RF 50mm F1.8 STM ambient image
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Canon RF 50mm F1.8 STM

Explore your creativity and expand your photography skills with this remarkably compact and affordable prime lens that delivers more than you thought possible.

The new standard

The RF 50mm F1.8 STM is a small, light and affordable lens with a fast f/1.8 aperture, ideal in low light and great for creative depth-of-field. With new optics and a very quiet STM motor, this modern ‘nifty fifty’ will advance your photography.

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RF 50mm F1.8 STM front slant image
RF 50mm F1.8 STM switch
RF 50mm F1.8 STM side
RF 50mm F1.8 STM slant
RF 50mm F1.8 STM slant with cap
RF 50mm F1.8 STM front slant with hood

See it in action

Watch the video with Ejiro Dafé, professional photographer and director, showcasing his work with the RF 50mm F1.8 STM lens.

Achieve sharp focus and create impact with out of focus backgrounds

Recreate that cinema look and take your photography to a new level of creativity by experimenting with different apertures.

More detail

This image, shot at f/8, shows the face in focus as well as more details are visible in the background.

Stand out

By f/4 the background is nicely soft, similar to a standard zoom lens.

Maximum impact

At maximum aperture of f/1.8, the subject really stands out against a very soft background.

Wide aperture creativity

Create artistic and impactful images at lower ISO thanks to a wide f/1.8 aperture that achieves sharp focus on a subject yet delivers a beautiful blurred background.
RF 50mm F1.8 STM ejiro dafe sample look3 wide aperture

Sharp, quiet focusing

The STM (Stepping Motor) technology focuses very smoothly and in near-silence, ideal for stills and video. Super Spectra Coating on the lens elements ensure quality.
RF 50mm F1.8 STM ejiro dafe sample look1 quiet focusing

Compact and lightweight

At 160g and 40.5mm, it is a highly compact and lightweight partner for your day-to-day shooting with EOS R-series cameras, with no adapter required.
RF 50mm F1.8 STM john dickins lifestyle compact and lightweight

Considered design

Very discreet with a combined focusing and control ring for intuitive control, the lens has a 7-blade circular aperture for superb bokeh and focuses to 0.3m.
RF 50mm F1.8 STM lifestyle considered design

Great lens for…

The RF 50mm F1.8 STM lens is a simple yet hugely versatile lens. Its superior sharpness, great low light performance and stunning bokeh make it ideal for many types of photography and video.

Great lens for everyday subjects

Keep it with you every day and spot new photo opportunities everywhere.

Great lens for portraits

Create portraits with impact thanks to the wide maximum aperture of this compact lens.

Great lens for creativity

See what you’ve never seen before and express your vision.

RF 50mm F1.8 STM ejiro dafe sample ef comp get closer 1
RF 50mm F1.8 STM ejiro dafe sample ef comp get closer 2

Get closer

The RF 50mm F1.8 STM lens focusses down to 30cm - a useful 5cm closer than the popular EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens. The image on the left is taken with the EF 50mm lens at 35cm, while the image on the right is taken with the RF 50mm F1.8 STM at 30cm.

Specifications

  • STM Motor

    Smooth, fast, near silent autofocus

  • Wide f/1.8 aperture

    Great for low light and stunning bokeh

  • Aspheric lens element

    Superior sharpness from centre to edge

  • RF mount

    Compact design with better performance

  • Super Spectra Coating

    Improves image quality and colour rendering

  • Creativity at lower cost

    Natural perspective and affordable

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Comparison

See how the RF 50mm F1.8 STM compares to its EF counterpart and the L-series RF 50mm F1.2L
RF 50mm F1.8 STM

RF 50mm F1.8 STM

RF 50mm F1.8 STM
EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
RF 50mm F1.2L USM

RF 50mm F1.2L USM

RF 50mm F1.2L USM

Mount

RF
EF
RF

Maximum aperture

f/1.8
f/1.8
f/1.2

Minimum focusing distance

30cm
35cm
40cm

Lens construction

6 elements in 5 groups
6 elements in 5 groups
15 elements in 9 groups

Special low dispersion glass

PMo Aspherical element
-

UD element

Aspherical element

Special coating

Super Spectra Coating
Super Spectra Coating
Air Sphere Coating, fluorine coating

Water/dust-resistance

Not supported
Not supported
Supported

Aperture blades

7
7
10

IS (CIPA standard correction effect)

Not supported
Not supported
Not supported

Filter diameter

43mm
49mm
77mm

Maximum diameter and length

Approx. 69.2 mm x 40.5 mm
Approx. 69.2 mm x 39.3 mm
Approx. 89.8 mm x 108.0 mm

Weight

160g
160g
750g

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RF 50mm F1.8 STM side image

What’s in the box

Just add an EOS R full frame mirrorless camera and you’ll be up and running in no time.

  • RF 50mm F1.8 STM

  • Lens Cap E-43

  • Lens Dust Cap RF

Hands holding a Canon EOS R camera and a Canon RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM lens.

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Lens Accessories

  • Lenshood ES-65B

    Lenshood ES-65B

    Prevent stray light from entering a lens, keeping unwanted glare from affecting your photos
  • Lens pouch LP1014

    Lens pouch LP1014

    Protective soft case for selected EF lenses
  • 43mm Protect Lens Filter

    43mm Protect Lens Filter

    Protects the front element of lenses from dirt and damage. Fits lenses with a filter thread of 43mm

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