Verdict: 50mm is a very popular focal length for wide-aperture prime lenses, and this Canon ‘nifty fifty’ features a maximum f/1.4 for superb bokeh in out-of-focus areas, bringing your portraits to life.
This is accomplished by the 8 diaphragm blades, housed behind the 7 elements in 6 groups.
The lens also includes a USM (Ultrasonic Motor), making the focusing system operate almost silently, and increasing the speed and precision of AF capture. The 45cm minimum focus distance is perfect for close-up headshots, and the switch on the side of the barrel for changing from manual to AF means you don’t have to take your eye away from the viewfinder. At 290g this lens is relatively light and perfectly balanced for use on any Canon camera, including smaller APS-Cs.
Centre sharpness is impressive at f/1.4, though the corners don’t quite catch up until f/4. Images are perfectly sharp from f/5.6, making this a great choice for anybody looking for a fast prime.
Pros
Versatile
Quick AF
Price
Cons
Corner softness at f/1.4
Vignetting at f/1.4
No weather-sealing
Spec
Max aperture: f/1.4
Min aperture: f/22
Elements/groups: 7/6
Min focusing distance: 45cm
DxL: 74x51mm
Weight: 290g
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Kirk Schwarz is a tech-addicted photographer with over a decade's experience; Kirk’s used to putting new gear through extreme field testing. He's previously written for Practical Photography.