The Canon 50mm lens is a part of the line of products that share the same focal length. They are actually based on the classic double-Gauss lens with various elements. They have an EF type of mount that can fit the EOS line of cameras. These models are actually very popular in the market today mainly due to the impressive image quality that they can produce.
There are actually various models from this line. The most common lines are now sold but there is also the L series. There are also those that contain Ultrasonic motors which are very useful for a smooth focusing and stabilizing.
The EF f/1.0L USM is a part of the L series although it is no longer used. One of the best things about this is that it uses a so-called electronic wire system to manual focus. This will require power from the camera in order for it to work. This can also create a very shallow depth of various effects. This is mainly because it uses an 8-bleade diaphragm and a maximum aperture of f/1.0. This model of the Canon 50mm lens can be extended although it cannot be rotated for further adjustments.
The EF f/1.4 USM is a consumer-level product and it is one of the most popular. One of the best features of this product is its design as it has a plastic body and a metal mount. This also has an 8-blade diaphragm so it can also produce very shallow depth effects. Ten main feature of this product is that it has an autofocus speed that it very fast. However, this is till not as fast as compared to the other ring-USM-based products. This is also the least expensive model in the line.
The EF f/1.8 II also has a plastic body and mount. But the best thing about this is that it has a very excellent optical quality. This is actually a replacement of the f/1.8 thought the only main difference has something to do with the absence of the distance window and an arc-form drive.
The EF f/2.5 Compact macro has a decent build quality but it has a good color and contrast. It can also produce very sharp images and the distortion appearance is good. The only disadvantage of this product is that it has a very slow auto-focusing feature and it is a bit noisy.
The Canon 50mm lens can provide wide-aperture shots and extreme depth. They have similar features but vary in prices and this has been the subject of various debates by reviewers. Anyway, they all have great features and they can be used by both amateur and professional photographers.