Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 vs Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| CanonEF 50mm f/1.8 | CanonEF 50mm f/1.8 II | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | March 1987 | December 1990 |
| 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 | Six elements in five groups; Gaussian optical design |
| Diaphragm | Five blades | Five blades |
| Angle of view | – | Full-frame diagonal 46°; vertical 27°; horizontal 40° |
| Mount and compatibility | ||
| Mounts | Canon EF | Canon EF |
| Image circle | Full frame | Full frame |
| Compatibility | Canon EF lens for full-frame and APS-C cameras (Bob Atkins Photography) | Canon EF mount for full-frame, APS-H and APS-C cameras (DPReview) |
| Focus and stabilisation | ||
| Autofocus | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.45 m | 0.45 m |
| Maximum magnification | 0.15× | 0.15× |
| Optical stabilisation | – | No |
| Autofocus detail | Micromotor autofocus | DC micromotor autofocus (DPReview) |
| Focus distance detail | – | Switch to MF before turning the focusing ring; do not touch rotating parts during autofocus |
| Magnification detail | – | 0.15×; 240 × 160 mm field of view at 0.45 m according to Canon |
| Stabilisation detail | – | No optical image stabilisation (DPReview) |
| Design | ||
| Filter diameter | 52 mm | 52 mm |
| Maximum diameter | 67.4 mm | 68.2 mm |
| Length | 42.5 mm | 41 mm |
| Weight | 190 g | 130 g (better) |
| Controls | Focusing-distance window and separate manual-focus ring; metal lens mount and infrared focus index (Bob Atkins Photography) | 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 | 67.4 mm maximum diameter × 42.5 mm length | Length measured from the mount surface to the front of the lens, excluding caps |
| Weight detail | – | Approximately 130 g lens only |
| Lens hood | – | Optional ES-62, requiring its supplied screw-in hood adaptor; reversible for storage |
| In the box | – | Front and rear caps according to DPReview; accessories may vary by region |
| Release detail | Released alongside the EOS 650 in March 1987, confirmed by Canon's retrospective EOS anniversary release | Marketed in December 1990 according to Canon Camera Museum |
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