This lens is an update to the popular and inexpensive standard 50mm f/1.8 EF lens , replacing the standard focusing motor with Canon's new stepping motor technology, which promises smoother, quieter autofocus performance, which is especially suited to recording video.

: The company's most affordable Rebel camera and also their smallest is a great offering for those that are just getting into photography.

Many a photographer has looked to Canon's "nifty fifty"-the EF 50mm f/1.8 II USM ($125.99)-as a first lens due to its attractive price and wide aperture. The first update to the lens in nearly two decades, the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM ($125.99), keeps the optics and the price the same, but uses a stepping...

Sharp at f/1.8; Lightweight; Silent, smooth video focus; Very affordable

Modest barrel distortion; Slower focus; Can flare; Some fall-off at wide aperture; Omits stabilization; Narrower field of view on APS-C cameras; Hood not included

Many a photographer has looked to Canon's "nifty fifty"—the EF 50mm f/1.8 II USM ($125.99)—as a first lens due to its attractive price and wide aperture. The first update to the lens in nearly two decades, the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM ($125.99), keeps the optics and the price the same, but uses a stepping motor (STM) for focus. The new motor provides smooth, quiet focus when paired with newer Canon cameras, but it's on the slow side. If you're buying on price alone, the 50mm f/1.8 STM is a solid choice, but it's not the best standard-angle prime available for Canon cameras. Editors' Choice honors for fast 50mm lenses stay with the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG HSM Art ($948.99 at Amazon) . The Sigma is a larger, heavier, and pricier prime lens, but its optical quality is fantastic. DesignThe EF 50mm f/1.8 ($125.00 at Amazon)  is a small, light lens. It measures 1.6 by 2.7 inches (HD), weighs just 5.7 ounces, and supports 49mm front filters. Canon doesn't include a lens hood, but you can buy the ES-...

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is the company's least expensive lens. It's an excellent value, even if it does have some flaws.

Sharp at f/1.8; Lightweight; Silent, smooth video focus; Very affordable

Modest barrel distortion; Slower focus; Can flare; Some fall-off at wide aperture; Omits stabilization; Narrower field of view on APS-C cameras; Hood not included

It's probably not as sharp as some people would like when used wide open, but stopped down to ƒ/2.8 or ƒ/4, it's as sharp as sharp gets. For the price point, you really can't go wrong with this lens, and it's a welcome improvement in sharpness over the previous version II of the 50mm ƒ/1.8.

Purchased this and it has been the best lens I own, came packaged well and even though I purchased used it was in A+++++ condition and unopened. Shipping was very quick and Adorama had always been a pleasure to deal with . Thank you

What an awesome lens! Really lives up to its "nifty-fifty" and "plastic-fantastic" sobriquets. The lens contruction is definitely plasticy but makes up in the image quality it produces. SIMPLY FANTASTIC. Images are pin sharp from f2.0 up. A little soft at 1.8 but really nothing to complain about.

Canon glass: sharp focus; shallow depth of field great for florals and portraits but the lens is also tack sharp on landscapes; lightweight; outstanding price/value.

Canon glass: sharp focus; shallow depth of field great for florals and portraits but the lens is also tack sharp on landscapes; lightweight; outstanding price/value

None

As one of the fastest standard primes in Canon's line up, the 50mm f/1.8 STM produces excellent photos. With much higher build quality than the 50mm f/1.8 mkII, as well as quieter and faster focusing.

The good points are that the images that come out are nice, it's compact, and it's cheap. But the build quality is terrible. You can't use it for video (the AF motor noise is extremely loud), and the manual focus makes a terrible grinding spring noise.

Compact

Build quality