Canon
EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
 vs
Canon
50mm f/1.4 USM

vs

differences

Reasons to consider the Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
Slightly better wide angle 20 mm vs 50 mm
Help
 2.5x better wide angle
Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Learn more about
the Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM

Reasons to consider the Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM
Significantly wider aperture f/1.4 vs f/2.8
Help
 At its widest, the 50mm f/1.4 USM captures much more light, 2 f-stops
Slightly shorter 51 mm vs 71 mm
Help
 Around 30% shorter
Slightly better telephoto 50 mm vs 20 mm
Help
 2.5x more reach, less perspective distortion
Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM Learn more about
the Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Focus motor Silent focus motor Help
Silent and fast
Prime lens Fixed focal length prime lenses Help
Typically very sharp
Zoom range Poor zoom Help
1x
Max focal length Poor telephoto Help
EF 20mm f/2.8 USM:20 mm
50mm f/1.4 USM:50 mm
Magnification Poor magnification Help
EF 20mm f/2.8 USM:1:7.1 (0.1x)
50mm f/1.4 USM:1:6.7 (0.2x)

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EF 35mm f/2

Canon EF 35mm f/2

Low light lens

$289
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Focus motor Lacks a silent focus motor
Compare the EF 35mm f/2 vs the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
Compare the EF 35mm f/2 vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM

Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM

Low light lens

$449
Compare the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM vs the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
Compare the EF 28mm f/1.8 USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Low light lens

$1,439
Compare the EF 50mm f/1.2L USM vs the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
Compare the EF 50mm f/1.2L USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM
Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Canon-ef

Sigma 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Canon-ef

Low light lens

$499
Wide maximum Has a lower max f/stop
Compare the 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Canon-ef vs the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
Compare the 30mm f/1.4 EX DC HSM Canon-ef vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Wide angle lens

$199
Magnification Has better macro
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Aperture Has a narrower aperture
Focus motor Lacks a silent focus motor
Compare the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
Compare the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM

Canon EF 20mm f/2.8 USM Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM

Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM

Wide angle lens

$699
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Compare the EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM vs the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

Wide angle lens

$739
Zoom range More zoom
Magnification More magnification
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the EF 17-40mm f/4L USM vs the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8

Canon EF 24mm f/2.8

Wide angle lens

$330
Length Slightly shorter
Diameter Slightly smaller diameter
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Compare the EF 24mm f/2.8 vs the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

Wide angle lens

$1,280
Zoom range More zoom
Magnification More magnification
Prime lens Is a zoom lens
Length Longer
Compare the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM vs the EF 20mm f/2.8 USM

Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Low light lens

$98 - $125
Weight Slightly lighter
Length Slightly shorter
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Low light lens

$449
Wide maximum Wider aperture
Length Slightly longer
Compare the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM

Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM

Low light lens

$370
Max focal length Slightly better telephoto
Aperture Narrower aperture
Min focal length Worse wide angle
Compare the 85mm f/1.8 USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

Canon 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

Macro lens

$519
Magnification Much more magnification
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Length Longer
Compare the 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon 50mm f/2.5 Macro

Canon 50mm f/2.5 Macro

Macro lens

$269
Magnification Significantly more magnification
Wide maximum Significantly narrower aperture
Focus motor Doesn't have a silent focus motor
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the 50mm f/2.5 Macro vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM

discussion Which do you think is better?

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