Best 50mm Lens for Canon Cameras in 2023 [Buyer’s Guide]

50mm lenses are super popular these days. You’ve probably asked “What is a 50mm lens good for?” at some point. There are actually loads of reasons, but let me give you a couple of quick ones…

They’re prime lenses. What this means is that your photos will be sharper and higher contrast than most zoom lenses. The quality of your photos will be similar to what you’ll get from far more expensive lenses.

They’re affordable. When you think about how versatile 50mm lenses are – and the quality of the images they produce – it’s hard not to see their value.

They’re great in low-light, portraits, and action shots. When you slap a 50mm lens on a full-frame camera, you’ll be getting pretty much the same field of view your eyes have. This means that the photos you take will look very natural and the composition will be quite similar to what we usually see.

There are so many more reasons why 50mm lenses are super useful to a keen photographer.

Our review will help you choose the lens that matches your style of photography and gives you the best value for your money.

We’ve based our reviews on how the lenses work in the real-world and the practical performance you can expect from them.

Let’s get into the reviews!

Comparison of  Best 50mm Lens for Canon in 2023

Image	Product Name	Features	Price
	Canon EF 50mm Lens	Maximum Aperture: f/1.8 Minimum Focus Distance: 0.35m Autofocus: Yes Maximum Magnification: 0.21x Filter Size: 49mm	Check Price
	Cannon EF 50mm Lens with UV Filter	Maximum Aperture: f/1.8 Minimum Focus Distance: 0.35 Autofocus: Yes Maximum Magnification: 0.21x Filter Size: 49mm	Check Price
	Canon EF 50mm Lens with Neoprene Soft Lens Pouch	Maximum Aperture: f/1.4 Minimum Focus Distance: 0.45m Autofocus: Yes – USM Maximum Magnification: 0.21x Filter Size: 58mm	Check Price
	Canon EF 50mm Standard f/1.4 Lens	Maximum Aperture: f/1.8 Minimum Focus Distance: 0.35m Autofocus: Yes Maximum Magnification: 0.21x Filter Size: 49mm	Check Price

Top 10 Best 50mm Lens for Canon in 2023 (in-depth )

1 Canon EF 50mm Lens

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If you like manual focus, then this is a great option for you. There is an easy-to-reach toggle switch for you to quickly swap between manual and auto-focus.

The 46° diagonal viewing angle makes this a solid Canon 50mm portrait lens. The wide aperture and 7 diaphragm blades make shooting in low light pleasure and you can get awesome bokeh effects.

The short focal length gives you space to work with when you’re shooting indoors or close-up portraits. Your effective focal range is also pretty decent, though it depends on whether your camera is full frame or has a crop factor.

The internal sounds are as quiet as possible. This makes fewer vibrations and can actually help improve the sharpness of your shots.

Overall, you’re getting a great value lens that is affordable and very useful.

Key Features:

• Standard f/1.8 aperture
• 7 circular diaphragm blades
• 46° diagonal view angle
• 80mm effective focal length (50mm on full-frame cameras)
• Stepping motor (STM) is near-silent

2 Cannon EF 50mm Lens with UV Filter

It’s a perfect daily-carry lens. The snappy autofocus keeps you on your target without trading its accuracy for speed.

The high aperture and fast shutter give you some surprisingly sharp action shots. Lens shake it kept as low as possible.

The cleaning kit for this lens is fantastic at getting at the fine dirt and grains that are hidden from sight. Keeping your lens clean is easy and quick – this should give your lens a long life.

The UV filter is fantastic at protecting your lens while you shoot in bright light. It helps keep everything balanced and in check. You can fit the cap over the UV filter too.

Key Features:

• 21 maximum zoom
• Comes with a UV filter
• Excellent walk-around lens for everyday photography
• Movie Servo AF that’s swift
• Included deluxe cleaning pen is effective and removing fine dirt

3 Canon EF 50mm Lens with Neoprene Soft Lens Pouch

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This is a lens that has been engineered to help you get absolutely gorgeous portraits.

If you’re a fan of background blur, then you should think seriously about this lens. It blurs very well and keeps your main object extremely sharp and in focus.

The transition from the sharp in-focus part to the blur is seamless and the bokeh in the background is nice and rounded.

When you add charming low-light photography, this quickly becomes an excellent lens for indoor shooting and portraits.

Keeping the lens clean and protected is made really easy if you use the protective pouch and the well-kitted cleaning equipment that’s supplied.

Key Features:

• Extensive cleaning kit including a blower and lens pouch
• Use AV to get PERFECT portraits
• Comes with a 58-49mm adapter for filters
• Excellent background blur at f/1.8 aperture

Also Read: Best Travel Lens for Sony A6000 Cameras

4 Canon EF 50mm Standard f/1.4 Lens

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This lens has a very wide aperture that gives it excellent low-light performance. The wide aperture also opens opportunities for getting creating depth of field and action shots.

It’s one of the best prime lenses for Canon cameras if you are into low-light and action photography.

The autofocus is ridiculously fast and accurate. You will be able to track your target in a crowded space and keep it in focus. Switching between your targets is snappy and silent.

The image quality is excellent thanks to the duo high refraction lenses. They make sure that light isn’t scattered internally – giving you the best possible image quality.

You’ll need to use the 58-49mm adaptor if you want to use 49mm filters and attachments.

Key Features:

• Super wide f/1.4 aperture
• 8 diaphragm blades
• Ultrasonic Autofocus Motor (USM) autofocus
• The minimum focus distance of 45cm
• 2 high refraction lens elements

5 Canon EF 50mm Lens

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This lens is very similar to the first two lenses we looked at. It’s a solid cheap 50mm lens for Canon cameras.

The major differences are the included accessories and how compatible the lens is with 49mm filters.

Lens filters may be far more useful than you think. Many keen photographers totally forget that they exist and many more have them lying around but don’t know how to use them to get better results from your lens.

We suggest you spend some time experimenting with the 3 lens filters that come with this great-quality lens. You may be surprised at the difference they can make.

The 49mm filter size makes it very easy to connect filters and the lens cap at the same. A lot of closely priced models need an adapter to fit the filters on the lens.

Key Features:

• Comes with a set of 3 filters (UV, CPL, and FLD)
• 35cm minimum focal length for great portraits
• A lens cleaning kit is included for quick and easy cleaning
• Near-silent STM gives the lens a very smooth feel while using it

6 Canon EF 50mm Lens

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If you’re a food and restaurant enthusiast or photographer, then this lens may be the best 50mm lens for you.

You are able to get a great viewing angle if you’re shooting with a full-frame camera. The low focal length and high aperture make this lens great for indoor photography.

You’ll get shots that are very close to what your eyes see. The photos will be sharp, well-contrasted, and colorful.

You should use the lens hood when you use this camera outside. Lens hoods are very useful and can drastically improve the quality of your photos. Take a quick read of the article if you’d like to know when to use a lens hood to get the best results.

Key Features:

• Tulip lens hood for better light detection and more protection from flaring
• 49mm filter size for easy and fast connections
• Large f/1.8 aperture
• Well-suited to food and restaurant photography
• 35cm minimum focal range for great compositions

Also Read: Best Lens for Nikon D5100

7 Rokinon EF 50mm f/1.4 Lens

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It’s fast, great at low light, and takes sharp photos with accurate colors.

The internal focus means that there is no need for any rotating or lengthening of external parts.

It has all the advantages of a prime lens while staying lightweight and easy to carry around.

The higher maximum aperture helps you get all the light you need in low-light shots. You’ll be able to shoot shallow depth-of-field shots easily and get super pleasing bokeh effects.

The lens hood is very good at controlling light flaring and keeping your contrast optimal.

Overall, the experience with this lens is fantastic and it’s among the best Canon 50mm lenses.

Key Features:

• Specialized UMC (lens coating) to improve the quality of the light hitting the sensor
• f/1.4 wide aperture
• Internal focusing without no external movement
• Clear and color-accurate photos
• 8-blade circular diaphragm for awesome bokeh

8 Yongnuo EF 50mm Standard Lens

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This is a cheap 50mm lens for Canon cameras.

The quality is good enough and you get all the usual 50mm lens features. It’s fantastic for a beginner who’s looking to build up their basic skills and learn how to use 50mm.

It’s an excellent gift idea for someone just starting out in photography as it’s cheap and gives you pretty much all the same features as a 50mm from Canon.

To sum up the experience of this lens, it’s very affordable and it’s a solid choice for learning how to use 50mm lenses.

Key Features:

• Supports M/AV/TV/P shooting modes
• Metal contacts are made from gold plating
• Very affordable
• f/1.8 aperture for depth of field and low light

9 Canon EF 50mm USM Standard Lens

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This lens is a very trustworthy choice if you want something that guarantees quality and will have a long life.

Beginners can use this lens, though it’s more geared towards a photographer that has the basics down and is looking for an everyday carry lens to practice with.

You’ll be able to get professional-level results with this lens, without having to pay the huge price tag for some professional prime lenses.

The build is great and the lens is very easy to use.

The aperture is wider than most another standard 50mm lenses, making this one of the best prime lenses for Canon cameras.

Nighttime and low-light image quality are insanely good. If you know how to manipulate the depth of field to get creative shots, then this lens will be very versatile in your hands.

Key Features:

• very wide f/1.4 aperture
• ultrasonic autofocus motor
• two high refraction lens elements
• fantastic peripheral brightness at the highest aperture setting

10 Sigma EX 50mm HSM Lens

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This is a lens that has been carefully crafted to bring you the high standards of a professional lens at a great price.

You’ll have a very wide f/1.4 aperture which is great for low light, depth of field, and indoor photography.

The filter size is 77mm but it can fit 72mm filters without needing an adaptor. This means you’ll still be able to use your favorite filter and have enough space for the lens cap.

The lens feels lighter and easier to carry than it actually is thanks to the intelligent design. The build quality feels classy and durable.

This lens really excels at bokeh shots. The lights are very round and you get that distinct creamy feel of higher-end professional bokeh.

Overall, this is one of the best 50mm lenses for Canon cameras. You really won’t go wrong and it’s awesome and easy to use the lens to bridge the gap between amateur and professional photography.

Key Features:

• wide f/1.4 aperture
• 9 diaphragm blades for excellent bokeh
• High-quality material and high standard of construction
• E and X-Mount compatible
• The lens can also fit 72mm filters

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about 50mm lenses for Canon cameras.

Here are some important things we think you should know

That’s it for our Canon 50mm f/1.8 review. We also looked at some great deals that feature an f/1.4 aperture.

You should have a pretty good idea of which lens is best for your camera and your style.

It’s really important that you choose a lens that plays to your strengths. If you’re really passionate about low-light photography, you’re going to want to get the widest aperture possible.

Before you go away, there are a couple of things we think are important for you to know – even more so if you’re a beginner or are looking for ways to take your photography to the next level.

What is a 50mm lens good for?

This is a very big topic so we’ll highlight what we think are the 5 most important reasons you need a 50mm lens.

They’re versatile. They’re good in a wide range of situations. You can shoot landscapes and then take portraits of your kids straight after. You’ll be able to photograph food and then get some awesome action or bokeh shots. It’s just a matter of how creative you can be.

They’re affordable. When you consider the versatility and image quality 50mm lenses give you, it’s difficult not to buy one. They cost a fraction of telephoto prime lenses and have better image quality than many zoom lenses. You’ll get some serious return on your investment.

They’re prime lenses and their photos are incredibly sharp. Getting your images as sharp as possible is one of the photographers’ biggest hurdles. Having a lens that innately does this well saves you a lot of effort in the long run. F/1.4 aperture 50mm lenses are even better at this because you have more room to play with the shutter speed and ISO.

They have a very useful focal length. When you use a 50mm lens on a full-frame camera, the images very closely resemble the view angle that our eyes usually have. This makes photos look natural and capture the scene in a way that pleases our eyes. They also give you a flexible depth of field control.

50mm lenses are amazing tools for improving your skills and learning more. Prime lenses force you to think about how you compose your photos. You have to get creative if you want professional-looking results. These lenses are so good for skill development that we think every single photographer needs to spend some time experimenting with one.

How to use 50mm lenses

As mentioned above, these lenses are very versatile. It’s important for you to spend time experimenting and learning smart and creative ways to get the most out of your 50mm lens.

They are fantastic for portraits and close-ups. This is thanks to the natural viewing angle, contrast and color accuracy they deliver.

They’re amazing for shooting silhouettes in low light. The wide aperture and 6-9 diaphragm blades make this excellent for low light and creative silhouette photography.

They’re great for travel and adapting to a huge range of scenes that it quickly becomes an everyday carry lens. Let practice and experience be your guide. You’ll quickly learn where this lens shines and where other lenses are better suited.

Our Final Thoughts

You should have almost all the information you need to make a smart choice.

We took a look at some of the most frequently asked questions to better inform you.

All that’s left is for you to order one of these lenses and get practicing. One of the biggest obstacles to your progress could be inaction. It’s super important to just get started and learn as you go.

Experience is the best teacher and you’ll learn some unique tips and tricks to help you get the most from your lens.

You can be confident that you have the best 50mm lens for Canon cameras that best suit your needs, budget, and style. Go and get some practice and keep improving your craft. You’ll be seeing awesome results in no time!

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