YONGNUO YN50mm F1.8 Lens Large Aperture Auto Focus Lens Compatible with Canon EF Mount EOS Camera

I'll admit, I was a little wary of getting an off brand lens but reviews made me go for it. This is nearly 100 bucks cheaper than Canon, but just as good. When you're not used to a prime lens it does take some getting used to. The picture of the black floppy eared was my first picture with this lens about six months ago, you can see it's a little off focus of the eyes. Completely human error. The other pictures are my latest and once you get the hang of it, this lens is amazing. I know it's usually recommended as a portrait lens but it works just as well for action shots (and I shoot dogs, so 85% of mine are action). It blurs and bokehs the background SO beautifully. That third image of my dog running would not be so focused on him, he'd probably be blurry if I had been using my original lens. The other pictures are to show how well the lens focuses on the subject, even with twigs or trees in front, they're beautifully blurred and the subject stands out. This is my go-to lens for sure.

This is by far THE best inexpensive lens in my kit-bag!!! I have two other lenses that are zoom, but this is my only fixed, or "prime" lens as they're called. The fastest also at F1.8. You can blow-out the background with sometimes desired blur (less depth of field), and shot pics in very low light without having to up the ISO. This way you can print pretty big enlargements without graininess. This lens also has 7 aperture blades vs. 5 for the Canon 50mm F1.8. And, at almost half the cost. More aperture blades are desired when the lens is stopped-down to it's smallest setting; being F22 on this lens. It creates a more rounded "iris" or opening which makes for less distortion and chromatic aberration, or ghosting around the edges of the picture. Yes, the body is primarily plastic, and does not feel of high quality; nor is the Canon counterpart. But, it more than makes up for this in the quality of images and it's faster F-stop. I had a Canon F1.8 50mm, and literally wore it out, and at this price I just couldn't pass it up. I'm so delighted with this "Nifty Fifty" as it's called in photo circles. It has the usual M/AF switch on the barrel, and is actually slightly larger than the canon model in size and weight. The MF ring on the front is also a little bigger than Canon's, and makes for easier focus. I have a Yongnuo TT/NW680 flash which is also a great, and inexpensive product vs. the HIGH cost of Canon's flashes. I'm not Canon bashing again, but they do charge a premium for their accessories... Buy this lens now if you can, as many believe it will go waaayyy-up in price once it gains momentum and popularity among photogs! You will not be disappointed in this purchase. PROMISE...

Before buying the Yongnuo lens I would heavily consider what you may be using this lens for. In general, for portraits, the image quality is pretty great. I am of course always comparing this knockoff lens to the original Canon 50mm. So for purely taking photos, this lens might not be a bad idea although the autofocus doesn't get quite as sharp as the original Canon nifty fifty. One of the main differences which I just mentioned is, of course, the lens's ability to autofocus. It can be a little slower than the Canon and a little bit softer in some places. The other distinction which can be quite significant is the autofocus motor is very loud. The canon, on the other hand, is nearly silent. It's also an STM lens which means the autofocus is quick and quiet. So if you are considering using this lens at all for video, I would highly recommend against it as you will likely hear it in your footage (even using an external mic I was able to catch glimpses of the motor). So buy with caution! The lens does work just fine and it's a good lens that bears heavy similarities with the original Canon. Of course, what makes the Yongnuo enticing is the pricepoint! It's about half the price of the original Canon lens. My response to this is that you will likely own any lens you purchase FOR LIFE. It will last you years and years and years. And in the grand scheme of time wouldn't you rather spend the extra 50 bucks for something that is of higher quality? I know I certainly would. We're not talking about hundreds of dollars more we're talking fifty dollars or so more. I'm sure you can buy it used on ebay for even less. With that said, the Yongnuo is a decent comparison for PORTRAITS. For video, just beware that the motor is considerably quite loud. So the lens certainly works as prescribed and the image quality is quite comparable to the Canon however there are a few stark differences that set it apart from the original. Food for thought!

I got my YOUNGNUO 50mm 1.8 lens today, and I guess i got lucky - not only is it tack sharp, but mine has no dithering or hunting for focus even in pretty low light; in fact, it focuses faster than my Canon lenses and with much more sureness. I know that there's a certain amount of sample variation, but most of the reviews say this has very good image quality, and mine sure does. It has a creamy bokeh, too.Of course, nothing in life is perfect. For those shooting video, this lens isn't as quiet as Canon's STM 50mm 1.8. Mine is still pretty quiet, but not silent as you need for video where you'll be using the sound. And build quality, while quite good for a $50 lens, is pretty plasticky, but on the other hand, so are the Canon 50mm 1.8 and 50mm 1.8 STM lenses I've used.All in all, I'm really liking this lens, and the price and light weight make it even better. If you have a Canon camera and need a sharp prime for pictures, you can't go wrong with this lens. I think next I'll try the Yongnuo 35mm 1.8 and see how that does.