Gear

Yongnuo 50mm f/1.8 Challenges Canon’s Inexpensive Nifty Fifty

by . December 19th, 2014

Last September, Chinese company Yongnuo whom produces third-party hotshoe flashes and camera accessories has branched out into making lenses. The company announced that their first glass is the Yongnuo 50mm f/1.4 which looks like the Canon 50mm f/1.4. Fast forward to December, a reader of photorumors.com sent the blog a photo of what it seems like a copy of Canon’s inexpensive nifty fifty or the EF 50mm f/1.8.

The new lens challenges Canon’s 50mm which is one of the top-selling lenses in the market. At $125, one can snag the Canon’s loved 50mm but Yongnuo wants to rock the competition by pricing their new lens at $51-69 on Amazon. While the imaging quality of the lens is yet to be reviewed, the lens supports the exactly the same specs of Canon’s 50mm.

Yongnuo-50mm-004

Spec-wise, both lenses are the same (or should we say identical?) and it only differs with size and weight. Yongnuo’s lens is just a bit larger  (73x55mm) while Canon is (68.6×40.6mm) and a little bit lighter (Yongnuo at 120g while Canon at 130g). Below are the complete specs of the Yongnuo 50mm f/1.8:

Yongnuo-50mm-lens-001

Features: 
 Auto Focus or Manual
 2 Inches in Length
 0.15 Magnification
 46 Degree Maximum Angle of View
 6 Elements in 5 Groups
 Accepts 52mm Filters
 View-angle Coverate Diagonal 46 Degree
 Vertical 27 Degree
 Horizontal 40 Degree
 Lens Structure 5 sets, 6 pieces
 Minimum Aperture F/22
 Minimum Focusing Distance 0.45m
 Maximum Magnification and Sight Range 0.15X / 160x240mm ( when the distance is 0.45m )
 Filter Diameter / Auantity Available 52mm / 1
 Maximum Diameter and Length 73*55mm

Many are speculating that Yongnuo’s lens—despite the price point—may disappoint in the imagining quality  department. Michael Zhang of PetaPixel also points out that Yongnuo’s 50mm may be noisier than its Canon rival — not to mention fall short on auto-focusing performance. Anthony Thurston of SLRLounge makes a fair point that Yongnuo could have chosen to make a cheaper lens option compared to Canon’s current offerings rather that creating what could be considered as knock offs.

Regardless of Yongnuo’s reason as to why the chose to copy Canon’s 50mm, one adage that many photographers follow in terms of buying gear is that “you get what you pay for.” What do you folks think? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Image via Photo Rumors

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