The EF 50mm II lens with fast aperture of f/1.8 is one of Canon's best-selling models mainly for a reason that it's the cheapest EF lens available in the market yet producing a sharp optical and high quality images albeit its plastic housing or the lens mount. The focal ratio of 1.8 which is the maximum aperture of the EF 50mm II allows you to focus your subject sharply while creating a blurred background or even a very shallow depth of field also known as the bokeh.
Now, for this particular review, let's try to examine how this little lens has earned the nicknames "nifty fifty" and "plastic fantastic". Moreover, let's try to stretch the so-called sharp optical quality and very shallow depth of field or the great blurred background known as bokeh with this EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens.
AUTO FOCUS:
Since the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens uses the old DC Micro Motor for further focus, the result might somehow distracting (for some) as it produces a noisy sound. But we are not particularly up for that matter rather we try to deal with the Auto focus feature of this lens. We'll try to check and examine our test results and compare it with our own captured images.
The image below shows a captured test shot image using the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens with the Canon EOS 600D, an APS-C Sensor with 18.0 Megapixel and Digic 4 Image Processor.
We used the Auto-focus feature of the 50mm II lens at 400 ISO with 1/13 seconds of shutter speed or the exposure time. We also used the focal ratio of 1.8 of this lens which is considered to be its maximum aperture. For the exposure mode, we used the AV or the Aperture-priority AE in order to focus our subject while producing a blurred background.
As you may noticed, the image focused on the toy car while using pattern as our metering mode. Additionally, we fired our built-in flash for added illumination. At its maximum aperture of 1.8, it produces a smooth blurred background with circular shapes surrounding our subject.
MANUAL FOCUS:
Aside of the Auto Focus, the 50mm II also have the standard Manual focus allowing you to shoot and control the lens manually.
Now let's try to examine our test shot while using the Manual focus of the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens.
While using the lens with its manual mode including the exposure of our Digital SLR, the image produced a pentagonal shape at f/3.5 aperture. As you may noticed, while using the focal ratio of 3.5, the subject was focused clearly including the circular ball object. Although the subject was focused, our depth of field is not that deep compared on using the maximum aperture of the lens at f/1.8.
PRIME:
Considered as a prime lens with Standard Focal Length and Medium Telephoto at 50mm, the EF 50mm f/1.8 II is a better add on lens with your kit lens. A prime lens is considered a better alternative because it allows you to capture images with natural angle of view. Prime lenses are much more rewarding than the standard lenses as it produces great image quality.
IMAGE QUALITY (Sharpness):
With regard to its image quality, I personally like the fact that the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens produces a sharp image quality compared to other standard zoom lenses. This may perhaps the reason on why other photographers from hobbyists to professional likes to use and/or own this lens.
At its maximum aperture of f/1.8, it can produce a very shallow depth of field while placing a subject on focus against a blurred background with circular shapes.
BOKEH (Swallow Depth of Field):
In a mere standard of photography, the bokeh is the quality of blur produced in the out-of-focus light parts of an image by a lens. Thus, the blur-effect.
With the given image below while using an Aperture Priority AE exposure mode at ISO400, and setting our focal ratio at f/1.8, it produces smooth circular shapes. The subject is still in focus while the background produced a shallow depth of field. At focal ratio of 3.5 (as you may noticed on the sample image above while using Manual Focus), it produces pentagonal shapes. These shapes may be because of the 5 diaphragm blades of the lens being slightly closed.
CONCLUSION:
As what we concluded on our general review and even basing it with our own test shot images, the EF 50mm f/1.8 II can deliver a very shallow depth-of-field, allowing you to place a sharp subject against a blurred background, an effect desired by many portrait photographers.
The EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens may be made up of plastic mounts and may not be the best EF lenses Canon produced but this lens is a better lens after a standard zoom lens as it produces sharper image quality.
I would recommend this lens as your secondary lens after your standard zoom lens. The value of money is much rewarding for this prime lens.
OVERALL RATING:
General Review of the Canon
EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens
|
Since the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens uses the old DC Micro Motor for further focus, the result might somehow distracting (for some) as it produces a noisy sound. But we are not particularly up for that matter rather we try to deal with the Auto focus feature of this lens. We'll try to check and examine our test results and compare it with our own captured images.
The image below shows a captured test shot image using the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens with the Canon EOS 600D, an APS-C Sensor with 18.0 Megapixel and Digic 4 Image Processor.
We used the Auto-focus feature of the 50mm II lens at 400 ISO with 1/13 seconds of shutter speed or the exposure time. We also used the focal ratio of 1.8 of this lens which is considered to be its maximum aperture. For the exposure mode, we used the AV or the Aperture-priority AE in order to focus our subject while producing a blurred background.
As you may noticed, the image focused on the toy car while using pattern as our metering mode. Additionally, we fired our built-in flash for added illumination. At its maximum aperture of 1.8, it produces a smooth blurred background with circular shapes surrounding our subject.
Make:
|
Canon
|
Model:
|
Canon EOS 600D
|
Shooting Mode (Exposure Program):
|
Aperture-priority AE
|
Tv (Shutter Speed):
|
1/13 sec (Exposure Time)
|
Av (Aperture Value):
|
f/1.8 (F Number)
|
ISO Speed Ratings:
|
ISO400
|
Metering Mode:
|
Pattern
|
Lens:
|
EF 50mm f/1.8 II
|
White Balance:
|
Auto White Balance
|
Exposure Mode:
|
Auto Exposure
|
Scene Capture Type:
|
Normal
|
Focal Length:
|
50mm
|
Flash:
|
Built-in Flash Fired
|
MANUAL FOCUS:
Aside of the Auto Focus, the 50mm II also have the standard Manual focus allowing you to shoot and control the lens manually.
Now let's try to examine our test shot while using the Manual focus of the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens.
While using the lens with its manual mode including the exposure of our Digital SLR, the image produced a pentagonal shape at f/3.5 aperture. As you may noticed, while using the focal ratio of 3.5, the subject was focused clearly including the circular ball object. Although the subject was focused, our depth of field is not that deep compared on using the maximum aperture of the lens at f/1.8.
Make:
|
Canon
|
Model:
|
Canon EOS 600D
|
Shooting Mode (Exposure Program):
|
Manual
|
Tv (Shutter Speed):
|
0.8 sec (Exposure Time)
|
Av (Aperture Value):
|
f/3.5 (F Number)
|
ISO Speed Ratings:
|
ISO100
|
Metering Mode:
|
Pattern
|
Lens:
|
EF 50mm f/1.8 II
|
White Balance:
|
Auto White Balance
|
Exposure Mode:
|
Auto Exposure
|
Scene Capture Type:
|
Normal
|
Focal Length:
|
50mm
|
Flash:
|
Built-in Flash Fired
|
PRIME:
Considered as a prime lens with Standard Focal Length and Medium Telephoto at 50mm, the EF 50mm f/1.8 II is a better add on lens with your kit lens. A prime lens is considered a better alternative because it allows you to capture images with natural angle of view. Prime lenses are much more rewarding than the standard lenses as it produces great image quality.
With regard to its image quality, I personally like the fact that the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens produces a sharp image quality compared to other standard zoom lenses. This may perhaps the reason on why other photographers from hobbyists to professional likes to use and/or own this lens.
At its maximum aperture of f/1.8, it can produce a very shallow depth of field while placing a subject on focus against a blurred background with circular shapes.
Make:
|
Canon
|
Model:
|
Canon EOS 600D
|
Shooting Mode (Exposure Program):
|
Manual
|
Tv (Shutter Speed):
|
0.8 sec (Exposure Time)
|
Av (Aperture Value):
|
f/3.5 (F Number)
|
ISO Speed Ratings:
|
ISO100
|
Metering Mode:
|
Pattern
|
Lens:
|
EF 50mm f/1.8 II
|
White Balance:
|
Auto White Balance
|
Exposure Mode:
|
Auto Exposure
|
Scene Capture Type:
|
Normal
|
Focal Length:
|
50mm
|
Flash:
|
Built-in Flash Fired
|
BOKEH (Swallow Depth of Field):
In a mere standard of photography, the bokeh is the quality of blur produced in the out-of-focus light parts of an image by a lens. Thus, the blur-effect.
With the given image below while using an Aperture Priority AE exposure mode at ISO400, and setting our focal ratio at f/1.8, it produces smooth circular shapes. The subject is still in focus while the background produced a shallow depth of field. At focal ratio of 3.5 (as you may noticed on the sample image above while using Manual Focus), it produces pentagonal shapes. These shapes may be because of the 5 diaphragm blades of the lens being slightly closed.
Make:
|
Canon
|
Model:
|
Canon EOS 600D
|
Shooting Mode (Exposure Program):
|
Aperture-priority AE
|
Tv (Shutter Speed):
|
1/13 sec (Exposure Time)
|
Av (Aperture Value):
|
f/1.8 (F Number)
|
ISO Speed Ratings:
|
ISO400
|
Metering Mode:
|
Pattern
|
Lens:
|
EF 50mm f/1.8 II
|
White Balance:
|
Auto White Balance
|
Exposure Mode:
|
Auto Exposure
|
Scene Capture Type:
|
Normal
|
Focal Length:
|
50mm
|
Flash:
|
Built-in Flash Fired
|
CONCLUSION:
As what we concluded on our general review and even basing it with our own test shot images, the EF 50mm f/1.8 II can deliver a very shallow depth-of-field, allowing you to place a sharp subject against a blurred background, an effect desired by many portrait photographers.
The EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens may be made up of plastic mounts and may not be the best EF lenses Canon produced but this lens is a better lens after a standard zoom lens as it produces sharper image quality.
I would recommend this lens as your secondary lens after your standard zoom lens. The value of money is much rewarding for this prime lens.
OVERALL RATING:
| DETAILS: |
RATING (1-10)
|
Build Quality:
|
5.0
|
Image Quality:
|
9.0
|
Features:
|
7.5
|
Value of Money:
|
10.0
|
Handling:
|
7.5
|
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