Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Review: The Affordable Portrait Prime

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM remains one of the easiest ways to get shallow depth of field on a Canon DSLR without spending much. It is compact, light and bright, and it works on both full-frame and APS-C EF-mount cameras. That versatility is why it is still a popular used-lens choice.

A 50mm lens is not always a 50mm view

On a full-frame camera, 50mm gives a normal perspective that suits everyday photography, portraits and low-light scenes. On Canon APS-C DSLRs, the 1.6x crop produces the field of view of roughly 80mm on full frame. That is why it becomes a particularly useful portrait lens on cameras such as the EOS 2000D: it gives a comfortable working distance and a flattering perspective without needing to stand too far away.

What the f/1.8 aperture changes

f/1.8 lets in much more light than a kit zoom at 50mm, so you can use a faster shutter speed indoors or keep ISO lower. It can also blur a background, especially when the subject is close and the background is distant. That blur is not automatic: focus placement matters, and at f/1.8 the depth of field around an eye can be very thin.

The lens has STM autofocus and a metal mount, but it has no image stabilisation. IS would not freeze a moving person anyway, so for children or events use a shutter speed high enough to stop movement. For wider everyday framing on APS-C, the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM is more flexible in small rooms; for a longer zoom perspective, see the EF-S 55-250mm IS STM.

Who should buy it

It is an excellent first prime lens for Canon DSLR users who want portraits, indoor photographs and a smaller kit. It is less useful as an only lens on APS-C if you often photograph groups or interiors, because the 80mm-equivalent view can feel tight.

What you need besides the lens

A lens hood is helpful outdoors, and practising single-point autofocus will make more difference than any accessory. Canon’s support page provides the official product information.

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30-second decision

For Canon DSLR portraits, this is still one of the best low-cost upgrades from a kit zoom. It is sharp enough, bright and small, but its angle of view is much tighter on APS-C and there is no stabilisation.