Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 vs Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 – What’s the Difference?

The Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM and Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM are two of the most popular affordable prime lenses in Canon’s RF lineup. Both are compact, bright, and deliver outstanding image quality for their price — but they serve different purposes.

If you’re choosing between these two budget-friendly lenses for your Canon mirrorless camera, you might wonder: Should you go wider with the 35mm, or tighter with the 50mm? Let’s dive into the differences to help you pick the right one.

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⚙️ Overview – Versatile Macro vs Classic Portrait Prime

Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM
A versatile wide-standard prime lens perfect for street, travel, and everyday photography. It offers image stabilization, macro capabilities, and a natural field of view — making it a great all-rounder for both stills and video.

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Known as the “nifty fifty,” this small and affordable prime is ideal for portraits, low-light scenes, and general shooting. It’s lightweight, sharp, and provides beautiful background blur — perfect for beginners and content creators.

In short:

• RF 35mm f/1.8: Wider, stabilized, and doubles as a macro lens.

• RF 50mm f/1.8: Tighter, cheaper, and great for portraits or bokeh lovers.

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📊 Specifications Comparison

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🧱 Build and Handling

Both lenses are compact, but the RF 35mm f/1.8 is noticeably larger and heavier due to its built-in stabilization and macro optics. It feels sturdier, with a wider focus ring that’s smooth and precise.

The RF 50mm f/1.8, by contrast, is ultra-light — perfect for travel and everyday use. It balances beautifully on smaller cameras like the EOS R8 or R10, making it an ideal walk-around lens.

Both have Canon’s custom control ring, allowing you to adjust exposure, ISO, or aperture on the fly.

Verdict:

• RF 35mm f/1.8: Feels more premium and stable.

• RF 50mm f/1.8: Smaller, lighter, and easier to carry anywhere.

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🎯 Autofocus and Performance

Both lenses feature Canon’s STM autofocus system, offering smooth, quiet focusing that’s ideal for both photos and video.

However, the RF 35mm f/1.8 performs slightly better in close-up and low-light situations, thanks to its image stabilization and closer focusing distance.

The RF 50mm f/1.8 focuses quickly and accurately but lacks stabilization, which can be noticeable in handheld video or low-shutter-speed shooting on non-IBIS cameras.

Verdict:

• RF 35mm f/1.8: More versatile, stabilized, and great for close-up work.

• RF 50mm f/1.8: Fast and reliable, best for stills and portraits.

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🧠 Image Quality

Sharpness

Both lenses deliver excellent sharpness for their price, but the RF 35mm f/1.8 shows slightly better edge-to-edge performance wide open. The RF 50mm f/1.8 has stronger central sharpness and smoother rendering at mid-apertures.

Bokeh

The RF 50mm f/1.8 produces creamier bokeh and stronger background separation — perfect for portraits or subject isolation. The RF 35mm f/1.8 can also blur backgrounds nicely, but its wider field of view naturally includes more of the scene.

Distortion and Aberrations

Both lenses handle chromatic aberration well, though the RF 35mm f/1.8 benefits from its more complex optical design. It also handles flare slightly better in backlit shots.

Verdict:

• RF 35mm f/1.8: Sharper edges and better correction.

• RF 50mm f/1.8: Better bokeh and subject isolation.

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🎥 Video Performance

Both lenses are excellent for video, but they have different strengths.

The RF 35mm f/1.8 is the more versatile choice — its image stabilization, macro ability, and wider perspective make it perfect for handheld shooting, interviews, or vlogs.

The RF 50mm f/1.8, on the other hand, excels in portrait-style video or cinematic shots where you want creamy background blur and subject focus.

Verdict:

• RF 35mm f/1.8: Best for vlogging, handheld, and hybrid work.

• RF 50mm f/1.8: Best for cinematic portraits and talking-head videos.

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💰 Price and Value

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The RF 50mm f/1.8 is one of the best value lenses Canon has ever made — cheap, sharp, and compact.

The RF 35mm f/1.8 costs more, but you’re paying for stabilization, macro capabilities, and a more versatile field of view.

Verdict:

• RF 50mm f/1.8: Best budget option for portraits and low light.

• RF 35mm f/1.8: Worth the extra for versatility and stabilization.

Check availability and price on Amazon 🛒

📷 Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 — Amazon USA / Amazon Canada / Amazon UK / Amazon Australia

📷 Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 — Amazon USA / Amazon Canada / Amazon UK / Amazon Australia

Note: camerafight.com participates in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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🏁 Final Verdict — Which One Should You Buy?

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✅ In short:
Choose the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 if you want a lightweight, affordable portrait lens with great sharpness and bokeh.

Go for the Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM if you prefer a wider, more versatile lens with stabilization and close-up capabilities — a true do-it-all option for creators.

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💡 Pro tip:
If your Canon body lacks IBIS (like the EOS R8 or RP), the RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS is a smarter investment thanks to its built-in stabilization.