Best 50mm Lenses For Canon [2024 Review]

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

The market is packed with a diverse range of lenses that vary from one another in terms of their zooming capabilities, focal length, and build quality as well. Some commonly used types are prime and zoom lenses. The 50mm is one of the most popular prime lenses on the market, used primarily for portraits and creating good background blur.

However, every camera body has different requirements, which is why it is important to choose the one best 50 mm lens for Canon smartly.

Take a look at the following buying guide and product reviews to help make a smart decision.

Review of the Best 50mm Lenses For Canon

The following are the reviews of the best 50mm lens for Canon. All of these are unique in their own way and have a particular quality that makes them different from one another. Take a look.

Brand
Canon EF
Sigma
YONGNUO YN
Product
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard and Medium...
Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Lens for Canon
Focal Length
50mm
50mm
50mm
Aperture
f/1.4
F1.4 Art DG HSM
F1.8
Brand
Canon EF
Product
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard and Medium...
Focal Length
50mm
Aperture
f/1.4
Brand
Sigma
Product
Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Lens for Canon
Focal Length
50mm
Aperture
F1.4 Art DG HSM
Brand
YONGNUO YN
Product
Focal Length
50mm
Aperture
F1.8

Best Overall: Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard and Medium...

PROS

  • Creates outstanding depth of field
  • Backed by a warranty lasting for 1 year
  • Smooth and fast auto focus functionality
  • Can work well even in low light situations
  • Really lightweight yet sturdy construction
  • Two high refraction lens elements guarantee high-quality images

CONS

  • Some have received defective products

What Recent Buyers Report

The image quality Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 lens is reported to be really sharp and crisp by the buyers. Moreover, reports also tell us that it has been used by beginners and learners as well, and they were able to make great use out of it. Some buyers also received defective products but were instantly helped out by the customer support, mitigating the negative experience they had.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The most distinctive quality of this 50mm lens for Canon is its refractive lens elements that guarantee consistent and crisp image quality. Moreover, it is also backed by a warranty, which further makes this a reliable and worthy product. The outstanding image quality it produces in low light, and its overall lens quality is all impressive.

Who Will Use This Most

This is a really good product for professional photographers. It’s a great lens for landscape photography. Moreover, wedding photographers can also use it for bride and groom portraits. It’s also on a more budget-friendly price spectrum, which makes it a good choice for beginners too.

Bottom Line

To sum it up, the lens has an overall great construction quality along with a versatile design that is meant for professional portrait photography and for beginner purposes as well. The top-notch features such as smooth focusing and good quality depth of field are all housed by a sturdy yet really lightweight construction.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard and Medium...
  • Standard focal length 50 millimeter lens is effective in a multitude of shooting situations and...
  • Elements, Groups: 7 by 6, Diaphragm: Blades 8, Filter Thread: Font 58 millimeter. Minimum focusing...
  • An f 1.4 maximum aperture provides clear imaging in low light situations and shallow depth of field

Runner-up: Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art DG HSM

Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Lens for Canon

PROS

  • Great for portrait and landscape photography
  • Multi-layer coating ensuring great image quality
  • Accurate and smooth auto focus with hyper-sonic motor
  • Adds great value to money with included front and rear caps
  • Special low dispersion lens element guarantees minimum dispersion in images

CONS

  • Pricier than other 50mm prime lenses
  • Misleading description, it does not fit E-mount cameras
  • Some issues with the delivery of defective products reported

What Recent Buyers Report

This high-end Sigma 50mm F1.4 is backed by several positive customer reviews. A huge lot of buyer reports suggests that it is a piece of perfect equipment for wedding photography. Moreover, the reports also tell us that there were many professional wedding photographers who were able to capture some really good images in low light settings too.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The design and construction of this lens are really impressive. It features a multi-coated lens with Special Low Dispersion quality that makes sure that it captures the most vivid, high contrast and minimum dispersion in the images. Plus, it also adds value to your money with the extra added accessories, such as the rear and front dust caps that protect the lens.

Who Will Use This Most

We think that professional wedding photographers will be able to make great use out of this 50mm lens. It is also really good for use with versatile kinds and types of cameras. Moreover, for professional landscape photography, this lens can also be truly useful.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, from SLD to hyper-sonic motor features, the lens is meant to create the crispest and sharpest images without any hint of dispersion. Even though it’s a pricier, higher-end alternative in comparison to other lenses on the market, it still proves to be one of the best choices for professional-level photography.

Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Lens for Canon
  • 50mm focal length
  • 75mm equivalent focal length on APS-C cameras, 80mm equivalent focal length on Canon APS-C cameras
  • F1.4 maximum aperture; F16 minimum

Best for the Money: YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8

YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8 Lens Large Aperture Auto Focus...

PROS

  • Comes with a supportive user manual
  • Has both manual and auto focus functionality
  • Multi-coated lens increases light transmission
  • One of the best-performing yet affordable lenses
  • Gold-plated metal contacts are resistant to corrosion

CONS

  • Poor durability reported by users
  • Sharpness is not as good as that of other high-end products

What Recent Buyers Report

The buyers of YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8 find the cheap price tag and its affordability truly impressive. They report high satisfaction and happy experience due to the good quality images and a great depth of field that it is able to create. In addition to this, it is also reported to have a lightweight build that further makes it convenient for most of its buyers.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The price to performance ratio of this lens is the most distinctive feature. It truly impresses us to see that the affordable lens is available with such top-notch, competitive features that are meant to enhance and ensure exceptional performance. It is also truly user-friendly with its efficient auto focus feature backed by a helpful user manual.

Who Will Use This Most

We highly recommend this lens to people who want to capture good quality images in indoor events with low lights. Moreover, it is also a strongly recommended product for beginners and learners who have a limited budget but still want to practice and perfect their skills on a budget-friendly lens.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, the lens is a great product overall featuring a good, reliable construction along with a smooth and silent focus capability. It is listed as one of the best on the market that is available at a pocket-friendly price too. This is an overall complete package that has to offer performance and affordability altogether.

YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8 Lens Large Aperture Auto Focus...
  • Yongnuo Lens EF 50mm 1.8 for Canon is a 50mm auto fucus lens for creative, art and beauty...
  • F1.8 large aperture,virtual background,which makes photography with more fun.
  • Support auto focus and manual focus mode;

Best Canon 50mm Macro Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/2.5

Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro Lens

PROS

  • Creates really sharp images
  • Backed by a 1-year long warranty
  • Great product for taking portraits
  • Recommended for beginner level macro photography
  • Multi-purpose functionality, suitable for both macro and general photography

CONS

  • Slow and noisy auto focus functionality reported by some buyers

What Recent Buyers Report

Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 is supported by a number of professionals to beginner-level photographers who were looking for a reliable, sturdy, and well-built lens to work with. Buyers report its construction and building design to be really satisfying as it is really lightweight yet really sturdy. Many people also used it for general photography other than macro and were equally satisfied with the results.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It is very difficult to find a lens on the market that not only offers good features to ensure quality performance and affordability but is also a reliable product backed by some warranty or guarantee. Therefore, this lens for macro photography stands out on the market since it comes fully supported with a warranty that covers your costs for up to 1 year.

Who Will Use This Most

People who want to get a head start into macro photography should make use of this lens. It’s a very user-friendly, yet advanced lens that is packed with high-end features, all backed by a generous 1-year warranty.

Bottom Line

To wrap it up, the Canon 50mm lens for macro photography is packed with versatile features such as an EF mount, 1-year long warranty, and also a wide aperture that allows low light shooting. This is one of the most user-friendly lenses that a beginner can start from, particularly for macro photography as well as for general photography.

Best Canon 50mm Fixed and Portrait Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens with 3pc Filter Kit...

PROS

  • Capable of creating a really good quality bokeh
  • Works really well in low light conditions as well
  • Exceptionally reliable and smooth auto focusing
  • Comes with a lens cap holder for safety purposes
  • The value-added package comes with complete filter kit

CONS

  • Auto focus might not be the most durable feature
  • Limited compatibility with different brands of cameras

What Recent Buyers Report

A lot of buyers shared their own image results captured from Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, which showed that it created phenomenal depth of field and a really creative background blur. Moreover, buyers also report that it also creates really nice bokeh. The lens filters that come in the kit impresses and makes the buyers really happy.

Why it Stands Out to Us

It is very difficult to find good quality, top-notch lenses that come from reliable manufacturers with a wide range of extra accessories. For this reason, this Canon lens stands out to us with its full kit, including filters, Snap-On lens cap, and a safety case for the lens cap as well.

Who Will Use This Most

We strongly recommend this product for professional photographers who want to invest in a lens that will overall add value to their experience. The safety case for the cap, along with a snap-on cap and lens filters all will prove really useful for professional purposes. It’s also a budget lens, which makes it a good choice for beginners or people on a budget as well.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, this budget-friendly lens is meant for professional buyers who want to have a convenient and comfortable user experience. The extra added accessories add value to your money. The anti-flare and anti-dispersion build quality also makes it a really reliable lens for crisp, sharp, and clear images.

Best Canon 50mm Prime Lens: Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens for Canon Digital...

PROS

  • Comes with a Snap-On dust lens cap
  • Weather-resistant, durable and sturdy build
  • Recommended for beginners with its fixed focal length
  • Features reliable auto focus with full-time manual focus
  • Anti-flare and anti-dispersion lens coating ensure great quality images

CONS

  • Focus functionality is not durable
  • Sharpness of images is disappointing
  • Pricey alternative compared to others

What Recent Buyers Report

Buyers report that both the manual and auto focus of Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM are efficient and really smooth as well. Buyers also report that it creates high clarity and vivid images. Some of the buyers were also professional wedding photographers, and therefore reported outstanding image quality and functionality for covering large events.

Why it Stands Out to Us

The product is great in every way possible as it’s equipped with incredibly top-notch features such as its snap-on dust cap and both auto and manual focus functionality. The most distinctive feature is its weather-resistant construction that is meant to cater to professional needs and rigorous usage.

Who Will Use This Most

We would strongly recommend this sturdily built lens to professional photographers who will be on the go with it. If you need to carry it around, especially for travel and landscape photography, then this weather-resistant lens is the best for you.

Bottom Line

Summing it up, the lens is a versatile product offering high-end features that are meant to cater to all professional to beginner level needs. Its weather-resistant build is meant for on-the-go photographers and is also there to guarantee longevity and durability.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens for Canon Digital...
  • Weather-resistant standard lens
  • Focal Length & Maximum Aperture-50mm F/1.2, Closest Focusing Distance - 1.48 ft. / 0.45m
  • AF with full-time manual focus, 72mm filter size

Comparison of the Best 50mm Lenses For Canon

Will Any 50mm Lens Work With a Canon Camera?

The majority of DSLRs have the same core design and functionality. The camera body that is compatible with interchangeable lenses is compatible with most types of lenses. As long as the mount type is the same and compatible, you can practically use any 50 mm lens with a Canon camera. The most important features to consider here will be the brand you are buying from, and to always check for its mount type, as well as their customer feedback to help you decide better.

When Would a 50mm Lens Come in Handy?

Many beginners are able to make great use out of a 50 mm lens’ exceptional depth of field and fixed focal length. Even professional photographers, especially for portrait photographers and wedding photographs, use 50mm lenses rigorously. The following are the multiple ways you can make great use out of one:

Portrait Photography

50mm is a prime lens and is best known for its amazing quality depth of field it creates. To take sharp shots with the proximity of an individual’s face, and blur down the background, 50mm lenses really do come in handy. Professional portraits are captured with these.

Creating Bokeh

Bokeh might seem really minimalistic and simple but are actually difficult to create if your lens does not have the capability. Therefore, 50mm lenses are fit for that purpose and can come in handy when you need to create bokeh.

50mm canon lens

Source

Low Light Shooting

These lenses have wide apertures and wide-ranging shutter speed, which allows them to have increased light transmission even in low light situations. Therefore, for indoor photography or low light night photography, 50mm can come in handy.

Portability

50mm lenses are really lightweight and compact in size. Therefore, they are portable and travel-friendly.

Why Did These Lenses Make Our List?

There are certain qualities and features that make a lens one of the best on the market. Therefore, the ones that have been reviewed in this article have the following features that make them stand out in the market.

Construction Quality

You will find that the lenses on the market are made with either high-quality plastic components or have full-on metal construction. Metal construction is sturdier but is heavier than the plastic constructed lenses. Moreover, you can also look for features like water and weather resistance, dust, and other construction qualities.

50mm canon EF lens

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens

Inexpensive

A good quality lens does not necessarily have to be really expensive to ensure good performance. The lenses that we consider one of the best on the market are also affordable but feature top-notch functions too.

Smooth Focus Functionality

The focusing quality of the lens is crucial for it to work well for you. Therefore, we picked only those that have a smooth and reliable focusing functionality. The best ones also feature both auto and manual focus capabilities.

Advantages of Investing in a Quality 50mm Lens

If you are wondering whether investing in a new 50mm lens is worth your money, then this section will list some of the many advantages of buying a good quality 50mm lens. Take a look to see if it’s the best choice for you.

Great For Indoor or Night Events

50mm lenses have a wide aperture and a fast shutter speed capacity, making it a good lens for shooting in low light or indoor events with limited lighting.

Compatible With Both Crop Sensor and Full-Frame Cameras

The best part about 50mm lenses is that they have versatile compatibility. They can be used with both crop sensors and full-frame cameras, allowing professionals to invest in one lens and use it with various camera types.

Great For Learning

50mm lenses have a fixed focal length and don’t require you to fidget with the zoom and focus rings both at the same time. This makes it a good lens for practicing and perfecting the skill of capturing good quality images.

Creativity at Its Best

With an exceptional depth of field and bokeh capability, you can do multiple creative experiments with this lens. Moreover, since it is so compact and lightweight, it is also very easy to use it in various situations and techniques.

Conclusion

To sum the article up, 50mm lenses make a great choice for both beginners and professionals. Whether you need to capture an indoor wedding event or take pictures in a low light setting, 50mm lenses work really well for you. They don’t necessarily have to be really expensive and cost a hefty sum of money. Instead, you can find various well-built, well-performing, and versatile 50mm lenses on the market at a rather affordable price.