I can’t even count the number of times I’ve recommended the ‘Nifty Fifty’. Yes, the Canon 50mm F1.8 MkII had a plastic mount, plastic construction and wasn’t particularly fast in focusing but that’s because it wasn’t trying to hide the fact that it was cheap. At just over $100, the Canon was the very definition of cheap and cheerful. There was just no reason to not have one in your kit, even as a backup to your “better” lenses.
There were a few quality issues with the plastic mount. My first Nifty Fifty lasted only two years of heavy use but it was hard to complain when the lens offered so much for so little money. It’s not the sharpest but was far better than the original Canon 18-55mm kit lens and just about everything under $500 other than the 50mm F1.4. Many Canon shooters will probably remember it as the lens that introduced them to bokeh. It’s a classic lens in the same way the Mini Cooper and VW Beetle are classic cars. It’s a lens of the people.
The Nifty Fifty Mark II is now 25 years old and today, Canon has announced it’s successor, the 50mm F1.8 STM. The plastic lens mount is gone, as is the noisy autofocus motor, replaced by a silent STM motor that works with newer Canon bodies that feature autofocus in video mode. The minimum focusing distance is now shorter, down to 1.1 feet from 1.5. Price has gone up as well to an estimated $169.99 (we have the current F1.8 II at $126.99). Estimated release date: end of May.
Read the full press release from Canon Canada here:
CANON CANADA INTRODUCES NEW EF 50MM F/1.8 STM LENS
Compact and Lightweight EF Lens Features Stepping Motor (STM) Technology and is Ideal for First time DSLR Users as well as Advanced Amateur Photographers
MISSISSAUGA, ON., May 11, 2015 – Canon Canada Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is proud to announce the new lightweight and compact Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM standard lens. Featuring a large maximum aperture of f/1.8, this single focal length lens (which has an effective focal length of 80mm when attached to an EOS camera with an APS-C sensor such as the EOS Rebel T6i) is ideal for creating portraits with beautiful, soft-blurred backgrounds. It’s also ideal for low-light photography and night scenes. Now incorporating Canon’s proprietary STM stepping motor technology, this new lens supports Canon’s EOS Movie Servo AF* (autofocus) function to provide smooth and quiet continuous AF during video recording, as well as when capturing still photos.
The new Canon EF 50mm f/1.8mm STM lens is excellent for entry-level and advanced amateur photographers, as well as users looking to capture video. Featuring an improved exterior design, including a new focus ring placement, it provides photographers with the most compact Canon EF 50mm lens ever, at just 1.5 inches in length. In addition, this new lens uses a metal mount providing additional stability and ruggedness compared to its predecessor.
Composed of six elements in five groups, the new Canon EF 50mm f/1.8mm STM lens features an optimized lens placement and Super Spectra Coating (SSC), translating into less ghosting and flaring than the previous model, while at the same time helping to enhance light transmission and optimize colour reproduction accuracy. The new lens features a seven blade circular aperture, improved from the predecessor’s five blade non-circular aperture, helping to deliver a more visually appealing blurring effect, and producing sharp images of subjects that truly stand out against beautiful, soft backgrounds. The minimum focusing distance for the lens has been shortened to 1.1 feet from 1.5 feet with a maximum magnification of 0.21x, allowing for more creative close-up photos and videos.
Pricing and Availability
The new Canon EF 50mm f/1.8mm STM standard prime lens is scheduled to be available by the end of May for an estimated retail price of $169.99. For more information please visit www.canon.ca
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Standard Telephoto Prime Lens Specifications Summary:
- Compact, lightweight, fixed focal length standard lens for EOS cameras
- Large f/1.8 maximum aperture
- 80mm effective focal length when attached to EOS cameras with APS-C sensors
- Canon STM gear type stepping motor technology provides quiet autofocusing to support Canon’s EOS Movie Servo AF function
- Improved exterior design including new focus ring placement makes it the most compact Canon EF 50mm lens ever
- New metal mount for stability and ruggedness
- Super Spectra Coating for minimized ghosting and flaring
- Circular seven blade aperture
- 14-inch minimum focusing distance
- 0.21x maximum magnification
About Canon Canada Inc.
Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canon Canada Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon USA, is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business and medical digital imaging solutions. Innovation and cutting-edge technology have been essential ingredients in Canon’s success. Canon Canada Inc. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 per cent Canadian-based service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon Canada Inc. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. For more information, please visit:www.canon.ca or join us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/CanonCanada.
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*When attached to a Canon EOS camera that supports Movie Servo AF.