The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 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 45mm f2.8 is the longer of the two lenses at 90mm. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM with a length of 39mm, is 51mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 also has a larger diameter of 81mm compared to the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 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 EF 50mm f/1.8 STM weighs 159g, 75% (486g) lighter than the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8's weight of 645g.
Filter Threads
The Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 has a filter size of 72mm whereas the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM has a 49mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 72mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8:
And these are the 49mm filters that we recommend for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM:
Lens Mounts
Both the Canon TS-E 45mm f2.8 and the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 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 TS-E 45mm f2.8 is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 45mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.6x crop, it provides a 35mm (FF) equivalent of
72mm.
On the other hand, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM 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.