So, you’re looking at Canon camera lenses and you’ve stumbled upon the 50mm focal length. That’s great! But then you see the f/1.4 and f/1.8 apertures, and suddenly it feels a bit tricky.
Many beginners find the canon lens 50mm 1.4 vs 1.8 choice confusing because both lenses offer fantastic value and image quality. Don’t worry, this guide will break it all down simply, step by step. We’ll explore what makes each special and help you decide which one fits your photography best.
Get ready to see your photos in a new light!
Choosing Your 50mm Canon Lens A Simple Look
The 50mm lens is often called a “nifty fifty” because it’s a fantastic all-around lens. It gives you a perspective that’s very similar to what your own eyes see, making it super versatile for portraits, everyday shots, and even some landscapes. When you’re comparing the Canon 50mm f/1.4 and the Canon 50mm f/1.8, you’re looking at two lenses that are very popular, especially for people starting out or those who want a great prime lens without spending a fortune. The main difference you’ll hear about is the aperture, which controls how much light the lens can let in and also affects how blurry the background can be.
Understanding Aperture The Key Difference
Aperture is measured in f-stops, like f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2.8, and so on. A smaller f-number means a wider aperture, which lets in more light. This is super helpful when you’re shooting in low light situations, like indoors or at dusk. It means you can use a faster shutter speed, which helps prevent blurry photos from camera shake. It also creates that lovely soft, out-of-focus background blur, often called bokeh. This is what makes portraits pop and gives your photos a professional look.
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM A Budget-Friendly Star
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is often the go-to recommendation for beginners, and for good reason. It’s incredibly affordable, making it accessible to almost everyone. “STM” stands for Stepping Motor, which means it focuses smoothly and quietly, making it great for both photos and videos.
What you get for the price is amazing. The image quality is sharp, especially in the center of the frame. While it might not be as sharp as some more expensive lenses wide open at f/1.8, it’s more than good enough for most casual photographers and even many serious hobbyists.
Here’s what makes it stand out:
- Price: Its biggest selling point is its low cost. You can often find it for under $150, making it one of the cheapest ways to get a prime lens with good performance.
- Size and Weight: It’s very small and lightweight, so it’s easy to carry around all day. It won’t make your camera feel bulky.
- Low Light Performance: While f/1.8 isn’t the widest aperture out there, it’s still much better than the kit lenses that often come with cameras. You can shoot in dimly lit rooms without always needing a flash.
- Bokeh: Even at f/1.8, you can get some nice background blur, especially if you’re shooting subjects relatively close to the lens.
- STM Focus Motor: This makes focusing quicker and quieter than older versions of the 50mm f/1.8. It’s also better for shooting video because the sound of the motor is much less noticeable.
The main limitation of the f/1.8 is that f/1.8 is its widest aperture. If you need even more light or want that super shallow depth of field, you’ll need to go to a wider aperture.
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM A Step Up
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM is the next step up in the 50mm prime lens lineup. The “USM” stands for Ultrasonic Motor, which is a faster and more advanced focusing system than the STM. This lens offers a wider maximum aperture of f/1.4.
This extra half-stop of light (going from f/1.8 to f/1.4) might not sound like much, but it can make a real difference in challenging lighting conditions. It also allows for an even shallower depth of field, meaning you can achieve more pronounced background blur and isolate your subject even better.
Here’s a look at its strengths:
- Wider Aperture (f/1.4): This is the primary advantage. It lets in about 58% more light than f/1.8. This means better performance in very low light and the ability to use faster shutter speeds.
- Enhanced Bokeh: The f/1.4 aperture produces a noticeably creamier and more pleasing background blur, which is fantastic for portraits and creating a strong separation between your subject and the background.
- Faster Autofocus: The USM motor generally focuses faster and more quietly than STM, though both are quite good.
- Build Quality: It often feels a bit more substantial and professional in hand compared to the f/1.8, though both are still primarily plastic constructions.
- Image Sharpness: While the f/1.8 is very sharp, the f/1.4 can be slightly sharper, especially when stopped down a bit from its maximum aperture. At f/1.4, it’s good, but some might find it slightly softer than the f/1.8 at f/1.8 in the extreme corners.
The main drawback of the f/1.4 is its price. It costs significantly more than the f/1.8. Additionally, while the autofocus is fast, some users report that it can be a bit noisier than the STM motors in newer lenses.
Canon Lens 50mm 1.4 vs 1.8 A Direct Comparison
Let’s put these two lenses side by side to see how they stack up in different areas that matter to photographers.
| Feature | Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM | Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.8 | f/1.4 |
| Autofocus Motor | STM (Stepping Motor) | USM (Ultrasonic Motor) |
| Price (Approximate) | $100 – $150 | $350 – $450 |
| Low Light Performance | Very Good | Excellent |
| Depth of Field Control (Bokeh) | Good | Excellent |
| Autofocus Speed | Fast and Quiet | Faster and Quieter |
| Build Quality | Lightweight Plastic | Slightly More Robust Plastic |
| Image Sharpness | Excellent, especially stopped down | Excellent, very good at f/1.4, best when stopped down |
Who Should Buy The 50mm f/1.8 STM
The 50mm f/1.8 STM is an absolutely fantastic choice for:
- Beginners: If you’re new to photography or just getting into prime lenses, this is the perfect starting point. It’s affordable and teaches you a lot about composition.
- Budget-Conscious Photographers: If your budget is tight but you want a great lens for portraits, everyday shots, and low light, this is your lens.
- Travelers: Its small size and light weight make it an ideal companion for travel, as it won’t add much bulk to your bag.
- Students: Photography students who need a versatile and affordable lens for various assignments will find this lens indispensable.
- Video Creators on a Budget: The quiet STM motor is a big plus for anyone shooting video and wanting to avoid distracting autofocus noise.
This lens provides incredible bang for your buck. You get a true 50mm prime lens experience with good image quality and decent low-light capabilities at a price that’s hard to beat.
Who Should Buy The 50mm f/1.4 USM
The 50mm f/1.4 USM is a better fit for:
- Portrait Photographers: If you shoot a lot of portraits and want that extra creamy bokeh to make your subjects stand out, the f/1.4 aperture is a clear advantage.
- Low Light Enthusiasts: For those who frequently shoot in dim environments and need every bit of light possible, the f/1.4 aperture is a significant benefit.
- Those Seeking Peak Image Quality: While the f/1.8 is sharp, the f/1.4 can offer slightly better sharpness and bokeh quality, especially for those who are very critical of image perfection.
- Photographers Needing Faster Focusing: While both are good, the USM motor in the f/1.4 is generally considered a bit faster and more responsive, which can be helpful for capturing moving subjects.
- Users Upgrading from Kit Lenses: If you’re looking for a noticeable step up in both aperture and overall performance from your camera’s standard zoom lens, the f/1.4 will feel like a significant upgrade.
This lens represents a commitment to better low-light performance and more dramatic background blur, making it a preferred choice for specific genres of photography where these attributes are highly valued.
Key Considerations Beyond Aperture
While aperture is the most talked-about difference, there are other things to keep in mind when choosing between the canon lens 50mm 1.4 vs 1.8.
Autofocus Performance
Both lenses use autofocus to help you get sharp images without manual effort.
The f/1.8 uses an STM motor, which is excellent for smooth, quiet focusing. This is particularly beneficial for video recording, as the sound of the motor is minimal. It’s also very capable for stills photography.
The f/1.4 uses a USM motor. Historically, USM motors were known for being faster and more durable. While the STM on the f/1.8 is very good, the USM on the f/1.4 might offer a slight edge in speed and responsiveness, especially in tracking moving subjects. However, some USM motors can be a bit louder than STM.
Build Quality and Durability
Generally, the f/1.4 lens feels a bit more substantial in hand than the f/1.8. This is often due to slightly better materials or construction. The f/1.8, while perfectly functional, is very lightweight and made of plastic that can feel a bit less premium. The f/1.4 has a more solid feel, suggesting it might withstand more general wear and tear, though neither is built like a tank designed for extreme conditions.
Image Sharpness and Aberrations
Both lenses produce very good image quality for their price points.
The f/1.8 is remarkably sharp, especially when you stop it down a bit from f/1.8.
The f/1.4 is also very sharp. Wide open at f/1.4, it’s good, but some photographers notice it can be slightly softer, particularly in the corners, compared to the f/1.8 when the f/1.8 is at f/1.8. However, when stopped down to f/2.8 or f/4, the f/1.4 often matches or even surpasses the f/1.8 in overall sharpness.
Both lenses can exhibit chromatic aberration (color fringing) at their widest apertures, which is common for lenses of this type. This is usually easy to correct in post-processing.
Depth of Field
This is where the f/1.4 really shines. The wider aperture means you can achieve a shallower depth of field. This allows you to isolate your subject from the background with greater ease, creating a more pronounced blur.
For example, at a given distance, shooting at f/1.4 will give you a much narrower zone of focus than shooting at f/1.8. This is a key factor for portrait photographers who want that dreamy, out-of-focus background.
Which Lens Is Right For Your Canon Camera
Both lenses are designed to work with Canon’s EF mount cameras, which include their full-frame DSLRs and APS-C DSLRs.
* On a full-frame Canon DSLR (e.g., Canon 5D series, 6D series, 1D series): The 50mm focal length is truly a 50mm lens. It’s perfect for portraits, general photography, and street photography.
* On an APS-C Canon DSLR (e.g., Canon Rebel series, xxD series, 7D series): The 50mm lens will have a “crop factor.” On most Canon APS-C sensors, this is a 1.6x crop. So, a 50mm lens will behave more like an 80mm lens (50mm x 1.6 = 80mm). This makes it an excellent telephoto lens, perfect for tighter portraits where you want to capture more detail and compress the background.
The choice between the f/1.4 and f/1.8 doesn’t change how the focal length behaves due to the crop factor, but it amplifies the benefits of each lens depending on how you’ll use it.
When To Stop Down Your Aperture
While we’ve talked a lot about the widest apertures (f/1.4 and f/1.8), it’s important to remember that you don’t always have to shoot at the maximum aperture. Stopping down your aperture (using a larger f-number like f/2.8, f/4, f/5.6) has several benefits:
- Increased Depth of Field: This means more of your image will be in focus, which is great for landscapes or group photos where you want everything from front to back to be sharp.
- Improved Sharpness: Most lenses are at their sharpest when stopped down a couple of stops from their maximum aperture. This means that f/2.8 or f/4 might actually yield sharper results than f/1.4 or f/1.8.
- Reduced Aberrations: Chromatic aberration and other optical imperfections are often less noticeable at smaller apertures.
So, even if you own the f/1.4 for its wide-aperture capabilities, you’ll likely find yourself using it at f/2.8, f/4, or even f/5.6 for many shooting scenarios.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Which lens is better for portraits, the 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.8
Answer: The 50mm f/1.4 is generally preferred for portraits because its wider f/1.4 aperture allows for a shallower depth of field, creating more background blur and helping your subject stand out more dramatically. However, the f/1.8 can also produce pleasing background blur, especially when shot close to the subject.
Question: Can I use these lenses for sports or fast action
Answer: While both lenses can focus quickly, they are not specifically designed for fast sports action. For sports, you would typically want a lens with a longer telephoto reach and potentially faster autofocus tracking capabilities. However, for less demanding action, they can be used, especially if you have good light.
Question: Which lens has better autofocus
Answer: The 50mm f/1.4 typically features a USM (Ultrasonic Motor) which is generally faster and more responsive than the STM (Stepping Motor) in the 50mm f/1.8. However, the STM is quieter and very smooth, making it excellent for video.
Question: Is the extra cost of the 50mm f/1.4 worth it over the f/1.8
Answer: For most beginners and budget-conscious photographers, the f/1.8 is more than sufficient and offers incredible value. The f/1.4 is worth the extra cost if you specifically need the wider aperture for very low light or significantly more background blur in your portraits.
Question: Do these lenses work on Canon mirrorless cameras
Answer: Yes, these EF lenses will work on Canon’s EOS R mirrorless cameras with the use of a Canon EF-EOS R Mount Adapter. Performance is generally excellent.
Final Thoughts
Deciding between the canon lens 50mm 1.4 vs 1.8 really comes down to your budget and what you prioritize in your photography. The f/1.8 is an absolute champion for its price, delivering sharp images and good low-light performance that punches way above its weight. It’s an ideal lens for anyone starting out, wanting to explore prime lenses, or needing a versatile, portable option without breaking the bank. You’ll get fantastic results for portraits, everyday shooting, and learning composition.
On the other hand, the f/1.4 offers a step up in creative control, particularly for those who are drawn to very shallow depth of field and need that extra bit of light-gathering ability. If you frequently shoot in challenging lighting or crave that ultra-creamy bokeh for portraits that really pop, the investment in the f/1.4 will likely be a rewarding one. Ultimately, both lenses are excellent choices that will serve you well. Consider your typical shooting scenarios and your financial comfort zone, and pick the one that feels right for your photographic vision.
