Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs 50mm f/1.4 USM

differences

Reasons to consider the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Image stabilization

Canon IS

None

Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements

Much more zoom

7.5x

7.5x more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos

Better telephoto

135 mm

50 mm

More than 2.5x more reach, less perspective distortion

Better wide angle

18 mm

50 mm

2.8x better wide angle

Learn more about
the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Reasons to consider the Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM

Has a silent focus motor

Canon USM

None

Focuses quickly and silently

Much wider aperture

f/1.4

f/3.5

At its widest, the 50mm f/1.4 USM captures much more light, 2.6 f-stops

Is a prime lens

Yes

Prime lenses have a single focal length, they are typically sharper and have wider apertures

Shorter

51 mm

101 mm

Around 50% shorter

Slightly lighter

290 g

455 g

Around 40% lighter

Learn more about
the Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths	Common Weaknesses
LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.	LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

Compared to portrait lenses

Common Strengths	Common Weaknesses
LensHero is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.	LensHero is not aware of any interesting weaknesses shared by these two products.

competitors

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

Low light lens

$98 - $125

Compare the EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Compare the EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM

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

Wide angle lens

$185 - $199

Has better macro

Has a narrower aperture

Compare the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Compare the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Wide angle lens

$1,149

Has a fixed aperture

Has a narrower aperture

Is longer

Compare the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM vs the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Compare the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Travel lens

$699

More zoom

Better telephoto

Slightly heavier

Compare the EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS vs the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Travel lens

$479

Has a silent focus motor

Slightly shorter

Less zoom

Compare the EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM vs the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS

Wildlife lens

$299

Better telephoto

Less zoom

Narrower aperture

Compare the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS vs the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Nikon Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

Travel lens

Has a silent focus motor

Less zoom

Slightly worse telephoto

Compare the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR vs the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Wide angle lens

$1,059

Has a consant aperture

Has a silent focus motor

Less zoom

Narrower aperture

Compare the 24-105mm f/4L IS USM vs the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

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

Low light lens

$449

Wider aperture

Slightly longer

Compare the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM

Canon EF 35mm f/2

Low light lens

$289

More magnification

Slightly better wide angle

Doesn't have a silent focus motor

Narrower aperture

Compare the EF 35mm f/2 vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Low light lens

$1,439

Slightly wider aperture

Slightly heavier

Compare the EF 50mm f/1.2L USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM

Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM

Low light lens

$370

Slightly better telephoto

Narrower aperture

Worse wide angle

Compare the 85mm f/1.8 USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G

Low light lens

$429

Wider aperture

Compare the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G vs the 50mm f/1.4 USM

discussion Which do you think is better?

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Canon
EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
vs
Canon
50mm f/1.4 USM

differences

Reasons to consider the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Reasons to consider the Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM