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Canon

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

The most popular DSLR lens ever made — Canon's nifty fifty delivers a natural 80mm equivalent field of view on APS-C, a bright f/1.8 aperture, and smooth STM autofocus in a package that costs less than most camera bags. It is the single best upgrade for any Canon DSLR owner moving beyond the kit zoom — razor-sharp from f/2.8 with beautiful background blur that punches well above its price. Compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S mount bodies.

GearFrame's Take

The best first upgrade for any Canon DSLR owner — extraordinary value, genuine f/1.8 speed, and a natural perspective for everyday shooting.

Starting from
£119 new
Average price across retailers: ~£129
Available at 4 retailers
✓ Available at 4 retailers 🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only
RetailerPrice
eBay
eBay
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Wex Photo Video
Wex Photo Video
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Clifton Cameras
Clifton Cameras
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Core
Released
2015
Aperture
f/1.8 (max aperture)
Compatible Mount
Canon EF / EF-S
Dimensions
69.2mm diameter × 39.3mm length
Weight
160g
Weather Sealed
No
Performance
AF Motor
STM stepping motor — smooth and near-silent for video
Optical IS
None (relies on body IS if available)
Burst Rate
N/A
Battery Life
N/A
Optics
Min. Focus Distance
35cm minimum focus distance
Viewfinder
N/A
Screen
N/A
Memory Cards
N/A
Connectivity
N/A

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1 camera compatible with the Canon EF / EF-S mount.

GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre
Portrait
9.0
Street
7.0
Travel
7.0
Great For
👤
Portrait f/1.8 produces beautiful background blur at the 80mm-equivalent end — perfect for portraits on any Canon APS-C DSLR.
🏙️
Street Compact, fast, and unobtrusive — an excellent street photography lens at a very accessible price.
✈️
Travel At 160g it adds virtually no weight — a natural everyday focal length for travel photography.
⚠️ Not Ideal For

No significant limitations identified — this is a versatile camera without obvious weak spots for most shooters.

📝 How suitability scores are calculated Scores reflect the aggregated consensus from verified purchaser reviews across tracked UK retailers, weighted by photography genre tags applied by reviewers. This is community opinion — not GearFrame editorial assessment. See our full methodology →
Price History — EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

Video reviews and hands-on coverage for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM from across YouTube.

Video results sourced from YouTube. GearFrame is not affiliated with these channels.

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