Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 vs Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM

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EF 50mm f/1.8 compared with RF 50mm F1.8 STM

	CanonEF 50mm f/1.8	CanonRF 50mm F1.8 STM
Overview
Released
Released	March 1987	December 2020
Optics
Lens type
Lens type	Prime	Prime
Focal length
Focal length	50 mm	50 mm
Maximum aperture
Maximum aperture	f/1.8	f/1.8
Minimum aperture
Minimum aperture	f/22	f/22
Optical construction
Optical construction	Six elements in five groups	Six elements in five groups
Special elements
Special elements	–	One aspherical element
Coatings
Coatings	–	Super Spectra anti-reflection coating
Diaphragm
Diaphragm	Five blades	Seven blades
Angle of view
Angle of view	–	Full-frame horizontal40°, vertical27°30′ and diagonal46°
Mount and compatibility
Mounts
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon RF
Image circle
Image circle	Full frame	Full frame
Compatibility
Compatibility	Canon EF lens for full-frame and APS-C cameras (Bob Atkins Photography)	Canon EOS R cameras; full-frame RF mount. Distinct from EF50mmF1.8STM and RF50mmF1.2LUSM
Teleconverter support
Teleconverter support	–	Canon RF extenders not compatible
Focus and stabilisation
Autofocus
Autofocus	Yes	Yes
Minimum focus distance
Minimum focus distance	0.45 m	0.3 m
Maximum magnification
Maximum magnification	0.15×	0.25×
Optical stabilisation
Optical stabilisation	–	No
Autofocus detail
Autofocus detail	Micromotor autofocus	STM autofocus; electronic manual focus. Photography Blog reports selection of manual focus through the camera menu
Focus distance detail
Focus distance detail	–	Minimum focus distance0.30m; maker table does not distinguish AF and MF figures, so no mode inferred. Extending inner tube during close focusing, as documented by OpticalLimits
Magnification detail
Magnification detail	–	Maker maximum magnification0.25×; no unpublished AF/MF distinction inferred
Stabilisation detail
Stabilisation detail	–	No lens optical IS; compatible cameras may provide body stabilisation separately
Design
Filter diameter
Filter diameter	52 mm	43 mm
Maximum diameter
Maximum diameter	67.4 mm	69.2 mm
Length
Length	42.5 mm	40.5 mm
Weight
Weight	190 g	160 g (better)
Controls
Controls	Focusing-distance window and separate manual-focus ring; metal lens mount and infrared focus index (Bob Atkins Photography)	Shared focus/control ring with focus-control selector; control mode can adjust camera settings
Filter detail
Filter detail	–	43mm front filter thread; maker lists Canon250D/500D close-up lenses and PL-C B circular polariser incompatible
Weather resistance
Weather resistance	–	UK maker dust/moisture resistance entry is a dash; OpticalLimits explicitly reports no weather sealing
Dimensions detail
Dimensions detail	67.4 mm maximum diameter × 42.5 mm length	Approximately69.2mm maximum diameter ×40.5mm length, measured retracted by Canon
Weight detail
Weight detail	–	Approximately160g lens
Lens hood
Lens hood	–	ES-65B, sold separately
In the box
In the box	–	Lens, E-43 front cap and Lens Dust Cap RF; hood and LP1014 pouch are optional according to UK maker specifications
Release detail
Release detail	Released alongside the EOS 650 in March 1987, confirmed by Canon's retrospective EOS anniversary release	December2020 marketed month in Canon Camera Museum. Canon Canada scheduled mid-December2020 availability; Canon Japan records first sale24December2020. Headline retains month because the exact earliest international retail day is not documented; Japan's later day is not presented as a worldwide date