EOS Documentation Project

EF 50mm f/1.8

by Julian Loke

Contents

• Introduction

  Parts  Description 

• Operation

  Mounting  Removal  Manual Focus  Auto Focus  Aperture 

• Accessories

  Lens Cap  Hood  Filters  CloseUp  Teleextender  Extension Tubes  Case 

• Incompatibilties

  EF-M body 

• Precautions
• Lens Care

  Storage  Service 

• Specifications

  Released  Discontinued  Dimensions  Weight  Filter Mount  Optics  Focus mechanism  Rotating Filter Mount  Focus Range  Autofocus Motor  Focal Length  Magnification  Aperture blades  Aperture Range 

• Revision History
• Comments

Introduction

Parts

From front to back: Front lens cap; 52mm filter thread; Groove for 65mm hood; Distance scale in ft and m; f11 and f22 Depth of Field marks; IR focus adjust red dot; Focussing ring; AF/M lens mode switch; Raised Red Dot for lens-to-camera alignment; EF Camera mount; Rear lens cap

Description

This lens is a lightweight general purpose standard fixed focal-length lens. With an angle of view that is close to natural human vision, the f/1.8 aperture provides a bright viewfinder image that not only permits rapid autofocus and also allows adequate shutter speed for handheld shooting in low available light without flash or tripod.

Easily the cheapest sharpest lens in the Canon Autofocus line, the EF 50mm f/1.8 was replaced in 1990 by the optically similar EF 50mm f/1.8 II which has faster autofocus gearing, a slightly different focussing ring, but a plastic instead of metal camera mount, and does not have a distance scale.

Operation

Mounting

Prepare camera body by removing body cap or previous lens (see next section). Match the raised red dot on the lens with the red dot on the camera. Gently twist the lens clockwise until the lens locking pin clicks into place. Ensure that the lens is securely locked before using the camera.

Removal

Depress the lens release button fully. Rotate the lens counterclockwise until the raised red dot on the lens matches the rot dot on the camera. Remove the lens carefully.

Warning: Do not rest the lens on the camera mount, otherwise damage can occur to the delicate electronic contacts. When not mounted on a camera the rear lens cap should always be in place to prevent damage to the electrical contacts and the rear glass element of the lens.

Manual Focus

The distance scale indicates how far the plane of sharp focus is located from the film plane. The distance is read opposite the | white line in feet (green) and in meters (white).

The depth-of-field marks are used together with the distance scale to indicate the approximate near and far distances for sharp focus at the specified apertures (f/11 and f/22).

When using infrared (IR) sensitive film, a focus adjustment is necessary. After achieving sharp focus though the viewfinder, switch the lens to manual focus. Using the distance scale, adjust focus so that the distance indicated by the | white line is moved oppossite the small red IR adjust dot.

Auto Focus

Slide the lens mode switch on the lens to "AF". This engages the autofocus motor. Look through the camera viewfinder and position a focusing zone over the subject. Hold the shutter release button half-depressed to activate autofocus². The front part of the lens does not rotate during autofocus, although it does move in and out (i.e. backward and forward). When sharp focus is detected, the camera will indicate in the viewfinder with a light, and may also beep softly. If the autofocus sensors cannot detect sufficient detail, the viewfinder focus indicator will blink, indicating out-of-focus³. When autofocus fails, switch to manual focus instead.

Aperture

All Canon EF lenses have an electronic diaphragm, which means that the lens aperture is controlled electronically from the EOS camera body, rather than by the traditional aperture ring. For instructions on changing the aperture setting of any Canon EF (or EF compatible) lens, please refer to the operating instructions for the camera body.

Accessories

Lens Cap

52mm part number E-52

Hood

The ES-65 is a dedicated plastic hood that clips onto a groove on the lens barrel. It used to be sold separately, but is now discontinued. The ES-65 II is also compatible, but, like the ES-65, does not have black anti-reflective rayon lining.

The best direct replacement is the ES-65 III, which is a rayon-lined accessory hood for the TS-E 90mm f/2.8 lens. A second alternative is to use the ES-62 hood and the included adapter ring (originally intended for the EF 50mm f/1.8 II) to screw onto the 52 mm filter mount. Yet another alternative is to use an EW-65 hood which was the flock-lined accessory intended for the EF 35mm f/2 and EF 28mm f/2.8.

Note that the ES-65 can be reverse-mounted for storage. However, on some bodies, the reversed hood rests against the camera body near the flash housing. Using the shorter ES-65II or EW-65 hood results in a more secure hold.

Filters

52mm thread for filter accessories. Multiple filters should not be used simultaneously to avoid vignetting (vignetting is a darkening of the corners of the resulting photgraph due to the rims of the stacked filters blocking part of the field of view of the lens).

CloseUp

52mm close-up lenses 250D (part number C543861), 500 (part number C543921) & 500D (C543881). The 250D is the recommended choice as it is suited to lenses with a focal length in the range of 30mm to 135mm. The 500D and 500 are more suitable for lenses with a focal length the range of 70mm to 300mm.

Teleextender

This lens is not compatible with either Canon EF 1.4x or EF 2x Tele-extenders that have a protruding front element. Third Party teleconverters designed for Canon Autofocus mount can be often be used successfully, but compatibility is not guaranteed.

Extension Tubes

Compatible with EF-12 and EF-25 extension tubes

Case

??? LH-89 (Hard Case) or ES-C9 (Soft Case)

Incompatibilties

EF-M body

The EF-M camera does not have autofocus sensors. All EF lenses operate in manual focus mode only. It is neccessary to switch it to the "M" position for use.

Precautions

Do not rest the lens on the camera mount, otherwise damage can occur to the delicate electronic contacts. When not mounted on a camera the rear lens cap should always be in place to prevent damage to the electrical contacts and the rear glass element of the lens.

Do not disassemble the lens - there are no user serviceable parts inside.

As with all precision electrical and mechanical equipment do not expose the lens to water, particularly salt water.

Do not attempt to mount the lens on any camera body other than a Canon EOS series camera as this could result in damage to both the lens and camera body⁴. Please note that earlier model Canon cameras using FD or earlier mounts are also not compatible with EF lenses.

Lens Care

Storage

When not mounted on a camera body, store with the front and rear lens caps in place to prevent accidental scratching or other damage.

Store in dry conditions to prevent the possible build up of fungus between the glass elements of the lens.

Service

There are no user serviceable parts - please return the lens to an authorised Canon service centre for adjustment or repair.

Specifications

Released

1987 March

Discontinued

1990 December

Dimensions

Maximum Diameter × Length:
67.4 mm × 42.5 mm / 2.7 in × 1.7 in

Weight

190 g / 6.7 oz

Filter Mount

52 mm threaded mount for front mounted accessory filters

Optics

6 elements in 5 groups

Focus mechanism

This lens focuses using the front lens elements. The front elements move in and out (i.e backward and forward) during focusing. The lens is shortest when focussed at infinity.

Rotating Filter Mount

The front element and inner lens barrel do not rotate during focusing. This makes it suitable for use with filters such as polarizers.

Focus Range

The distance scale is marked from infinity to 0.45 m = 1.5 ft but the lens can physically focus down to 0.4 m = 1.33 ft

Autofocus Motor

Arc-Form Drive

Focal Length

50mm

Magnification

	Maximum Magnification (times)
	50mm
Lens alone	0.15
12mm extension	0.39~0.24
25mm extension	0.68~0.53
with 250D lens	0.36~0.20
with 500/500D lens	0.25~0.10
1.4x teleconverter	0.21
2x teleconverter	0.30

Aperture blades

5

Aperture Range

f1.8 ~ f22

Revision History

v0.01: 00May2 jul: original draft for structure
v0.02: 00May3 jul: lots more content categories; slight reorganization into chapters; license agreement
v0.03: 00May14 jul: Update from Generic Lens Manual
v0.04: 00May16 jul: Javascript Client-side pulls
v0.10: 2001Jan10 jul: Use new lens template, sidebars
v0.11: 2001Jun07 jul: MM->AFD
v0.12b2002Sep04 jul: Update index, links; minor reformat
v0.13 2003Nov23 jul: Update hood, target=_top, hood

Comments

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