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Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM vs Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Product Comparison: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM vs Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

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Best Pick

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens (White)

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Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Canon DSLR Lens

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General Specifications

Brand

Canon

Model

EF 40mm f/2.8 STM

EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Origin

Japan

About the Product

A unique and indispensable addition to Canon's series of EF lenses, the new EF 40mm f/2.8 STM offers an ultra-slim and lightweight design. Incredibly compact in size, the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM delivers high image quality from the center to the periphery thanks to its advanced lens configuration including an aspherical element, a bright 2.8 aperture, and optimized coatings that minimize ghosting and flare while providing exceptional color balance.

An affordable, high quality lens that's perfect for creative portraits and low-light photos. Blur backgrounds to make your subject stand out, and enjoy smooth near-silent STM focusing when shooting movies.

Key Specs

Mount Type

Canon EF

Maximum Aperture

2.8 /f

1.8 /f

Minimum Focal Length

40 millimeters

50 millimeters

Maximum Focal Length

40 millimeters

50 millimeters

Lens Type

Fixed

What customers say about "Key Specs"

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens (White)

f/2.8 for low light on a full-frame body with good high-ISO performance
40mm is, in my opinion, a better focal length. It's closer to the natural perspective of the eye, and works better for walk-around / travel photos.
It's certainly not the sharpest lens I've owned, but turns out crisper images than most lenses I've used in its price range. Its f/2.8 aperture is generally useful. The 40mm does fine in both moderately-low and moderately-bright light, but not as well in very bright or very dim lighting.
My go-to lens for street photography, I absolutely love this focal length for that application. The fast aperture and low profile are a plus for street photography, as well.
f/2.8 is noticeably slower than even the cheapest 50mm's f/1.8

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Canon DSLR Lens

The lens now has a metal mount, which gives it an all better look and a bit more sturdiness in the hand.
Now the mount it metal where before it was plastic like the rest of the lens.
The focus ring is a actually usable for people without hobbit hands and the back has a metal mount. The build quality makes it look like a professional lens too so no more walking around embarrassed at the sight of expensive DSLR with a plasticy lens on.
Metal mount makes this feel more solid and less fragile.

Size & Weight

Height

2.7 in.

Width

2.7 in.

Depth

0.9 in.

1.6 in.

Weight

4.58 oz.

5.7 oz.

What customers say about "Size & Weight"

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens (White)

Sized surprisingly small, it can fit my pocket comfortably. Yet it works great for micro pics.
Very small lens, which allows for much more inconspicuous shooting if you want to blend into the background. T
Very light - this is much more portable than any other lens I own. You could even carry it in a pocket.
Impressive build quality. This lens might be inexpensive, but it doesn't feel cheap.
Small and lightweight - tinier than the 50mm. Better for casual and walkabout photography

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Canon DSLR Lens

On the rear of the lens we now have a metallic mount, something I’m so glad to see. Moving up from the plastic mount has increased it’s weight slightly, but also hugely increases the longevity of this lens.
The lens is not so large that it would bother anyone & the weight is just right in my opinion.
It is so easy to run around with and shoot great photos Light-weight, fast focus, and good for low-light situations.
You can not get a better value for this price range, solid feeling, not to plastic feel but it is a bit on the lighter side feels looks like it should feel heavier but still a good enough weight to feel like it is solid.
This lens is light weight, super sharp, and has amazing bokeh.

Imaging

Minimum Focus Distance

11.8 in.

13.78 in.

Field Of View

57°30'

46°

Zoom Type

Manual

Focus

Auto Focus, Manual Focus

Optical Stabilization

What customers say about "Imaging"

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens (White)

Better bokeh - more rounder than 50mm.
Focal range is better on a full-frame.
The 40mm "pancake" lens is dwarfed by my 60D, focuses quickly and accurately, and takes reasonable shots in a variety of lighting conditions.
he images are sharp and lively. I can see myself using this lens in a professional shoot. The 40mm is great for most purposes since it is not as narrow as 50mm, yet you can focus more on the subject as opposed to a 35mm.
Only the new canon DSRLs can fully take advantage of the video auto-focus.
Hard to manually adjust focus. This is my only major gripe with this lens. It is doable, but it definitely takes getting used to.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Canon DSLR Lens

Manual focus also works nicely but you have to switch it to MF on the lens only then will it work.
The Auto-Focus is fairly quick. Of course there is quicker out there but not at this price point. The image quality is clear. The lens is not so large that it would bother anyone & the weight is just right in my opinion.
This is a great lens. It is so easy to run around with and shoot great photos Light-weight, fast focus, and good for low-light situations.
The only thing I wish it had is the depth of field gauge so I can set it up for zone focus in manual mode.
Auto focus is a little noisy, no problem for photos... But for video don't plan on using any audio from the camera or a mic on the hot shoe mount...

Features

Brand Compatibility

Canon

Sensor Type Compatibility

Full-Frame

FX Format / DX Format

Lens Groups and Elements

6 elements in 4 groups

6 Elements in 5 Groups

Number of Aperture Blades

Filter Diameter

52 millimeters

49 millimeters

Extras

Versatile focal length for capturing crystal clear shots, 0.98' minimum focusing distance, Compatible with most Canon EOS cameras

Redeveloped physical design, An STM stepping AF motor realizes smooth, near-silent autofocus

What customers say about "Features"

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Pancake Lens (White)

Auto focus (AF) speed is not as fast as other USM lens but still okay.
The stand out feature is the incredibly fast and accurate AF, though. Feels like a much more expensive lens.
This little lens may not have a zoom feature, but it packs quite a punch when using it at the right time when you need it.
Bought it as a gift for a friend and he absolutely loves this lens. He loves the focus and the auto feature on the lens. The sound of the lens is a lot more silent as well.
The 52mm filters are actually less expensive (most of the time) so having and experimenting with them feels ok.
The focus ring is very tiny and takes some getting used to.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Canon DSLR Lens

Plus the STM motor is much quieter than the previous generation lens.
Focus is achieved by front element extension (nested barrel. The STM motor is quieter than the prior model, albeit not completely silent.
Again the STM is a bit loud and the focus a bit slow but for the price and the quality of this lens, it is completely justifiable.
I love the soft whirl of a defocused background, and this seven-blade diaphragm does not disappoint, rendering smooth bokeh and pleasantly round specular highlights.
Only downside I might say is that the focus ring doesn't directly adjust the focal elements, its more of a slightly delayed electronic feel - however, that is what STM means, I just didn't know that.

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

1 year(s)

Certifications

Other Information

Manufacturer

Link

Manual

Download

MSRP

125.99 $