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.
Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | What it’s best at | Overall score | Ideal for | Not ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM | The smallest and cheapest native RF 50mm | 75 | Beginners, casual photographers, travel shooters | Low-light pros, shallow-depth-of-field obsessives |
| Canon RF 50mm f/1.4L VCM | Best performance-to-size ratio | 89 | Portrait shooters, event photographers, hybrid shooters | Budget users, bokeh extremists |
| Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM | The shallowest, creamiest native RF 50mm look | 92 | Wedding pros, portrait specialists, commercial shooters | Hobbyists, travellers, minimalists |
| Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM | Cross-platform compatibility and bargain pricing | 72 | Beginners, students, DSLR + RF hybrid users | Professionals wanting reliability and premium feel |
| Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM | Unique character and glow | 82 | Creative portrait shooters, vintage-look fans | Wedding/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
- Soft at f/1.8
- Plastic construction
- Less snappy AF
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
| Effectiveness | 68 |
| Fit for purpose | 72 |
| Efficiency / Speed | 60 |
| Reliability / Consistency | 65 |
| Value for money | 92 |
| Ease of use | 90 |
| Learning curve | 95 |
| Creativity / Innovation | 60 |
| Overall | 75 |
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
| Effectiveness | 88 |
| Fit for purpose | 90 |
| Efficiency / Speed | 86 |
| Reliability / Consistency | 90 |
| Value for money | 82 |
| Ease of use | 85 |
| Learning curve | 88 |
| Creativity / Innovation | 85 |
| Overall | 89 |
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
| Effectiveness | 96 |
| Fit for purpose | 98 |
| Efficiency / Speed | 92 |
| Reliability / Consistency | 95 |
| Value for money | 70 |
| Ease of use | 70 |
| Learning curve | 85 |
| Creativity / Innovation | 96 |
| Overall | 92 |
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
| Effectiveness | 60 |
| Fit for purpose | 70 |
| Efficiency / Speed | 58 |
| Reliability / Consistency | 60 |
| Value for money | 95 |
| Ease of use | 92 |
| Learning curve | 95 |
| Creativity / Innovation | 55 |
| Overall | 72 |
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
- Ring-type USM
- L-series build
- Fast f/1.2 aperture
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
| Effectiveness | 78 |
| Fit for purpose | 80 |
| Efficiency / Speed | 70 |
| Reliability / Consistency | 72 |
| Value for money | 68 |
| Ease of use | 75 |
| Learning curve | 80 |
| Creativity / Innovation | 90 |
| Overall | 82 |
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.
