The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM and the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 115mm. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM with a length of 39mm, is 76mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro also has a larger diameter of 87mm compared to the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM's 69mm diameter.
tt
Below you can find a scaled side-by-side image of Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM and Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro to get a better idea of how their sizes compare in real life.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM weighs 159g, which means it is 786g (83%) lighter than the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro which has a weight of 945g.
Filter Threads
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM has a filter size of 49mm whereas the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro has a 77mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 49mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM:
And these are the 77mm filters that we recommend for the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM and the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro has the same Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Canon EF lenses are Canon 1D X III, Canon 6D MII and Canon 5D MIV.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
50mm but while Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM has the fastest aperture of
F1.8, the Canon TS-E 50mm F2.8L Macro's widest aperture value is
F2.8.