Product Comparison: Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM vs Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM


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General Specifications
Brand
Canon
Canon
Model
EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
EF 85mm f/1.8 USM
Origin
Japan
Japan
About the Product
It’s often said that a face can tell a thousand stories. And the real beauty of portrait photography is that every shot is as individual as the person in it. Capturing a face can be one of the most satisfying and rewarding types of photography. And, with a good lens and the right technique, it’s easy to get the results you want.
A highly practical medium telephoto lens with superb delineation and portability. Images are sharp and clear at all apertures. Through computer simulations, the lens has been designed to give beautiful background blur. Since the front lens group does not rotate during focusing special filter effects are not affected.
Key Specs
Mount Type
Canon EF
Canon EF
Maximum Aperture
1.4 /f
1.8 /f
Minimum Focal Length
50 millimeters
85 millimeters
Maximum Focal Length
50 millimeters
85 millimeters
Lens Type
Fixed
Fixed
What customers say about "Key Specs"
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens for Canon DSLRs
  • Another reason that I preferred this lens was the metal mount, though I believe the f/1.8 II transitioned to a metal mount as well.
  • The mounting is plastic and the front focus ring feels like an after thought.
  • Additionally, it doesn't really have a good mount for a hood. Finally, the focus ring is very touchy - the full motion of the focus is only about a quarter of a turn, so you have very little room for fine tuning.
  • Beyond the angle of view though, it's most commendable quality is the super-bright f1.4 aperture.
  • Really though, I think the number one reason that I love this lens is because it is such a versatile focal length with a fast aperture, and great performance in low light.
Size & Weight
Height
2.9 in.
2.8 in.
Width
2.9 in.
3 in.
Depth
2 in.
3 in.
Weight
10.2 oz.
15 oz.
What customers say about "Size & Weight"
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens for Canon DSLRs
  • Well-built. It's a fairly small lens that has tight tolerances and an appropriate weight for the size.
  • It is just the right size and weight. Most lenses are just too big, bulky, and heavy for general purpose use.
  • The lens has more weight and has a real hood attachment, and photos just come out better than the f/1.8 - better focus and more saturation and contrast.
  • First off this lens is amazingly solid (makes the plastic kit lens feel like a toy). I swear it doubles the weight of my camera (not in a bad way)... I now understand the reviews which said that the T2i feels cheap.
  • It has some weight to it, so it feels like great quality.
Imaging
Minimum Focus Distance
17.7 in.
33.6 in.
Field Of View
46°
28° 30'
Zoom Type
Manual
Manual
Focus
Auto Focus, Manual Focus
Auto Focus, Manual Focus
Optical Stabilization
No
No
What customers say about "Imaging"
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens for Canon DSLRs
  • The focus and recompose method will not suffice most of the time. If you've have microadjust, put that to use.
  • It doesn't zoom, it just does bokeh and does it well. Sharp enough for my general purpose.
  • It's not a zoom lens so get ready to move those feet :) This is a very nice prime lens and if you are a beginner like me, this lens should definitely be in your collection.
  • Though technically not a macro lens since the minimum focal length is 18 inches, you can still achieve some very nice close-up images.
  • Crisp focus with zero adjustment needed and AI servo through 10 frame run and all spot on in focus.
Features
Brand Compatibility
Canon
Canon
Sensor Type Compatibility
Full-Frame
Full-Frame
Lens Groups and Elements
7 Elements in 6 Groups
9 elements in 7 groups
Number of Aperture Blades
8
8
Filter Diameter
58 millimeters
58 millimeters
Extras
Ultrasonic autofocus motor (USM), The ultimate mixture of versatility and image quality, Super Spectra coating, Smooth background blur
Ultrasonic motor (USM) ensures smooth, precise focusing, Medium telephoto lens gets you closer to your subject
What customers say about "Features"
Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens for Canon DSLRs
  • Great product. If you are rocking a cropped sensor also consider the 35mm f/2. Both great for the money, the 35mm on the cropped sensor will look a lot like this lens on a full.
  • This lens is a lot of fun to play around with. It takes excellent pictures and the 1.4 aperture creates jaw-dropping pictures in dark scenarios. For an amateur photographer, this is a really cool feature.
  • The prime focus is very very sharp. I think that is my favorite feature about the lens.
  • Now the canon 50mm 1.4 I bought brand new in amazon some time ago and take very special care with because I know the USM motor is very sensitive and gets damaged with any little bump and if you twist to hard on a filter you can damage as well .
  • The front element is recessed well and serves like a hood. Fully focused to infinity, the front barrel is completely flush. However, if you add on a filter, that filter ring will jutt out a little. I happened to have dropped the lens once on the filter.
Warranty / Certifications
Manufacturer Warranty
1 year(s)
1 year(s)
Certifications
CE
CE
Other Information
Manufacturer


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