Best 50mm lens
The Sharpest and Best 50mm Lenses We've Tested
Lots of folks love the nifty 50. But those aren’t the best 50mm lenses. Some folks consider the ratings to be based on sharpness. And while we know that that’s not all that makes a great lens, we’re happy to say that we’ve tested pretty much all of those lenses. And more importantly, we’ve got enough authority to help people figure out what the sharpest and best 50mm lenses are on the market. So dive into this roundup with us to see our favorites!
Table of Contents
How We Chose the Best 50mm Lenses for This Roundup
These are some of the best 50mm lenses you’re going to get. And here’s what to know about this roundup!
- This roundup of the best 50mm lenses contains 50mm lenses tested by us. But you’re in luck because we tested the vast majority of modern 50mm lenses available and of note. All the product images and sample images were shot by our staff.
- The best 50mm lenses that we’re featuring in this roundup are the sharpest for each mirrorless camera system. We’re very much in love with them.
- Some of the best 50mm lenses are massive. That’s just the result of what happens when things have image quality that’s that good.
- Shoot with these lenses wide open or stopped down, and you’ll like the results. We surely did!
- The best 50mm lenses are well worth it for anyone to step up to if they want better 50mm focal lengths.
- No matter what lenses you use, you’ll need to keep them clean to get the most out of them. Take your lenses out and inspect them before every shoot and give them the once over. Remove any excess dirt, grease, fingerprints, or dust that you can. This will prolong the life of your lenses and will save you time during post. You don’t need an expensive cleaning kit either? This one has everything you need.
Panasonic 50mm f1.4 Lumix S Pro
Pros
- Very sharp
- Beautiful bokeh
- Nice colors
- Sharp images
- With Panasonic’s latest firmware updates, it focuses surprisingly quick.
- Well built
- Super well weather sealed
Cons
- Deserves better autofocus camera bodies
- That price, oof!
- It’s very big
In our review, we said:
“The Panasonic 50mm f1.4 Lumix S Pro is a truly exceptional lens. It really delivers where it counts with image quality. This lens is not only very sharp but also delivers beautiful bokeh. Portrait photographers will appreciate the colors, as will wedding photographers and photojournalists.”
Buy now: $2,097.99
Leica 50m f2 Summicron APO
PROS
- Very compact
- Versatile
- Contrast
- Sharp images that retain some of the Leica character
- Beautiful bokeh
- Easy to focus
- Excellent build quality
CONS
- Has less of the Leica “look” than other 50mm Leica lenses
- It is expensive for a 50mm lens
In our review, we said:
This is one of the sharpest 50mm lenses I have ever had the pleasure of photographing with to date. At f2, the sharpness extends from the center and remains in focus from edge to edge. This sharpness is only improved upon by stopping down. Frames that I barely miss focus prove to be sharper than a lot of the usable images I have captured on DSLR 50mm lenses over the years.
Buy now: $2,595
Canon RF 50mm f1.2 L USM
In our review, we said:
All of these lenses have a beautiful look to them, but I’d argue that the Canon RF 50mm f1.2 L USM has a bit more pop and beauty to it. (Then I’d highly rate Sony’s Alpha lens.) The bokeh on all of them is nice; but I’ve seen that the Canon RF 50mm f1.2 L USM’s bokeh isn’t always perfectly round.
Buy now: $2,299
Fujifilm 50mm F1 R WR
PROS
- Stunning bokeh
- While big for a Fujifilm prime, it handles very well
- For as much glass as there is to move, it focuses quickly in most situations
- Nice, natural color renderings
- Weather sealing
- It’s not cheap ($1,499. 95), but it’s well priced for an innovative f1 lens
DISLIKES
- The autofocus motors are quite loud
- At f1, the center is sharp, but the edges are a little soft
- Some flaring and contrast issues when shooting into the sun
In our review, we said:
“Wide-open at f1, you’re going to get some of the best bokeh you’ll ever see on the APS-C platform. It’s a must-have for portrait photographers. Sharpness at f1 is great in the center of the frame, but stop it down a hair, and you’ll get edge-to-edge goodness. Portrait photographers will love the way the lens renders colors too.”
Brett Day – Gear Editor
Buy now: $1,499
Nikon Z 50mm f1.2
PROS
- Excellent balance between sharp and sterile
- Beautiful bokeh
- Accurate colors
- Weather-sealed
- Digital lens info display
CONS
- Long and heavy
- Autofocus is slower than the competition.
In our review, we state:
Like other Z mount lenses, the Z 50mm f1.2 S is impressively sharp, even wide open. At f1.2, I could capture enough sharpness to differentiate individual eyelashes, which quickly gives way to a soft blur for the nose and ears. I thought the sharpness level was just right — not overly sharp or too soft.
Buy Now: $2,097
Sony 50mm f1.2 G Master
PROS
- Fast to use on both the Sony a7r III and the Sony a7r IV
- Weather sealing
- Nice render
- Very sharp
- Wow, Sony actually listened to us and allowed a little bit of flare in. Bravo!
- I actually think that over $2,000 is a fair price.
- Pretty lightweight
CONS
- A few autofocus issues with strong backlighting
- Two different hard function buttons are a bit odd.
- Still has this render that’s nowhere as gorgeous as Canon’s
In our review, we said:
“The Sony 50mm f1. 2 G Master is a fantastic lens overall, objectively speaking. The autofocus performance is quick and accurate in lots of cases. It will serve street photographers, portrait photographers, and any other professional or passionate photographer well. As we saw, it’s going to also stand up to the elements pretty well. Within the FE lens lineup, it’s the fastest aperture lens. It also has incredibly smooth bokeh, sharp optics, and decent color.”
Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief
Buy now: $1,999.99
The Phoblographer’s various product round-up features are done in-house. Our philosophy is simple: you wouldn’t get a Wagyu beef steak review from a lifelong vegetarian. And you wouldn’t get photography advice from someone who doesn’t touch the product. We only recommend gear we’ve fully reviewed in these roundups. If you’re wondering why your favorite product didn’t make the cut, there’s a chance it’s on another list. If we haven’t reviewed it, we won’t recommend it. This method keeps our lists packed with industry-leading knowledge. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Best 50mm lenses for Canon in 2022 (8 Top Picks)
Ahh, the good old nifty-fifty–such a classic lens! The 50mm prime is a quintessential piece of equipment every photographer should own at least once in their lifetime. And, today we’re looking at the best 50mm for Canon mount cameras:
Images from Amazon
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Bestseller
Wide f/1.8 aperture, Continuous AF for movies, Great for portraits, action, and nighttime photography;
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Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art for Canon Our Pick
Very sharp at F1.4, Pro level all-around performer, Fast and accurate focus;
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Canon 50mm f/1. 2L USM Also Great
Fastest and widest aperture 50mm lens from Canon.
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Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
A good budget pick for Canon full frame cameras.
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Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon Mount
Creates sharp images with high contrast, Large Aperture, Very affordable;
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Zeiss Milvus 50mm f/1.4 ZE
Very sharp lens, Manual focus design, Weather-resistant construction;
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Yongnuo YN50mm f/1.4
Faster than the f/1.8 lens. Value for money.
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Yongnuo YN50 f/1.8
A Great third party option: Fast aperture. Value for money.
CHECK PRICE
Best
50mm Lenses for Canon:- 1. Canon EF 50mm f/1. 8 STM
- 2. Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
- 3. Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM
- 4. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
- 5. Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon Mount
- 6. Zeiss Milvus 50mm f/1.4 ZE
- 7. Yongnuo YN50 f/1.8
- 8. Yongnuo YN50mm f/1.4
If you’re a Nikon shooter, don’t worry, just check our post on the best Nikon 50mm lenses.
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1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STMThe 50mm f/1.8 is a neat little package for the budget photographer. At under $150 it is the cheapest EF lens that you could buy right now.
Aside from its great quality, one of the biggest advantages of the lens is the STM auto-focusing motor. This is one of the first lenses to have this particular AF motor. The STM technology is geared to work in tandem with Canon’s dual pixel CMOS auto-focusing. That makes this a great choice for shooting video.
Related Post: STM vs USM Lenses – What’s the Difference?
In terms of build quality and weather sealing, this is not the finest. It’s primarily made of plastic, with only the lens mount made up of metal. The overall weight is under 1-pound. Which, consequently, should be a giveaway of the build quality.
The 50mm f/1.8 STM contains 6 elements arranged in 5 groups. There’s no image stabilization on the lens. The lens diaphragm is made of 7 rounded diaphragm blades, which, to be honest, is good enough. We pick this as the best 50mm for Canon on a budget.
2. Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
After much deliberations, we decided upon the best 50mm for Canon. The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens!
This Sigma gives the Carl Zeiss Milvus (listed below) a run for its money.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG HSM ArtSome words on the build quality of the lens. Seriously, the Sigma 50mm f/1. 4 DG HSM A is a well-built lens. It is made out of thermally stable composite material. The dimensions of the lens stay the same regardless of the temperature in which it operates.
It consists of a total of 13 elements arranged in 8 groups. This includes three special low dispersion elements. Consists of 9 rounded aperture blades that form the nice rounded aperture diaphragm. At 815 grams it is a shade under the Zeiss Milvus 50mm f/1.4 ZE.
The lens has a ring-type auto-focusing mechanism. Plus, full-time manual focusing override.
Sigma’s Art series lenses have always inspired and excited us. The 50mm f/1.4 is no different. As a matter of fact, it beats the smaller sibling to the best lens for Canon EF mount.
3. Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens for Canon Digital SLR CamerasThe fastest, the widest aperture 50mm lens in the Canon stable, the Canon 50mm f/1.2L USM is a fantastic lens to work with. Sure it is pricey. It is pricier than even some of the telephoto lenses that Canon makes. But at the end of the day, you get a wide-open aperture of f/1.2.
There is, however, a catch in all these. The wide-open aperture of f/1.2 can also give you a lot of problems when nailing focus. The slightest bit of hand movement, or your body leaning forward or backward at the precise moment you push the shutter release, can cause image blur.
Notwithstanding, if you can manage shooting with such wide aperture lenses you would love the quality of bokeh produced by the massive wide aperture and the 8 rounded aperture blades.
Construction of the lens includes a total of 8 elements arranged in 6 groups. It includes one aspherical element. Additionally, the lens also has a Super Spectra coating to ensure the suppression of ghosting and flares in poor lighting conditions.
Size-wise the lens dwarfs the likes of the 50mm f/1.8 STM. It is heavier too. And that brings us to the build quality of the lens. This lens comes with weather sealing. It is not going to be affected by the vagaries of Mother Nature. A little bit of drizzle or a little bit of snow, nothing will impact the lens.
Our Pick
Image from AmazonCanon 50mm f/1.2L USM
Best 50mm for Canon
Fast aperture. Superb image quality.
$1,399.00 from Amazon
4. Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard and Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR CamerasCanon has a less expensive 50mm prime. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM. That one is significantly cheaper than the f/1.2 L USM that we just read about. But just being one-third stop slower doesn’t make it a deal-breaker. On the contrary, we feel that if you don’t need an f/1.2 lens then there is no point in spending an obscene amount of money.
The EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is a simple construction. It consists of 7 elements arranged in 6 groups. The lens features a Gaussian optics design. It includes two high refractive index elements. These elements are responsible for the suppression of spherical aberrations and other distortions. Super Spectra coating has also been used for suppressing lens flare and ghosting increasing overall contrast and color rendition in the final images.
The aperture diaphragm is composed of eight rounded blades. The quality of the bokeh is surprisingly good. One of the primary reasons you would want to use a fast prime is so that you can use the maximum aperture to produce wild background blur. Completely obliterating the background and thereby bringing the subject into prominence in the image.
This technique also helps you when the background isn’t necessarily interesting and adds nothing to the entire composition. Normally, you wouldn’t want to completely blur out a background if it is half-interesting. Slightly out of focus, yes. But completely blurred out, no.
Best Budget Pick
Image from AmazonCanon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
Best Budget Pick for your Canon Full-frame
Excellent aperture. Value for money. Great image quality.
$399.00 from Amazon
5.
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon MountThe Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM is great auto-focus lens for those of you who want a lens with an AF motor.
Plus, you have full-time manual focusing override. Full-time manual focusing override allows you the advantage to tweak the focus manually. This is even when auto-focusing mode is engaged.
Sigma art lenses are an affordable way to get an art lens.Let’s take a look at the construction of the lens.
The lens is composed of 8 elements arranged in 6 groups. This includes 1 aspherical element. The 9 rounded diaphragm blades create a beautiful round aperture opening.
The front element of the lens is quite large. Not surprising since the lens uses a 77mm filter thread. For a 50mm prime, this is quite big.
This is one of the lighter constructions on this list. Weighing just 1.1 pounds, it’s at par with some of the other lenses on our list of best 50mm for Canon mount cameras.
But the build quality is not at par. Unfortunately, this is not a weather-sealed construction.
6. Zeiss Milvus 50mm f/1.4 ZE
Zeiss Milvus 50mm f/1.4 ZE. The lens has a sleek profile and is built tough.Let me start off by saying, this Zeiss lens is designed like a tank. The lens has a total of 10 elements arranged in 8 groups. All of which are perfectly protected by the lens’ completely weather sealed design.
Something to keep in mind, however, is this is a manual focus lens. That means no auto-focus, which could be a deal breaker for some.
Distortion is very minimal if any. If you shoot charts inside a studio you would see a slight amount of barrel distortion. But that’s negligible and easily corrected in post-production.
On the flip side, you do can exactly the same thing with the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 that you could do with the Zeiss Milvus. And at a cheaper price and a less bulkiness to boot.
For many photographers, the lack of auto-focusing is the end of discussion. There are plenty of photography moments where you need accurate fast focus lock. Moments where there is no time to dilly-dolly with a manual focusing ring. This is where the Zeiss Milvus narrowly misses out on the crown of the best 50mm for Canon.
7. Yongnuo YN50 f/1.8
YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8 LensYongnuo makes some decent photo accessories including continuous lighting, triggers, flashes, and lenses. The Yongnuo YN50 comes with a maximum aperture of f/1.8. It is quite a fast lens. In even reasonable quantity light you can use it to produce beautiful background blur. You can completely obliterate the background, thereby bringing the subject into prominence.
Nighttime photography with such wide aperture lenses is very easy. They capture several stops of additional light when compared to similar kit lenses. That allows you to use faster Shutter Speed and capture sharper images in any kind of lighting situation.
This particular lens is a rather simple construction. It consists of only 6 elements arranged in 5 groups. There is a multi-coated glass element that ensures that the lens is able to counter flares and ghosting when shooting with the sun lower at the horizon.
The aperture diaphragm is composed of a total of seven aperture blades. The quality of the bokeh is decent but not comparable to the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM.
Great Third-party Pick
Image from AmazonYongnuo YN50 f/1.8
Great third party option
Fast aperture. Value for money.
$82.00 from Amazon
8. Yongnuo YN50mm f/1.4
YONGNUO Standard Prime Lens YN50mm F1.4 AF/MF 0.45M LensYongnuo also has a f/1.4 lens for the Canon EF mount. This is a slightly more expensive lens. Costing almost three times the price that you pay for the f/1.8 lens. But you also get one-third additional light when shooting. So if that additional one-third light is absolutely important for you, go for it by all means.
If that additional light is something that you can manage using a slightly higher ISO number or using the exposure sliders in your favorite photo editing software then there is no reason to pay extra.
Let’s talk about the construction of the lens and the composite elements. The lens has a total of 9 elements arranged in 7 groups.
The construction of the lens includes four ultra-high refractive index elements. These elements ensure that the lens is not plagued by distortions and aberrations too much.
Additionally, a multi-layer coating has also been used. This takes care of lens flares and ghosting. Especially when working in difficult lighting situations.
Aperture diaphragm is composed of seven blades. Bokeh quality is nice but we still prefer the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L that we listed here.
Excellent Choice
Image from AmazonYongnuo YN50mm f/1.4
Fast aperture
Faster than the f/1.8 lens. Value for money.
Buy from Amazon
Conclusion – Which one is “the Best”?
A 50mm lens is the standard prime for 35mm format cameras. This versatile piece of optics delivers when it comes to shooting every day, street, events, and family photos. Choosing the best 50mm for Canon shouldn’t be too difficult as all the lenses we’ve listed here are outstanding.
First, just establish your budget and narrow down your choices that way. Then decide on what’s important to you.
- Is it build tough enough for your usage habits?
- Do you need autofocus and so forth?
Before long, you’ll have chosen the perfect lens to add to your collection.
Did we miss one? Let us know what your favorite 50mm for Canon lens is in the comments below!
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Best Canon 50mm Lens [Review 2023]
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The 50mm lens is the versatile tool you need when shooting real estate. By purchasing the best 50mm lens for Canon, you will increase its performance and be able to take outstanding images. However, not all Canon 50mm lenses are the same and below are our top picks.
Quick Navigation
- Our best 50mm lens for Canon. Reviews
- Canon EF 50 mm F / 1.2
- Sigma 50 mm F / 1.4
- Yongnuo yn 50mm f / 1.8
- Canon EF 50 mm F / 1.8
- Canon EF 50 mm F / 1.4
- Zeiss Milvus 50mm f f f F / 1.4
- Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1.4
- Conclusion
Our best 50mm lens for Canon. Reviews
The 50mm lens blurs the background for more creative shooting options. This review of the best 50mm lens for Canon will help you make an informed decision. nine0003
Brand
Canon EF 50 mm F / 1.2
SIGMA 50 mm F / 1.4
Yongnuo yn 50mm f / 1.8
Product
9000millimeters 50
millimeters 50
millimeters 50
Price
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Brand
Canon EF 50 mm F / 1.2 9Ol000 focal length
Millimeters 50
Price
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Brand
Yongnuo YN 50mm f/1. 8
Product
Lens Type
Prime
Maximum Focal Length
Millimeters 50
Price
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Here is a quick overview of our recommended Canon 50mm lens listed in this article. In this table, we have also included an overview of their main features.