First Contact Hands-On Review: Canon 50mm f1.8
Yesterday I tested my new lens: the Canon 50mm 1.8 STM.
I'm using this image as an introduction to this post to clarify that this is my first experience with the lens. I chose this photo because it has obvious exposure issues and therefore shows the approach I took when using the lens for the first time.
The Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM is a compact, highly respected lens that has earned its place as a staple in photographers’ kits. On a full-frame camera, it offers the classic 50mm “standard” perspective, perfect for everything from portraits to street photography. Mounted on Canon’s Rebel series (APS-C), it gives an effective focal length of around 80mm, making it ideal for tighter portraits and subtle subject isolation. Lightweight, sharp, and fast, this lens combines quality optics with a surprisingly affordable price, making it a go-to choice for both beginners and seasoned photographers.
Although I already own the Yongnuo 50mm f/1.8, I chose the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM because it represents a significant step up in terms of optical and build quality. The sharpness, color rendition, and overall consistency are noticeably superior, making it a lens I can fully trust for professional work. I plan to use it primarily on my Canon 5D, where it will truly shine, but it also becomes an excellent option for portraits on my Rebel T7, giving an effective focal length of about 80mm and beautifully isolating subjects. It’s the perfect blend of versatility, performance, and reliability for both full-frame and APS-C shooting.
I took the Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM out for its first street session, and my initial impressions are already telling. Compared to my Yongnuo 50mm, this lens feels in a completely different league in terms of focus precision and detail rendering. Every frame is sharp where it needs to be, and the colors and contrast feel natural yet vibrant. On the street, it handled spontaneous moments with ease, letting me concentrate on timing and composition rather than worrying about technical flaws. Of course the 80mm focal lenght is not what I am used when it comes to street photography, but for certain urban landscape frames makes sense.
Early shots suggest this is a lens that delivers reliability, accuracy, and character, right from the first click.
If decided to do an initial "free and instinctive" test of my new lens, shooting directly on the street with the Canon Rebel T7, has been with the full awareness that 80mm can work in a way and not as a classic street photography lens. The idea was simple: no complex setup, no precise calculations, just follow your eye and the feeling of the moment.
First impressions were very positive. The lens performed well in variable lighting situations, allowing me to capture details and textures without too much effort. I let instinct guide my shots, observing how the subject fit into the urban space and everyday context: the depth of field, color rendition, and sharpness were more than satisfactory for this type of spontaneous approach.
What struck me most is the creative freedom the lens offers. It feels like a "silent" tool. I am used to work with my Rebel with the 24mm that is a more classic lens on the street. I feel that this lens has more character, i don’t know how to expain it. With that said I don’t have anything bad to say with my 24mm that remains the official street photography lens for my T7.
In conclusion, this first session was an exercise in pure observation and responsiveness. I can only guess, for the moment, that the Canon 50mm f1.8 promises well for my portrait work. It will be interesting to see how this lens performs in more challenging conditions, but for a first experience, I can say that the impression is extremely positive.
In my agenda now I count to realize a real hands on review, through a video for my YouTube channel. I need to test the lens in this way:
Architecture with the Canon Rebel T7 taking advantage of the 80mm focal length
Street Photography with the Canon 5D M2
I have a bit of work ahead of me to provide some content to you who follow me here and on THE STREET PHOTOGRAPHY CHANNEL.
