Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STMvs A7 III
Canon
Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM (2020)
From £219
Best for Portraits, street & everyday
View Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
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.
All-Round Photography & Video — A7 III (2018): Still one of the best all-round cameras money can buy — particularly strong used. The A7 III proved that full-frame doesn't have to mean compromises, and nothing at this price point has meaningfully beaten it.
Who should buy what
A7 III (2018)
- Enthusiast photographers upgrading from APS-C for the first time
- Working photographers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Anyone who shoots in low light regularly
- Hybrid shooters needing both stills and video performance
Quick take: The canon rf 50mm f/1.8 stm is the most affordable; only the a7 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM (2020) | A7 III (2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £219 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | f/1.8 (max aperture) | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | — | 24.2MP |
| Video | 30cm minimum focus distance | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | STM (Stepping Motor) — near-silent, smooth for video | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | None (relies on in-body IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | — | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | — | ~710 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 160g | 565g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 69.2 × 40.5mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | — | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | — | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon RF | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | — | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) |
| Connectivity | — | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
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