The Best Cheap Lens Canon Makes

Capturing high-quality images without breaking the bank is a common goal for many photographers. Here's a budget treasure from Canon.

Coming to you from James Reader, this ifantastic video explores the many virtues of the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens. Despite its low price, this lens packs a punch with its lightweight design and robust features. Weighing just 160 grams, it’s easy to carry around, making it ideal for travel and everyday use. The build is simple, featuring a control ring that can be adjusted for focus or other functions. Although it’s not weather-sealed, its construction is solid for the price.

The standout feature of this lens is its f/1.8 maximum aperture. This makes it excellent for portraits, allowing you to achieve beautiful background blur and isolate your subject effectively. Reader explains that this lens’ versatility shines in various portrait compositions, from full-length shots to close-ups. The 50mm focal length encourages you to move and explore different angles, enhancing your creativity.

In addition to its versatility, the nifty fifty offers impressive image quality. Reader praises its sharpness, especially when stopped down slightly to f/2. The lens maintains good contrast and minimal chromatic aberration, producing clean and detailed images. This quality is particularly evident in black-and-white photography, where the lens’ micro-contrast makes images pop.

The nifty fifty also excels in low-light situations. The f/1.8 aperture allows for higher shutter speeds, reducing the need to increase ISO and maintaining image quality. This makes it a great choice for events and indoor photography. The autofocus is another strong point, being fast and accurate, which is crucial for capturing spontaneous moments and action shots. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Reader.