0.21× |
| Optical stabilisation | No | – |
| Autofocus detail | DC micromotor autofocus (DPReview) | Gear-type stepping motor; manual override after autofocus with the camera set to One-Shot AF |
| Focus distance detail | Switch to MF before turning the focusing ring; do not touch rotating parts during autofocus | Electronic focus ring requires camera power; no distance scale (Digital Camera World) |
| Magnification detail | 0.15×; 240 × 160 mm field of view at 0.45 m according to Canon | EF12 II extension tube gives 0.45–0.24×; EF25 II gives 0.74–0.53× |
| Stabilisation detail | No optical image stabilisation (DPReview) | – |
| Design | ||
| Filter diameter | 52 mm | 49 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 68.2 mm | 69.2 mm |
| Length | 41 mm | 39.3 mm |
| Weight | 130 g (better) | 160 g |
| Controls | AF/MF switch and focusing ring; no distance scale (The-Digital-Picture) | – |
| Filter detail | One 52 mm front filter; with the optional hood, mount the filter on the hood adaptor | – |
| Dimensions detail | Length measured from the mount surface to the front of the lens, excluding caps | 69.2 mm maximum diameter × 39.3 mm length in the retracted state |
| Weight detail | Approximately 130 g lens only | Approximately 160 g according to Canon UK specifications and Camera Museum; the UK store dimension panel instead lists 159 g |
| Lens hood | Optional ES-62, requiring its supplied screw-in hood adaptor; reversible for storage | Optional ES-68 |
| In the box | Front and rear caps according to DPReview; accessories may vary by region | Lens, E-49 front cap, Lens Dust Cap E and user manual |
| Release detail | Marketed in December 1990 according to Canon Camera Museum | Marketed in May 2015 according to Canon Camera Museum |
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