The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II and the Canon 50mm f1.8 II 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 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II is the longer of the two lenses at 79mm. The Canon 50mm f1.8 II with a length of 41mm, is 38mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II also has a larger diameter of 69mm compared to the Canon 50mm f1.8 II's 68mm diameter.
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 50mm f1.8 II weighs 130g, 48% (120g) lighter than the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II's weight of 250g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II and the Canon 50mm f1.8 II have the same Filter thread size of 52mm.
Below are links to the 52mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II and the Canon 50mm f1.8 II 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
Canon 80-200mm f4.5-5.6 II has a focal range of 80-200mm and
2.5X zoom ratio . When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
128 - 320mm.
On the other hand, the Canon 50mm f1.8 II is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 50mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of 80mm.