Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STMvs A1 II
Canon
Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM (2020)
Starting from £219 new
Best for Portraits, street & everyday
View Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
VS
Sony
A1 II (2025)
Starting from £6500 new
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
View A1 II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Portraits, Street & Everyday — Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM (2020): The essential first prime for Canon RF shooters — f/1.8 background separation at an accessible price with near-silent STM autofocus.
Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work — A1 II (2025): The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
Who should buy what
A1 II (2025)
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Quick take: The canon rf 50mm f/1.8 stm is the most affordable; only the a1 ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM (2020) | A1 II (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £219 | £6,500 |
| Sensor | f/1.8 (max aperture) | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 50.1MP |
| Video | 30cm minimum focus distance | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/240p super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | STM (Stepping Motor) — near-silent, smooth for video | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on in-body IBIS) | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | — | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | — | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 160g | 743g body only |
| Dimensions | 69.2 × 40.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | — | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | — | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Canon RF | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | — | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | — | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM | A1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Street | — | |
| Family & Everyday | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Travel | — |
More comparisons with Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Camera family history