The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM 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 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM is the longer of the two lenses at 92mm. The Canon 50mm f1.8 II with a length of 41mm, is 51mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM also has a larger diameter of 79mm 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, 72% (345g) lighter than the Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM's weight of 475g.
Filter Threads
The Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM has a filter size of 67mm whereas the Canon 50mm f1.8 II has a 52mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 67mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM:
And these are the 52mm filters that we recommend for the Canon 50mm f1.8 II:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM has the Canon EF-S lens mount whereas the Canon 50mm f1.8 II has the Canon EF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Canon T8i, Canon 90D and Canon SL3 for the Canon EF-S Mount and Blackmagic URSA 12K LF, Z CAM E2-F6 II 6K and Z CAM E2-S6 II 6K for the Canon EF Mount.
Focal Range
Canon 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM has a focal range of 17-85mm and
5.0X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
27.2-136mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
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.
