Compare lenses

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM vs Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II side by side, computed from this guide's catalogue.

Which to pick

Pick the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM if you want a brighter f/1.4 (0.7 stops more light), for dim light and softer backgrounds. Pick the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II if you want a lighter lens (130 g against 290 g).

Still torn? Ask the guide about the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Specs side by side

Rows that differ are in full colour; the better value is marked where one is better by any measure.
Spec	Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM	Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
Maker	Canon	Canon
Focal length	50mm (prime)	50mm (prime)
Full-frame equivalent	50mm	50mm
Maximum aperture	f/1.4brighter	f/1.8
Made for	Full frame	Full frame
Mounts	Canon EF	Canon EF
Stabilised	no	no
Autofocus	yes	yes
Weight	290 g	130 glighter
Cameras it fits	22 in this guide	22 in this guide

Focal range, in full-frame terms

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM: 50mm.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II: 50mm.

Aperture

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM: f/1.4 wide open.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II: f/1.8 wide open.

Each opening drawn to scale against f/1.4: a smaller f-number lets in more light and blurs the background more.

Field of view

How wide each sees, at each end, on the sensor it was made for.

Cameras they fit

22 cameras in this guide take both, so either works on the same body.