Customer Ratings & Reviews

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens is an item every photographer needs in their camera bag. From beginner level to advanced, the nature of this lens is for all types of photographers. After receiving my Canon T6i as a gift, I was steadfast in finding the best selection of lenses to add to my lens collection. While researching favorable lenses, I noticed a common topic mentioned by multiple photography bloggers and posted articles; they all mentioned about the “nifty-fifty”. After exploring further, I discovered that this was the nickname for the 50mm f/1.8 lens. Soon enough, I decided to purchase this myself. Due to purchasing this item from the BestBuy store, I can say the customer service was impeccable. The gentlemen from Genius support who assisted me in my venture to find an additional lens for portrait photography was very informative, and he truly guided me through the process of what my camera will need for the different types of photography. After reading prior to visiting BestBuy, I already had an idea of the lens I was looking for. As an Intermediate photographer, I was focusing on Portrait style to expand my skills. And of course, to have a lens that blurs the background for me, so I can skip the most laborious step in Photoshop while editing. After purchasing the 50mm f/1.8 STM, I can write with great satisfaction that this lens is one of the best purchases I have made. The lens itself is durable and locks firmly with ease on the Canon. With an effortless lens change, I was swiftly out the door with my Golden Retriever to try it out. Almost immediately, I noticed that many invariable settings did not work with this lens. As well as lighting changes, I made metal notes on what are some need-to-know basis for prior and following the purchases of this lens. 1) Apply Manual setting when using this lens. It is encouraged to research how to adjust Manual so that is accommodates for your individual needs. 2) When photographing objects from farther away, I found that focusing on an object was more challenging than a lens that has zoom capabilities. This is a primarily for portrait use. 3) The blurred background is excellent, but if you are a professional photographer, I would highly suggest purchasing a Canon 50mm f/1.4 or even with f/1.2. This will add additional clarity to the object and obscure the background further. 4) For those who have photography as a hobby, the Canon 50mm f/1.8 is less expensive with just as exceptional quality as the f/1.4 and f/1.2. Overall, I would highly recommend this lens for purchase. It can be used by those looking for the perfect Instagram Portrait, those who have years of photography behind them and are looking for an intriguing change, and for the “just starting out” photographers who wish to expand their knowledge of photography; this lens is perfect for all craving that perfect portrait. Purchasing this lens will not only make taking photos more appealing, it will help make your final product extraordinary.

This lens, with its massive f/1.8 aperture, is quite possibly one of the best things for shooting in low light or indoors without blurring. Of course with big apertures the other thing that comes is depth-of-field, and oh boy does this ever have it. Cranked wide open, it very nicely separates the background from the subject with puffy, well-defined bokeh. For focus, it uses the Canon STM (stepper motor) drive, which is quite fast and accurate. It is a prime lens, meaning it is fixed and does not zoom. 50mm is a good focal length for portraits though, and this lens can focus on something as close as a foot away from the camera so you can get some good closeups. While the focus motor is relatively quiet, it makes a very distinct sound, which others have noted is distracting in video. It is much, much quieter than the kit lens that comes with entry-level Canon cameras though, which is the camera most likely owned by the person wanting to use this lens for video. I don't recommend this lens for video at all, as still photography is where it shines. On autofocus, it snaps right in. Press the shutter and you're practically already taking the picture, only a split second of autofocus lag. Manual focus is a little strange at first, as the ring just tells the focus motor where to turn to, but it is quick to get used to and now I really like it. The focus steps are very small so I can get an extremely sharp lock on most anything. Overall I recommend this to any budding photographer as a good first "second lens" to purchase for their brand new Canon Rebel camera. The price is right and it does great things.

A wonderful lens and my new favorite for portrait photography. The depth of field is gorgeous and the overall quality is great for well lit video too. This lens is also light enough for use on my DJI Ronin gimbal with a Canon T6i which is awesome and something I didn’t expect from this powerful lens! I even bought refurbished to save a few dollars and the lens came as good as new (minus the clutter of a box!)

Such a great little lens. I've been using with my Canon T1i and the overall image quality, colors, and sharpness is miles better than the lenses that came with my camera. The fixed 50mm focal length is great for getting you to move around and work your shots until you find that perfect angle rather than relying on zooming in or out. The 1.8f aperture is great for evening/low light shots and you can get some awesome boka and blur effects with it as well. The Autofocus works fine, but for some reason I can't seem to focus at all on manual. Thats probably just me but I was pretty good at using manual on my other lenses, might just have to practice more with this one. Its also great for taking portraits of people, but can be tricky taking photos of two or more, and especially groups. You usually have to run pretty far back to get everyone in frame. If you are a beginner photographer or are just looking to improve you photographing chops and have been looking at getting a new lens, this little guy has you covered.

I am a professional photographer. I needed a 50mm prime. Several publications said that the 50mm 1.8 STM, though the cheapest of Canon's 50mm lineup, is actually the sharpest and best, even better than the coveted 50mm 1.2L which commands $1,200. So glad I made the decision to get the STM. After several test shots, I am absolutely convinced that this lens packs a wallop for its price tag of $125. Open it up to 1.8, and it produces a glorious bokeh. Stop it down just one or two stops, and it's razor sharp. Autofocus is precise and rocket fast. Though this isn't the $330 USM (Universal Silent Motor) model, the autofocus is actually really quiet. It has full time manual override, so you can fine tune or focus manually without worrying about stripping the gears. Some publications criticized it for the "fly by wire" manual focus (the manual focus ring actuates the focus motor), and I didn't think I'd like this feature. I decided it was a small sacrifice, since I use autofocus about 99% of the time (I don't trust my 50 year old eyes). But I actually really like this feature. It actually makes for more precise manual focusing. Though this lens is very light weight, the build quality is actually quite good. The bayonet mount is metal (the older version, the 50mm 1.8 II, had a plastic mount). This lens really should be in the gear bag of every professional and serious amateur Canon shooter.

This lens is great because it only shoots 50mm. It gives a crisper picture than the 25-250 or 50-250 lense when they are on the 50mm setting. It's great for taking portrait shots or shots of nature, with this I learned the meaning of "focus with your feet" as in because it's 50mm you can't adjust the lens so you must move your camera forward or backwards in order to get the subject in good focus. Great lens

The Canon 50mm lens is a fantastic option for photographers looking for a versatile and affordable lens. It's particularly well-regarded for its sharpness and the beautiful bokeh effect it produces, making it an excellent choice for portrait photography. The lens creates stunning images with a nice depth of field, allowing the subject to stand out against a softly blurred background. However, it's important to note that when used on a crop sensor camera, the effective focal length becomes approximately 80mm due to the crop factor. This means that while the lens is great for portraits, it may feel a bit zoomed in, which can limit your framing options in tighter spaces. Overall, the Canon 50mm is a solid lens that delivers excellent image quality and is a great addition to any photographer's kit, especially for those focusing on portrait work.

I just bought it as the reviews were great. It is an inexpensive prime lens that you can start with your portrait photography . I bought it on sale $99 at bestbuy last December at this price it was a steal . You have to get used to it and first try out the lens on different subjects after that you can ultimately take great portrait photos that are really sharp . Very happy with my purchase as this will be used on my new canon T7i dslr .

I decided to buy the 50mm 1.8 vs the 50mm 1.4 based on the various reviews I read online. The one glaring review or comment that convince me to buy this lens is images taken with the 1.8 are no less sharper than images taken with the more expensive 1.4. The focus motor is a very audible, but does not affect my photography which is mostly portrait. I do not shoot videos with my Canon DSLR. Granted that this lens may not be the best prime 50mm, but it works for me. It is lightweight which I need since I have osteoarthritis in my right hand. I shoot with a Canon 85mm 1.8 and use the 50mm for shots where I need to move in closer for some shots I want.

Mixed feelings about a fixed lens so far. The quality of the photos is amazing, no question there. I suppose the hardest thing to get used to is finding the right distance from your subject to capture your vision. I'm a lover of zoom lenses, so no matter my distance I can zoom in or out a little and get the perfect shot, here I'm taking steps, playing around with my angles. In conclusion.. great quality photos, easy to use, hard to get used to shooting with it. P.S. Photos have not been edited.

This lens is fantastic. The pictures are very crisp and clear-great bokah. The price can't be beat. A great minimal investment for a lens that gives superb results. A must have and can't recommend it enough!

It is a light, clear, bright, fast and accurate focusing lens, even in dark shots on my DSLRs (EOS5D Mark II) But for video users without an external microphone it is nosy. I use it for both, studio shots and outdoors, Photo and video. Manual focus ring could be better to grab with one finger, (the outher lens ring is on the same level as the focusing ring so it doesn't allow your finger to get a good grip with it) the MF-AF button is very slippery too it does not move easily with one finger. This button and the MF ring are flush with the surface of the lens. Maybe some people prefer them this way to avoid moving them by mistake, but for me they are there to be used! Bear in mind the manual focus does not work with the camera off. I shoot with my eyes on the wiewfinder all the time, not with live view or looking at the screen. I am a Professional Photographer with more than 25 years of experience. I have a Nikon equivalent and it is easier to use, but it is 20 years old, So It is only works completely manual on my Canons with an adapter. Want more tech info and comparisons? Look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwmCrGVS3ZQ And here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj8d3Rgdyl4

I truly see why it's called the "Nifty Fifty." It truly is a great addition to the lenses I already have. I can't put it down (I attached a photo from my Flickr account as an example [@adrianvfloyd])!

I am new to photography and no pro by any means. A friend of mine suggested that I purchase the 50mm lens to take pictures of my 3 daughters and said I would not be disappointed. Well she was correct! I love the quality and style picture you get with this lens! Would recommend to anyone!

Very good quality and user friendly for beginners and pros. Highly recommend if you are going to be shooting portraits or want that nice blur for popping images. I saw this lens recommended by a YouTube and for the price it’s worth having in your inventory . Would highly recommend !

This quickly became my favorite lens for multiple reasons. It delivers crisp shots, the low aperture creates a nice depth of field, works great in low-light situations, and its very light. Started using this on my T5 and now on my 70D, and it's still my go-to.

There’s just no excuse to not own this lens. Consider it a $125 add-on to the body you’re purchasing, and thank yourself later, over and over again. The sharpness and bokeh for the price, are just undeniable. I picked this up with my 5D Mark IV body, and it’s proven to impress as much as the pro body. This lens is a steal - point blank. Must own. Just do it. 50mm is an amazing focal length. This is a great lens for a creative day when you just want to run and shoot. Images included below of shots I took in Union Square with the Mark IV body.

Love this thing. It’s been taking my portraits to another level, and it’s just my nifty fifty now. Honestly for the price it’s so fantasric

This was a steal deal. Great price and absolutely well good for taking photos. Perfect for beginners

Been stuck with the kit lens for a few months have finally started to invest into some better glass. Upon first inspection of taking photos, wow, what an improvement this is, clarity and that shallow depth of field at 1.8 is truly magnificent. I have the t7i (800d) and I can finally let my camera shine. Yes, it isn't an exact native 50mm as I'm using on a crop sensor camera, however, I just have to adapt to the slight zoom and I'll be good. 5 stars all the way. I attached some photos that will present capabilities of the lens.