Which canon 50mm should you get?

The Big Canon 50mm Shoot-Out: RF vs EF, Cheap vs Bonkers

If there’s one focal length that’s carried me through more shoots than I can count, it’s the humble 50mm. Every camera system has one, everyone’s bought one at some point, and half of us learned photography on one. But Canon being Canon, you now get a proper buffet of options: tiny budget ones, shiny L ones, and the sort of whiz-bang wide-aperture beasts that cost as much as a small family car. So the big question is: which one actually earns a spot in your kit bag?

Nine out of ten people assume you just buy the expensive one and off you go. But it ain’t quite that simple. Each of these five lenses has its own personality—some practical, some downright diva-ish—and the sweet spot sits somewhere between cost, creative punch, and how much you mind carrying summat the size of a small melon. So let’s walk through it, no waffle, just real-world verdicts from years of shooting gigs, portraits, and the usual mix of chaos.

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Quick Comparison Table

ToolWhat it’s best atOverall scoreIdeal forNot ideal for
Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STMThe smallest and cheapest native RF 50mm75Beginners, casual photographers, travel shootersLow-light pros, shallow-depth-of-field obsessives
Canon RF 50mm f/1.4L VCMBest performance-to-size ratio89Portrait shooters, event photographers, hybrid shootersBudget users, bokeh extremists
Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USMThe shallowest, creamiest native RF 50mm look92Wedding pros, portrait specialists, commercial shootersHobbyists, travellers, minimalists
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STMCross-platform compatibility and bargain pricing72Beginners, students, DSLR + RF hybrid usersProfessionals wanting reliability and premium feel
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USMUnique character and glow82Creative portrait shooters, vintage-look fansWedding/event pros needing flawless AF

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Canon’s baby RF prime: tiny, no-nonsense, and cheap enough that you won’t cry if it gets dinged on a night shoot. Despite the price, it holds its own in everyday shooting and makes a cracking travel companion.

What people like

  • Very affordable
  • Lightweight
  • Sharp when stopped down
  • Quiet STM autofocus

What people don’t like

  • Soft wide open
  • Budget build quality
  • Bokeh can get busy

Key features

  • STM AF motor
  • Compact design
  • Customisable control ring
  • Lightweight build

Pros

  • Small and light
  • Cheapest RF prime
  • Decent sharpness
  • Quiet autofocus

Cons

Unique capability

The smallest and cheapest native RF 50mm—basically the gateway drug for RF shooters.

Ease of use

Dead easy. Stick it on, point it, shoot it. No surprises.

Performance

Respectable, especially stopped down to f/2.8 and beyond. Not a creative monster, but absolutely solid for the price.

Who it’s for

  • Beginners, casual photographers, travellers
  • Not ideal for: pros demanding razor-sharp wide-open results

Scores snapshot

Effectiveness68
Fit for purpose72
Efficiency / Speed60
Reliability / Consistency65
Value for money92
Ease of use90
Learning curve95
Creativity / Innovation60
Overall75

Canon RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM

This one’s the Goldilocks option: not silly money, not silly weight, and sharp as a tack. It gives you that proper L-series look without needing to cuddle a kettlebell all day.

What people like

  • Excellent sharpness
  • Beautiful bokeh
  • Fast AF
  • Reasonable size

What people don’t like

  • Pricey compared to the RF 1.8
  • Not quite as magical as the 1.2

Key features

  • VCM AF motor
  • L-series sealing
  • High-grade optics
  • Smooth control ring

Pros

  • Fantastic all-round sharpness
  • Fast, accurate autofocus
  • Weather sealed
  • Lovely rendering

Cons

  • More expensive than the f/1.8
  • Doesn’t have the absolute f/1.2 look

Unique capability

Delivers the best mix of performance, size, and usability in the RF family.

Ease of use

Balances beautifully, reacts instantly, and feels proper without being daftly heavy.

Performance

Top-tier. It’s the kind of lens you stick on for an event and leave it there all night.

Who it’s for

  • Portrait shooters, event photographers, hybrid creators
  • Not ideal for: budget shooters, hardcore bokeh chasers

Scores snapshot

Effectiveness88
Fit for purpose90
Efficiency / Speed86
Reliability / Consistency90
Value for money82
Ease of use85
Learning curve88
Creativity / Innovation85
Overall89

Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM

This is the big daddy. The show-off lens. The one that makes clients go “Ooh, that looks expensive” even before you’ve taken a shot. And fair play—it’s a stonker. Heavy, yes. Pricey, absolutely. But the photos… unbelievable.

What people like

  • Insane sharpness at f/1.2
  • Gorgeous bokeh
  • Fast, accurate AF
  • Premium build

What people don’t like

  • Very large
  • Very heavy
  • Very expensive

Key features

  • Ring-type USM
  • L-series sealing
  • Premium optics
  • Custom control ring

Pros

  • World-class wide-open performance
  • Iconic bokeh
  • Ultra-fast AF
  • Built like a tank

Cons

  • Bulky
  • Heavy
  • Budget-destroying

Unique capability

Delivers the shallowest depth of field and richest rendering of any native Canon 50mm.

Ease of use

Easy enough to operate, but the weight means you’re basically doing bicep curls during a wedding.

Performance

Top of the tree. If you need the best, this is it.

Who it’s for

  • Wedding pros, portrait specialists, commercial shooters
  • Not ideal for: travellers, casual shooters, anyone with a dodgy wrist

Scores snapshot

Effectiveness96
Fit for purpose98
Efficiency / Speed92
Reliability / Consistency95
Value for money70
Ease of use70
Learning curve85
Creativity / Innovation96
Overall92

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

The classic Nifty Fifty—cheap as chips and still surprisingly capable in 2025. Stick it on a DSLR or mount it with an adapter on an R body and off you go. Brilliant little learning tool.

What people like

  • Super cheap
  • Sharp stopped down
  • Lightweight
  • Great for beginners

What people don’t like

  • Busy bokeh
  • Soft at f/1.8
  • Build feels very cheap

Key features

  • STM AF
  • Plastic construction
  • Compact
  • Basic optics

Pros

  • Ridiculously affordable
  • Adaptable to RF
  • Sharp at mid-apertures
  • Beginner-friendly

Cons

  • Mediocre AF
  • Soft wide open
  • Not pro-grade

Unique capability

The best “one lens works on both bodies” choice. Ideal for people migrating slowly from DSLR.

Ease of use

Couldn’t be simpler—your gran could use it.

Performance

Not mind-blowing, but for this money it’s almost rude to complain.

Who it’s for

  • Beginners, students, hybrid DSLR/RF users
  • Not ideal for: pros expecting rock-solid AF

Scores snapshot

Effectiveness60
Fit for purpose70
Efficiency / Speed58
Reliability / Consistency60
Value for money95
Ease of use92
Learning curve95
Creativity / Innovation55
Overall72

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Ah, the classic bokeh-beast. This lens has a cult following because of its dreamy glow and ‘character’. On modern bodies it’s a bit quirky, but if you’re into that cinematic, slightly imperfect look, it’s a gem.

What people like

  • Beautiful character
  • Soft dreaminess when desired
  • Lovely bokeh
  • L-series build

What people don’t like

  • Soft at f/1.2
  • Older AF tech
  • Still pricey on the used market

Key features

Pros

  • Dreamy artistic rendering
  • Feels lovely to use
  • L-series build quality

Cons

  • Not clinically sharp wide open
  • Slower autofocus
  • Pricey

Unique capability

Produces that famous ‘glow’ no modern lens quite replicates.

Ease of use

Easy enough, but your hit-rate on moving subjects won’t match modern RF glass.

Performance

Less technical perfection, more creative flair. Think “vintage vibes” rather than “lab-coat sharpness”.

Who it’s for

  • Creative portrait shooters, vintage look fans
  • Not ideal for: high-pressure pros needing fast tracking

Scores snapshot

Effectiveness78
Fit for purpose80
Efficiency / Speed70
Reliability / Consistency72
Value for money68
Ease of use75
Learning curve80
Creativity / Innovation90
Overall82

Head-to-Head: Real-World Decisions

Most creative results

The RF 50mm f/1.2L takes this hands-down. That wide-open look is ridiculous—in a good way—and the rendering has that polished cinematic sheen. The EF 1.2L sits close behind thanks to its ‘character glow’, but its AF limits who can push it to the max. If you want the lens that makes people go “how the hell did you shoot that?”, the RF 1.2 is where the magic lives.

Most natural-looking results

The RF 50mm f/1.4L sits in a lovely sweet spot: modern sharpness but without the “surgical” edge some lenses get saddled with. It’s honest, clean, and flattering—ideal for events and portraits where you don’t want the “shot on a spaceship” look.

Fastest workflow

The RF 1.4L wins purely because it’s fast to focus, not too heavy, and predictable in all lighting. The RF 1.2L is no slouch, but the weight does slow you down. The f/1.8 options are simple to use, though not as speedy in AF acquisition.

Best for high volume

If you shoot weddings, events, or schools where you’re running around like Clarkson under a deadline, the RF 1.4L is the workhorse. Reasonably sized, blisteringly fast, and consistent under pressure. The RF 1.2L is stunning, but you’ll feel it after 2 hours.

Best value for money

No contest: the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM. It’s so cheap and so capable that you’d need a proper excuse not to own one. The EF 1.8 also offers mega value, especially for hybrid DSLR/RF owners.

Steepest learning curve

The RF 50mm f/1.2L. Not because it’s complicated—it’s not—but because shooting at f/1.2 demands good technique. Nail the focus and it sings. Miss, and it’s straight in the bin. The EF 1.2L is also tricky, but more due to its AF than its optics.

Final Verdict

After weighing up all the scores, the real-world handling, and a fair bit of personal scar tissue from shooting in bonkers lighting over the years, here’s how it shakes out.

  • Best overall: Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM — the king of creativity for shooters who want the absolute best.
  • Best value: Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM — unbeatable for beginners and travellers.
  • Most creative: Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM — that shallow look is addictive.
  • Easiest to use: Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM — point, shoot, smile.
  • Steepest learning curve: Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM — huge potential, but demands respect.

So there you go.

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