The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM and the Canon 50mm f1.4 USM 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 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM is the longer of the two lenses at 75mm. The Canon 50mm f1.4 USM with a length of 51mm, is 24mm shorter. On the other hand, the Canon 50mm f1.4 USM has a larger diameter of 74mm compared to the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM's 69mm 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 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM weighs 205g, which means it is 85g (29%) lighter than the Canon 50mm f1.4 USM which has a weight of 290g.
Filter Threads
Both the Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM and the Canon 50mm f1.4 USM have the same Filter thread size of 58mm.
Below are links to the 58mm filters that we recommend you to consider for these lenses:
Lens Mounts
The Canon 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM has the Canon EF-S lens mount whereas the Canon 50mm f1.4 USM 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 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM has a focal range of 18-55mm and
3.1X zoom ratio which has an effective (full-frame 35mm equivalent) focal range of
28.8-88mm when used on a APS-C / DX format camera.
On the other hand, the Canon 50mm f1.4 USM 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.
