Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef vs Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

differences

Reasons to consider the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Has a silent focus motor

Sigma HSM

None

Focuses quickly and silently

Much wider aperture

f/1.4

f/3.5

At its widest, the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef 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

Learn more about
the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Reasons to consider the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Image stabilization

Canon IS

None

Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements

Narrower aperture

f/22

f/16

At its narrowest, the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS goes 0.9 f-stops narrower

More magnification

1:3 (0.3x)

1:7.4 (0.1x)

Take macro shots with subjects around 2.5x larger in your photo

More zoom

3.1x

More than 3x more zoom, giving you more flexibility for photos

Better wide angle

18 mm

50 mm

2.8x better wide angle

Slightly lighter

200 g

0.5 kg

2.5x lighter

Slightly smaller diameter

68 mm

85 mm

20% smaller lens at the end

Slightly cheaper

$184.99

$449.00

The best price we've seen is $264 cheaper (2.4x less)

Learn more about
the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

similarities

Compared to lenses

Common Strengths

Common Weaknesses

Short

50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef:	68 mm
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS:	70 mm

Poor telephoto

50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef:	50 mm
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS:	55 mm

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 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Compare the EF 50mm f/1.8 II vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM

Low light lens

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

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

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Canon-ef

Wide angle lens

$199

Has a narrower aperture

Compare the 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Canon-ef vs the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Compare the 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM Canon-ef vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Wide angle lens

$1,059

Has a fixed aperture

Has a narrower aperture

Compare the 24-105mm f/4L IS USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Compare the 24-105mm f/4L IS USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Nikon Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G

Low light lens

$429

Slightly lighter

Slightly shorter

Compare the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.4G vs the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Wildlife lens

$649

Image stabilization

Much narrower aperture

Is a zoom lens

Compare the EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L USM

Low light lens

$1,439

Slightly wider aperture

More expensive

Compare the EF 50mm f/1.2L USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Canon 85mm f/1.8 EF USM

Low light lens

$419

Slightly better telephoto

Narrower aperture

Worse wide angle

Compare the 85mm f/1.8 EF USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM

Low light lens

$370

Narrower aperture

Slightly better telephoto

Narrower aperture

Worse wide angle

Compare the 85mm f/1.8 USM vs the 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Travel lens

$499 - $549

Significantly more zoom

Better telephoto

Longer

Slightly heavier

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

Nikon Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX

Wide angle lens

$90 - $197

Has a silent focus motor

Compare the Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR AF-S DX vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM

Wildlife lens

$169

Has a silent focus motor

Significantly better telephoto

No image stabilization

Longer

Compare the 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

Travel lens

$489

Has a silent focus motor

Significantly narrower aperture

Less magnification

Narrower aperture

Compare the EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

Wide angle lens

$1,059

Has a consant aperture

Has a silent focus motor

Less magnification

Longer

Compare the EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM vs the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

discussion Which do you think is better?

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Sigma
50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef
vs
Canon
EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

differences

Reasons to consider the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM Canon-ef

Reasons to consider the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS