Today, Canon has announced the release of a new 50mm f/1.8 STM lens to replace the popular but aging “nifty-fifty”, the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II.
I’m not sure exactly how long the old 50mm f/1.8 II has been in production, but I bought one in 1992 (sold), another in 1993 (stolen) and another in 1994 (still have it). It has always been the cheapest lens in the Canon lineup, but despite the fact that they feel cheap and lightweight, they seem to live forever. They’re reliable and (noisy but) fast, with very good optical quality for such an old design.
After 25 years, though, the 50mm f/1.8 II is showing its age. Its noisy micro-motor is problematic for shooting video, and its optical design and optical coatings are in need of a digital-age update.
And so, Canon has given us the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM, an attractive new lens with a stepping motor (STM) rather than a noisy old micro-motor, a features that makes the lens ideal for shooting video in addition to still photographs. The optical design is very similar to that of the old 50mm f/1.8 II: it uses 6 glass elements in 5 groups.
However, this is not just the same old lens in new clothing. The optics have been updated and now carry Canon’s latest coatings for improved light transmission and reduced chromatic aberration. The new lens can focus down to 14 inches (.21x magnification) rather than 18, and while the old lens had only 5 aperture blades which created “unique” pentagonal bokeh, the new STM lens has 7 rounded aperture blades for smoother, more natural blur.
The build quality should feel better than the old lens, t00. It has a rubber focus ring that provides full-time manual focus thanks to the stepping motor, and it also weighs about 30g more than the old lens, in part due to the fact that it has been fitted with a metal lens mount (the old one was entirely plastic). It is also more compact than its predecessor. The new STM lens is only 1.5 inches long, about a tenth of an inch shorter than the old model, and it also has 49mm filter threads, while the older was a bit larger at 52mm.
Thankfully, one thing has not changed: the price. The new 50mm STM lens will begin shipping by the end of the month at a cost of only about $125.
Currently, the lens is available for pre-order at B&H Photo for $125 or at Adorama for $125.
