EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens or STM version (portraits)

[russellsnr]

Hi, looking at a new 50mm lens for the 6D as my old one starting to do an Elvis impression.
EF 50mm f1.8 II Lens or the 50mm STM version also f1.8.
For portraits and yes I no the 85mm is better for portraits but not for my wallet.
Outdoors mostly with OCF in a softbox.
Cannot make up my mind so anyone use either and would like to chip in with some reveiw/s?
Thanks
Russ
Elvis = 'Shake,Rattle and Roll'

[Black Pearl]

The STM tests sharper wide open (in the centre where it maters) and it has circular aperture blades producing a more pleasant bokeh - the MkII has a strong squared off shape to the blades.

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff..._18_ff?start=1

http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff/905-canon_50_18stm

[William W]

Here, where I am: a relatively big (probably one of the biggest national) re-seller has stopped keeping "in stock" the EF 50 F/1.8 MkII (i.e. can get in for a customer but it is a 'special order -takes three to five days) but seems they still keep 'in stock' the: 50/1.4; 50/2.5 (this one has got to be a slow seller); 50/1.2L (not many of these sold each week I think?); and 50/1.8 STM - so that kind of indicates what are the more popular selling items.

WW

[rpcrowe]

Russell, since you have bee shooting with a 50mm lens on your full frame camera, you are obviously acquainted with the pros and cons of using that focal length for portraiture.

IMO, the 50mm on a full framer is perfectly adequate unless you get too close to the subject trying to fill the frame with the head and shoulders. Then you may end up with some distortion. A way around this, of course, is not to get too close. Either settle for a wider image (like a 3/4 length portrait) or shoot from a further distance and crop the image to a head and shoulders view. If the subject is not looking directly at the camera, distortion is often minimized.

Children and some beautiful young women who do not have pronounced facial features that are amplified with distortion and can often be shot with a normal angle lens.

I have no experience with the Canon 50mm STM lens but, the reviews I have read are quite positive.

[russellsnr]

Hi, Thankyou. Now await the arrival of a 50mm STM
Russ