Canon 50mm 1.8 vs 40mm 2.8

K

Ken1212

Well-known member
I just got the 70D with the 18-135mm and wanted to get a prime lens and for starters I am debating between the 50mm and the 40mm stm. I was hoping some of you have used both and can recommend which way to go, or which is better. I will use it with both video and photo shoots. I am favouring the STM 40mm for auto focus video but will loose a full stop and the 40mm cost about $50 more. What is your thoughts?
 
Ken1212 said:
I just got the 70D with the 18-135mm and wanted to get a prime lens and for starters I am debating between the 50mm and the 40mm stm. I was hoping some of you have used both and can recommend which way to go, or which is better. I will use it with both video and photo shoots. I am favouring the STM 40mm for auto focus video but will loose a full stop and the 40mm cost about $50 more. What is your thoughts?
Click to expand...

Both have limited applications in video because the narrowness of the focus ring on both lenses makes use of a follow focus impractical/impossible. In terms of optical/build quality, I can't speak to the 40mm, but I owned the 50mm and I was never a fan. The 50mm has a legion of followers so it is very possible that I just got a bad copy. I found the upgrade to the 50mm f/1.4 to be well worth the money. It is very well built, has very good optics and is well suited for video for photo and video applications.

I know that's not exactly helpful to the questions you asked, but I hope it helped a little.
 
I have both.

The nice thing about the 40mm is the size. Both lenses give a surprising good sharp image.
Both lenses don't auto focus very fast for photos.

I haven't tried auto focus for video. But besides that I'd go for the 50mm unless you want to go hyper compact. If you have more money I recommend the 35mm 2.0 IS. The ideal prime for video on an APS-C if you ask me. Better IS, fast enough, good image, nice focal lengths on both aps-c and Full frame. Way smaller and cheaper than the 35mm 1.4 L, I don't think you need F1.4 these days.
 
For video, between these two, clearly the 50mm.
The 40mm is very sharp and really tiny, my favorite lens for walking around the city shooting stills with a 5D (I can use a body-only neoprene bag!). But manual focus is AWFUL. And not only if you are going to use it with a follow focus: also if you use it as-is. Because it is fly-by-wire with a mind of its own. Unworkable (at least for me: maybe I got used to the good stuff: most of my lenses are vintage, with nice manual rings and a very long throw).
 
Last edited:
Thank you guys for the input, I just ordered the 50mm because of the F1.8, hope the auto focus is fast enough. I am a Nikon user and just got the Canon 70D. I might utilize some of my Nikon lenses with an adapter but for right now I like the 18-135 STM in servo AF as it is very quite. I would like to get couple nice primes later on and maybe the 70mm-200mm.
 
While the 50mm 1/8 is a great lens for depth of field, crispness etc, just be very careful when handling it. It is made out of plastic, including the mount.

Great in low light for video.

Handle with care and keep then lens in the bubble wrap inside it's box when not in use.
 
ja_swaer said:
While the 50mm 1/8 is a great lens for depth of field, crispness etc, just be very careful when handling it. It is made out of plastic, including the mount.

Great in low light for video.

Handle with care and keep then lens in the bubble wrap inside it's box when not in use.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the tip. I haven't handled one before but it looks cheaply build, for the price it is fine as long as the images are sharp. I do have the 35mm and 50mm 1.8 Nikons and they are build very well for a $200 lens price. In fact I dropped one of them on a shoot right on concrete and the lens bounced from the harshness of the fall and I couldn't believe that nothing happened to it, it survived the fall without a scratch. I ordered my canon from Best Buy's website and should be her sometime next week.
 
So I received and tested the canon 50mm 1.8. The lens feels very plasticy and is very noisy when focusing, so for video it will work best in manual focus unless you are not concerned with audio. Overall I am very happy with it for this price range. It produced sharp images and the 1.8 comes in handy.
 
Hands down the 40 2.8, is sharper smaller waaaay better build in fact goooood build, besides STM which is the latest technology in auto focus extremely efficient with the 70D,
I felt the happiest man on earth the day I was able to sell my 50 1.8 for $ 20. The 50 has an offensive build, 40 is one stop darker but every day noise is less and less an issue.
 
I don't own the 40mm, but from what I understand is that if you focus it and use in camera audio, you will get lots of sound from the lens's focusing mechanism. Other than that I assume its awesome.
 
FilmBrute said:
I don't own the 40mm, but from what I understand is that if you focus it and use in camera audio, you will get lots of sound from the lens's focusing mechanism. Other than that I assume its awesome.
Click to expand...
Sounds much less than the 50 1.8, much less.
However in some very quiet environments there is some some sound, for those occasions, Y use an external mic, on a bracket.
 
Hmm, count me as another one who tried the 50mm 1.8, and found it not sharp at all on my 60D. I even tried two copies - both terrible. I gave up and got the 40mm 2.8 and love it. I find it sharp wide open (in fact I rarely stop it down at all) for both stills and video. I also like the bokeh, as it's my fastest lens (15-85 and 70-200 f4 IS are my others).
 
I've owned three 50mm f/1.8s. All were sharp copies, but the lens isn't coated as well as the 40mm pancake (or any other Canon prime, for that matter). All of my copies flared like crazy, and once they are more than a few years old, the flare looks pretty nasty.
 
I prefer the FOV of 40mm on a crop sensor. But the 50mm 1.8 will give the shallow dof "wow" for portraits. I say go for the 50.
 
I have the 50mm 1.8 and recently bought the 40mm 2.8 STM to use with the 70D. Love the 40mm. The great deal didn't hurt either. $129. delivered. The STM on the 40mm is much quieter than the noisy 50 1.8 and the AF is faster and I feel more acurate. Very low distortion if any. Crazy good for a 40mm. and on the 70D a little more field of view.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top