Overview of YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

Navigation

  1. In short
  2. Differences from the previous version
  3. All lenses from Yongnuo
  4. Main Specifications
  5. Assembly
  6. Focusing
  7. White version
  8. Image quality
  9. Sample Photos
  10. My experience
  11. Review wizard
  12. Price
  13. Alternatives
  14. Results
  15. User Comments
  16. Add your review or question on the lens

In this review, the YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II will be abbreviated as 'Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II'.

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

In short

Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II - Upgrading 'Cheapest and Lightest Autofocus Fifty' for Canon DSLR Cameras - YONGNUO LENS EF 50mm 1: 1.8'.

All in all, Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II became better than its predecessor. If the previous version copied Canon 50 / 1.8 II, then Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II is already trying to copy something more advanced in something Canon 50 / 1.8 STM. True, Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II and Canon 50 / 1.8 STM very different from each other.

Unfortunately, with the upgrade, the price tag for the lens has also risen.

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

Differences from the previous version

Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II is an upgrade to an older lens YONGNUO LENS EF 50mm 1: 1.8. Below are the main differences between the versions.

Positive:

  1. the old version was presented on December 27, 2014, the new version was presented after 4 years - on May 14, 2018
  2. new version has different case design
  3. in the new version is used metal mount (one of the main differences)
  4. new version has focus distance scale in meters and feet
  5. new version has minimum focusing distance 35 cm and, as a result, the maximum magnification ratio has improved. The first version had MDF 45 cm
  6. increased focus ring pitch from 45 to 120 degrees
  7. it is stated that the new version has a much better design, better autofocus performance, as well as a much better optical coating (whether this is so is an open question)
  8. It is stated that the new version may receive firmware updates through the camera. It is completely unknown how this will happen. There is nothing in the instructions about this.
  9. new version also available in white case, most likely for cameras with a white body color, such as the Canon 200D

Negative:

  1. the new version does not indicate gold-plated microprocessor contacts
  2. the diameter of the filter increased from 52 to 58 mm
  3. increased weight and size of the lens
  4. focus ring has become plastic, not rubberized
  5. the new version is significantly more expensive than its predecessor
Optical Lens Circuits

GIF animation of the differences between lenses and their optical schemes. Lenses shown Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8, Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 II, Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 STM, Yongnuo Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 and Yongnuo Lens YN50mm F1.8 II (from this review)


All Yongnuo Lenses

Bayonet mount Sony FE [DF, FULL FRAME] и Sony E[DA,APS-C]:

  1. yongnuo 11 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM WL S [announcement]
  2. yongnuo 16 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM S [announcement]
  3. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 2 DF DSM S [review]
  4. yongnuo 50 mm 1: 1.8 DF DSM S [announce]
  5. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM S [overview]
  6. yongnuo 85 mm 1: 1.8 DF DSM S [review]
  7. yongnuo 85 mm 1:1.8 DF DSM S II [announcement]

Bayonet mount Canon RF (mirrorless full frame):

  1. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 2 DF DSM R [review]
  2. yongnuo 35 mm 1:2 CR [announcement]
  3. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DF DSM R [to be announced]
  4. yongnuo 85 mm 1:1.8 DF DSM R (two subversions with different names) [review]

Bayonet mount Nikon Z [DF, FULL FRAME + DA,APS-C]::

  1. yongnuo 11 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM WL Z [announcement]
  2. yongnuo 33 mm 1:1.4 DA DSM WL Z PRO [announcement]
  3. yongnuo 35 mm 1:2 DF DSM Z [announcement]
  4. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DF DSM Z [announcement]
  5. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM Z [review]
  6. yongnuo 85 mm 1:1.8 DF DSM Z [announcement]

Bayonet mount fujifilm x [DA,APS-C]:

  1. yongnuo 11 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM WL X [announcement]
  2. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM X Pro [Announcement]
  3. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 DA DSM X [announcement + overview]

For the system Micro 4 / 3:

  1. yongnuo 25 mm 1: 1.7 [review]
  2. yongnuo 42.5 mm 1: 1.7 [review]
  3. yongnuo 42.5 mm 1:1.7 II [overview]
  4. yongnuo 12-35 mm 1:2.8-4 STM ASPH MACRO [announcement]

Bayonet mount Nikon f (mirrored full frame):

  1. yongnuo 14 mm 1: 2.8 [overview]
  2. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 2 [overview]
  3. yongnuo 40 mm 1: 2.8 [overview]
  4. yongnuo 50 mm 1: 1.8 [review]
  5. yongnuo 50 mm 1: 1.4 E [overview]
  6. yongnuo 60 mm 1:2 MACRO MF [overview]
  7. yongnuo 85 mm 1: 1.8 [overview]
  8. yongnuo 100 mm 1: 2 [overview]

Bayonet mount Canon EF (mirrored full frame):

  1. yongnuo 14 mm 1:2.8 [review N]
  2. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 2 [review]
  3. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 1.4 [overview]
  4. yongnuo 35 mm 1: 1.4C DF UWM [announce]
  5. yongnuo 50 mm 1: 1.8 [overview]
  6. yongnuo 50 mm 1:1.8 II [overview]
  7. yongnuo 50 mm 1: 1.4 [overview]
  8. yongnuo 60 mm 1:2 MACRO MF [review N]
  9. yongnuo 85 mm 1: 1.8 [review]
  10. yongnuo 100 mm 1: 2 [overview]

Cameras:

  1. Yongnuo YN433 (2023, Micro 4/3, 20 MP, 4K)
  2. Yongnuo YN455 (2021, Micro 4/3, 20 MP, 4K)
  3. Yongnuo YN450/450M (2019, Micro 4/3 -> Canon EF, 16 MP, 4K)

Lenses and cameras and many other products from Yongnuo can easily be found at Authorized Yongnuo Dealer / Store on Aliexpres.

My video on all Yongnuo lenses here.

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

Main technical characteristics of YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

Review Instance Name Near the front lens: YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II Yongnuo Ø58mm. On the YOUNGNUO DIGITAL 50mm ❀0.35m / 1.15ft. On the box: YOUNGNUO DIGITAL Standart prime lens YN50mm F1.8 II
Basic properties
  • The lens uses a Canon mount EF (Eelectro-Focus) - primarily designed for Canon EOS full-frame cameras. Suitable for Canon mount cameras EF и Ef-s.
  • The lens uses a micro motor for auto focus and is a counterpart to Canon MM (Micro Motor)
  • II - second version of the lens
  • AF / MF (Auto Focus - Mannual Focus) - the lens is equipped with a focus mode switch
  • Multi-Enlightened Optics
  • Stated that the lens supports firmware upgrade
  • red chrome decorative ring :)
  • two color options: black and white
  • Important: a lens from a third-party manufacturer, which imposes some restrictions on its practical use
Front Filter Diameter 58 mm, plastic thread for filters
Focal length 50 mm

Zoom ratio 1 X (this is a fixed lens, it does not have a zoom)
Designed by for full-format digital cameras. The lens is suitable for everyone. Canon EOS SLR cameras
Number of aperture blades 7 rounded petals
Tags bayonet mount mark, MDF mark (lettering '0.35m / 1.15ft' next to the flower image)
Diaphragm F / 1.8 to F / 22
MDF 0.35 m, maximum magnification factor 0.21x (1: 4.76)
The weight 162 g
Optical design 6 elements in 5 groups. The lens does not use special optical elements in its optical design.Optical design Yongnuo Lens YN50mm F1.8 II

Optical circuit drawing copy YONGNUO LENS EF 50mm 1: 1.8 / Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 II / Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 / Canon EF Lens 50mm 1: 1.8 STM and many other similar lenses.

Optical design like a double Gaus lens (i.e. this is a regular old Planar).

Lens hood There is no hood in the scope of delivery or in the instructions. Most likely you can use any universal hoodwhich can be screwed into the thread of the front filter.
Manufacturer country China (China), there is no indication of the country of the manufacturer on the lens case.
Period May 14, 2018
Instructions View my scan (English only)
Price Aliexpress prices (cheapest)

Still the first version YONGNUO 50mm 1: 1.8 (YN50mm F1.8N) for Nikon cameras in some details, it remains better than the updated version of YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II for Canon cameras (virtually internal focusing, a bayonet type hood, a wide rubberized focus ring, a separate window with a focus distance scale, DOF, etc.).

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

Assembly

The review Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II arrived completely new, in a full boxed kit. In a small box there is a warranty card, a card with the date of manufacture, instructions in Chinese and English, a desiccant and the lens itself with a front (YN-58) and a back cover. The box is made in the colors typical of the golden boxes of Nikon Nikkor lenses. The front and rear lenses of the lens are initially covered by special transport films.

The Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II is not equipped with a hood, and there is no mention of the hood in the lens manual. Most likely with the lens can be used any hood for 'fifty dollars', which is installed in the thread of the front filter. Front lens deeply recessed in the frame of the case, which serves as a kind of built-in hood and helps the lens to work properly in side and back light.

The red ring looks and feels metallic, shimmers with light as if it were chrome-plated. In photographs, the ring appears to be just a colored strip, but in the live visual perception of the ring it has a slightly different effect. Perhaps this ring should refer to Canon's professional L-series lenses, for example Canon EF Lens 50mm 1: 1.2 L Ultrasonic... By the way, at the time of writing the review, in addition to the Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II, they also had such a red ring Yongnuo Lens 14mm 1: 2.8 и Yongnuo LENS 60mm 1: 2 MACRO.

To the touch, the Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II is made of good plastic, which allowed us to make the lens light and strong enough. Plastic with a characteristic tactile coating (seen in the photo below). The lens mount is made chromed metal. The focus ring, unfortunately, is plastic, not rubberized. The front and back covers are sturdy and reliable, easily removable and mounted on the lens. The Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II is significantly better to the touch than YONGNUO 50 / 1.8.

The diameter of the front filter is 58 mm. Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II, compared to the original similar lenses Canon 50 / 1.8 MKI, Canon 50 / 1.8 II, Canon 50 / 1.8 STM and compared to the previous version YONGNUO 50 / 1.8, is 'plump' enough.

Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II uses a diaphragm with 7 rounded petals. With such a diaphragm you can get 14 ray stars from bright light sources. Diaphragm closes to F / 22, which is typical for 50 / 1.8 class lenses.

A bit of stones toward Yongnuo: on the official website (saved!) is either a photo, or a render, or a modified photo with an unnaturally large front lens, apparently to attract more attention to the new lens.

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

White version

UPDATED: In early autumn 2018, the Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II appeared in a white case. Most likely this was done for 'compatibility' with white Canon cameras such as Canon 200D.

Images of the white version were taken from the official site.

Focusing

For focusing, the Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II uses micro motor and is an analog of Canon MM (Micro Motor). Auto focus will work with any SLR camera Canon EOS.

Focus speed average (closer to low), significantly lower (about 2 times) than the original lens Canon 50 / 1.8 II. Auto focus quite noisy.

I worked with a lens on a Canon Digital Rebel XTi camera (aka Canon EOS 400D Digital, aka Canon EOS Kiss Digital X with a very simple 9-point focusing system) and Canon 450D with the same focus module. Focusing poor, lens may often make focus errors, especially when using side focus points (a strong front focus is a common problem). But the network has a lot of information that with many other cameras there are no problems with focusing, I received the same behavior on different cameras with the previous model Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 MKI. Apparently the logic of the focus system was not updated.

The lens has an AF \ MF focus mode switch. Be sure to switch it to the MF position during manual focus. If this is not done, then the auto focus mechanism may be damaged. In AF mode, the focus ring is not locked, but continues to rotate due to the power of the micro motor, while it cannot be touched.

In manual focus mode, the focus ring rotates approximately 120 degrees. Plastic focus ring with grooves on the sides of the focusing distance marks. During the rotation of the focusing ring, the process itself is quite smooth, but still there is a sensation from the movement of 'plastic on plastic'.

Lens does not have internal focus, during focusing, the frame of the body ('trunk') moves forward about 2 centimeters, while front lens does not rotate. It is possible to use various filters without any problems.

The minimum focusing distance is only 35 cm, while you can get the maximum magnification for macro photography of 1: 4.76, which is not bad for such a lens. The original behaves in approximately the same way. Canon 50 / 1.8 STM (craftsmen found that despite the same data from the instructions, Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II MDF is still slightly larger than that of Canon 50 / 1.8 STM).

The lens has a distance scale with marks in meters and feet. The scale is small, on it there are marks for 4.5, 2, 1.2, 0.7, 0.5, 0.4, 0.35 meters and a label of 'infinity'. Such a scale in itself is of little use and is present more for an approximate understanding of the focusing distance than for accurate focusing.

Other features:

  1. Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II does not have a hard stop (hard infinity mechanical stop) which allows you to accurately and quickly focus the lens to infinity under any external temperature conditions. For accurate aiming at infinity, you cannot just bring the focus ring to its extreme position. The focus ring has a huge flight of infinity.
  2. Focus shift (shift-focus) is missing.
  3. Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II has a tangible 'Focus Breathing' effect (changes in viewing angle during focusing). During focusing towards the MDF, the viewing angle decreases.
  4. Unknown compatibility with teleconverters. A
  5. The direction of the 'AF-MF' switch and the direction of the focus ring are the same as the original Canon 50 / 1.8 STM.
  6. Focusing is performed by simultaneously moving the entire lens block (all lenses) relative to the focal plane.

Important: Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II is a third-party lens. It may happen that it will not work correctly with some Canon cameras. It is authentically known that:

  1. The lens sometimes continues to focus (it drives the lens all the way to the end, i.e., to MDF or to infinity) after the focus activation button has been depressed (usually by half-pressing the shutter button). This happens if the lens is not focused accurately enough (the lens somehow continues to focus when the focus button has already been released). Not everyone will notice this feature and it does not particularly interfere with comfortable work with the lens.
  2. Perhaps with other cameras there may be other unpleasant features.
  3. Lens has focus problems including Live View on cameras Canon 6D, 6D Mark II.
  4. The lens has problems with focus accuracy through JVI at the cameras Canon 400D, 450D.
YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

Image quality

With image quality, the Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II is doing pretty well.

Sharpness

  1. in the center of the frame on F / 1.8 the resolution does not shine, but still it is enough for many photo tasks
  2. there is a drop in sharpness to the edges of the frame at f / 1.8
  3. good resolution in the center of the frame on covered apertures after F / 2.5

Distortion

  1. the overall level of distortion is at a level typical for such lenses
  2. the nature of distortion is unified, easily corrected in the editor

Vignetting

  1. general level vignetting is at the level typical for such lenses
  2. noticeable vignetting observed only at f / 1.8
  3. vignetting amplified with focus towards MDF
  4. on APS_C cameras with a sensor vignetting practically disappears at F / 2.8-F / 3.5
  5. vignetting easily fixable in the editor

Aberration

  1. open diaphragms have a noticeable amount of spherical and chromatic aberrations
  2. the strongest chromatic aberration visible at the edges and corners of the image
  3. general level HA is at the level typical for such lenses
  4. there is strong friging (HA in the blur zone) and blooming (HA on very contrasting small details)

Rest

  1. the diaphragm forms fairly even discs of blur only in the F / 1.8-F / 3.5 range, at F / 3.5-F / 22 values ​​you can clearly trace the regular polygons from point light sources in the blur zone.
  2. color rendering is neutral, pleasant. The lens uses front lens enlightenment, which casts green shades. Many modern lenses have enlightenment that shimmers like Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II.
  3. in some situations, the lens is very afraid of side and back light. May be tangible drop in contrast in side light.

Distinguish pictures from Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II from Canon 50 / 1.8 MKI, Canon 50 / 1.8 II, Canon 50 / 1.8 STM, Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 MKI in a blind test it will be extremely difficult.

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

Sample Photos

All sample photos in the gallery below were shot using a Canon Digital Rebel XTi camera (aka Canon EOS 400D Digital, aka Canon EOS Kiss Digital X) and YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II. Photos were taken by converting RAW ('.CR2') files using the original Canon Digital Photo Professional 4 (Canon DPP) utility. Some photos were captured using a polarizing filter HOYA 58mm PL-CIR.

Original RAW ('.CR2') files as well as JPEG files can be download from this link.

The gallery below was taken with a YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II, a Canon Digital Rebel XTi camera (aka Canon EOS 400D Digital, aka Canon EOS Kiss Digital X) and such autofocus macro rings.

Several photos in processing can be viewed here.

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

My experience

Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II turned out much better than its predecessor. If the price had remained the same, then this lens would have simply exorbitant price / quality indicators.

The solution is easy and simple to reduce MDF without changing the optical scheme, as well as add a metal lens mount, it is not so difficult to implement, but the result is a clone with claims to compete with Canon 50 / 1.8 STM. But, to face the truth, the Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II is very far from Canon 50 / 1.8 STM, and the main reason for this is completely different focusing motors and the logic of the focusing systems.

If video is a priority, then Canon 50 / 1.8 STM will be a few goals higher than Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II.

Personally, I liked the previous version better - it is the most 'hardcore', you should not expect anything special from it, at the same time Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 MKI quite decently removes. The updated version is already a more or less serious lens, at least at first glance, but the old optical circuit does not make it more productive, and the old autofocus logic has not been fixed.

A magnification factor of 1: 4.76 is not, in fact, a great achievement. A lot of whale lenses of the 18-55 / 3.5-5.6 class are much better in this regard. If you need macro photography with a fifty dollars, it’s better to buy the simplest and cheapest aftocus macro rings to it, the effect will be visible immediately (I, for example, have such).

At the cost of the new Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II, you can buy the original Canon 50 / 1.8 II in a condition of used, in fact, which I recommend doing in cases of choice between Canon 50 / 1.8 II and Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II.

Review wizard

Wizard text taken here, only a couple of errors have been fixed.

Never buy a Yongnuo YN50mm F1.8 II, this is not a Canon. Yongnuo are disposable lenses. Service centers do not take Yongnuo for repair and maintenance, they cost like Canon EF 50mm 1.8 II, and if Yongnuo is new for a while, it will last for a while, but then go to the trash bin or sell it to another “happy” (read: greedy and stupid) owner this bewilderment.

It’s better to buy killed in the trash or used, but better a new one, but Canon EF 50mm 1.8 and you will be happy.

I understand the people whose business it is and they need to earn money, but people, you hope REASONABLE, never buy a used / new or 50mm or 35mm or any Yongnuo.

Why am I writing? I am very sorry for my customers who bring us bewilderment in the snot and tears to the service center, after a fall or the slightest mechanical damage, this Yongnuo is no longer maintainable, there are no spare parts for it. I won’t write about how they work, there are a lot of reviews on the network, though you don’t need to read from paid commentators.

Why don't they write to me (us) here? Because I understand that they (would-be businessmen) are wrong and they have nothing to say, make a fool of people, know about the problem and stupidly keep quiet.

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

Price

The Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II is one of the cheapest prime lens for Canon EOS SLR cameras. Easiest and cheapest Buy Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II on aliexpress.comFor example, from a trusted seller here at this link.

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II


Alternatives

Below is a list of fifty-fifty lenses and lenses that are very close in their focal length to 50 mm, which support auto focus and are suitable for full-frame cameras Canon EOS.

Canon:

Canon Lens EF 50mm 1:1.8, version with a focusing distance window and metal mount March 1987 View price

Canon Lens EF 50mm 1:1.8 II, the second version without a window of focusing distances and a plastic bayonet mount.

This lens exists in two subversions:

  1. Canon Lens EF 50mm 1:1.8 II Made In Malaysia
  2. Canon Lens EF 50mm 1:1.8 II Made In Japan
Subversion fundamentally no different
December 1990 View price
Canon EF Lens 50mm 1:1.8 STM May 2015 View price
Canon EF Lens 50mm 1:1.4 Ultrasonic July 1993 View price
Canon EF Lens 50mm 1:1.2 USM Ultrasonic January 2007 View price
Canon EF Lens 50mm 1:1.0 l Ultrasonic September 1989 View price
Canon Compact macro Lens EF 50mm 1:2.5 December 1987 View price
Canon lens RF 50 mm F1.2 L USM September 2018 View price

Tamron:

Tamron SP 45mm F /1.8 Di VC USD F013 September 2015 View price

Sigma:

Sigma 50mm 1:1.4 DG HSM EX, this lens exists in two versions with a different type of body coating March 2008 View price
Sigma 50mm 1:1.4 DG HSM A (Art) January 2014 View price
Sigma 50mm 1:2.8 Macro 1990 View price

Sigma 50mm 1:2.8 Macro EX, there was a copy of this lens under the name Quantaray 50mm 1:2.8 Macro

1998 View price
Sigma 50mm 1:2.8 DG Macro EX June 2004 View price

Tokina:

Tokina Opera 50mm F1.4 FF February 2018 View price

Yongnuo:

Yongnuo Lens EF 50mm 1:1.8

There are several sub-versions with different spelling of the name near the front lens

  • YN50mm F1.8 YONGNUO Ø52mm
  • YONGNUO LENS EF 50mm 1: 1.8 YONGNUO Ø52mm
  • YONGNUO LENS EF 50mm 1: 1.8 YONGNUO INC. Ø52mm

Subversion fundamentally no different

December 2014 View price

Yongnuo Lens YN50mm F1.8 II

There are two options, depending on the color of the case: the black or white

May 2018 View price
Yongnuo Lens 50mm 1:1.4there was another prototype Yongnuo Lens EF 50mm 1:1.4 May 2018 View price

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

Results

Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II has a balanced price / quality ratio. As usual, one of the main problems with such solutions is the uncertainty in the quality spread from one instance to another. But, given that such lenses are most often used by amateur photographers for simple photo tasks, the Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II can live a very long life and bring its owner a lot of good photos. Another problem with the Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II is poor auto focus with some specific camera models.

Advantages

  1. low cost ($ 60-80 for the new Yongnuo Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II против 125 dollars for Canon 50 / 1.8 STM)
  2. high aperture
  3. quite convenient manual focus
  4. small MDF and, as a result, a good maximum magnification factor during macro photography. For most of these fifty dollars this indicator is worse
  5. there is a focus distance scale
  6. the filter frame does not rotate during focusing
  7. good build quality: metal mount, reliable covers
  8. light weight, compact enough
  9. seven-petal diaphragm, round discs of blur in the range of F / 1.8-F / 3.5
  10. the front lens is deeply recessed in the frame of the case, you can do without a hood
  11. Confident sharpness starting at F / 2.2-F / 2.5 in the center of the frame. Moderate level of basic optical distortion (aberration, vignetting, distortion) comparable to the original c Canon 50 / 1.8 STM
  12. theoretical possibility of updating the lens firmware
  13. profile for ACR / Lightroom from Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 MKI Well suited for Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II

Disadvantages

  1. serious problems with focusing with some cameras (400D, 450D, at the same time, no significant problems with many other cameras)
  2. during focusing towards MDF, the front of the frame (trunk) moves forward
  3. large filter diameter (58 mm for Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II versus 49 mm for Canon 50 / 1.8 STM)
  4. average focusing speed, significantly lower than that of Canon 50 / 1.8 II
  5. lack of the function of constant manual focus control similar to, for example, the FTM mode Canon 50 / 1.8 STM
  6. tangible noise from the focus motor
  7. the hood is screwed into the thread under the filters, the hood is not included in the package, there is no information on compatible hoods
  8. lack of basic dust and moisture protection
  9. tangible effect of 'Focus Breathing' (changes in viewing angle during focusing)
  10. the aperture at F / 3.5-F / 22 is poorly rounded and is a regular heptagon
  11. there is no tag for working in the infrared spectrum and the depth of field scale that the CANON LENS EF 50mm 1: 1.8
  12. there is incompatibility with some cameras and / or teleconverters (no exact data)
  13. it is absolutely unclear how the lens firmware will be updated, although the possibility of this function is announced on the official page of the lens. At least the Yongnuo 50 / 1.8 II does not have a USB port for firmware, which most of the latest Yongnuo lenses have, for example, such as Yongnuo Lens 14mm 1: 2.8 for canon
  14. lack of data about the lens in modern cameras, which makes it difficult to automatically correct some types of optical distortion (distortion, vignetting etc.)
  15. lack of a lens profile in popular RAW converters (perhaps this is only a temporary drawback, you can create a profile yourself)
  16. the survivability of this lens and the variation in quality are unknown. Little information is available on certified Yongnuo lens service centers. Bad reviews of photographic technicians
  17. certain imperfections in the image (poor sharpness at F / 1.8 at the corners and edges of the image, poor resistance to lateral light, a set of optical distortions characteristic of such fifty dollars)
  18. the optical design is not updated and copies the optical design of the lenses Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 и Canon Lens EF 50mm 1: 1.8 II, the first of which was introduced back in March 1987

UPDATE: appeared YONGNUO 50mm F / 1.4 review.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

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Comments: 67, on the topic: Review YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II

  • Alexey de Paris

    Wonderful review with great sample photos. Not a fan of the brand but have not yet seen a single bad lens from this company.

    • koba

      You have a great sense of humor! The company itself saw a lot of its own bad lenses, in China itself in a year it will probably be possible to buy such a BU lens in the region of $ 25 ...

  • Novel

    What is the focal length for crop 1,6?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      80mm, this information is in the review:

      The EGF for Canon APS-C cameras is 80 mm

  • Valentine

    The review is excellent. I understand less and less about Yongnuo. To copy the first version for Canon (no longer protected by a patent) is understandable (not very high quality, but very cheap). Then making a modified and very solid one for Nikon (although a little more expensive) is also understandable. But after a while, it's not clear to make all the same filling for Canon again, but without completely removing the shortcomings of the first version. Wanting to charge a little more money for a new design and a metal lens mount? Perhaps pointing out systematic focus misses spoiled my impression. And, perhaps, it is due to the fact that for these cameras there are no firmwares with later versions of lenses, and the YN50 II just imitates one of the missing models (therefore, it does not need a USB port). But still, there was an impression of an unfinished thing. Sharpness on the originals, as it is written, does not shine (when converted and very strong amplification, the picture returns to normal).
    Yonguno's other contradictions are also difficult to explain. A very cool lineup of optics and accessories is emerging, which, it would seem, should give good sales and earnings indicators. But why is there still no human site, no correct documentation, no adult distribution with a guarantee and service. Everything is somehow not completed, it is not brought to civilized standards. I saw an SLR camera on their website - well, too, a more controversial solution still needs to try to come up with (EF optics, micro 4/3 sensor, no pens, no visual controls for shooting - only wi-fi from the phone ...).

    • Valentine

      Correction: not "SRL camera", but a camera for DSLR optics. The instruction on the camera (!) Simply amazed me with its brevity: http://yongnuoebay.com/gw/YN43sm.pdf

    • Arkady Shapoval

      This is not an SLR camera, but a mirrorless module for a smartphone.

      • Valentine

        Yes, I got better. It’s just that the analogs are made at least with a certain logic (for example, a micro 4/3 sensor for a native mirrorless micro 4/3 optics). There is also a micro 4/3 sensor (crop factor 2), and full-frame optics with a Canon mount. And the compensation of the canon working segment will no longer make the module compact. Still, from which side do not look, but the decision is controversial.

        • Arkady Shapoval

          Not only full-frame, you can put here with the native EFS mount for the crop, and third-party optics for the crop are already on the EF. If such a solution costs around $ 100, then it will turn out to be a very interesting toy.
          They do exactly EF, since they already have developments on EF (a bunch of their own lenses) and it is cheaper and easier than Nikon because of focus motors and aperture. And so with Canon EF theoretically complete compatibility. And under 4/3 they would have to invent new firmware and stuff. But he did not hold this YN43 in his hands, therefore, perhaps, it will remain a prototype.

          • Valentine

            It's like that. Only the M4 / 3 sensor with ef / efs optics is a little strange. Since you have efs optics, put the aps-c sensor, but in compactness you have already lost. Or if you decided to make an m4 / 3 camera, make it under the m4 / 3 mount - there are a lot of optics for this and autofocus (albeit not yours yet), and even manual through adapters and speedboosters is simply a huge number and a field for experiments. And then the ease of use of such a thing is questionable, even for leisurely
            wow man.

            • Arkady Shapoval

              Need to wait for the price tag.

    • koba

      Valentine! I live and work in China for the past 12 years. What you are talking about, in all likelihood, is the problem of extremely low costs in every Chinese company for the development of the company itself, for the continuous improvement of something, etc. What’s so iongnuo, I know companies that earn hundreds of millions of dollars, but they also don’t have a normal site, and nobody even thinks what will happen tomorrow. Therefore, I also saw the empty buildings of the former rather large companies and even companies of a national scale. By and large, due to certain traditions and approaches to the philosophy of production itself, Chinese factories do not particularly care about their future, everyone is imbued only with momentary incomes, often even large companies do not even have one specialist in developing the company itself, usually it is decided by the owner or a director in his head and imagination, and if someone tells them that you need to at least allocate $ 15000 a year for this (but in general it’s ridiculous money for large companies)

  • Stepan

    “The gallery below was taken with a YONGNUO LENS YN50mm F1.8 II lens, a Canon Digital Rebel XTi camera (aka Canon EOS 400D Digital, aka Canon EOS Kiss Digital X) and these autofocus macro rings.” - the link to the macro ring does not open. If possible - correct, please. I'm interested :)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      The link is checked and is working.

      • Stepan

        Thanks. This is my absurdity - it did not open in Mozilla Firefox, opened in Vivaldi. Order.

  • Andrey Vyunenko

    Just the other day I saw on Avito an advertisement for the sale of this lens, a new one! For 2500 rubles.! For the time being I thought it was bought))) -:

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Apparently someone didn’t go to a specific camera.

  • Alexey

    Thank you for the review, informatively но) but the Kenon 400d and Kenon 450d have the same 9-point focusing system)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Fixed

  • anonym

    Thanks for your review. Conclusion - Chinese trash

  • Denis

    in my opinion this one has become noticeably better
    pleasantly surprised that green chromaticity in bokeh is not visible in the photo at all

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I would not say that optically there are significant improvements.

  • Dmitriy

    It is interesting that they stuffed it into the lens, so that with a constant design, the diameter of the filter had to be increased to 58. It was greasy somehow for a fifty-fifty average aperture.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      They learned from Nikon to inflate the body (this, if anything, is a direct reference to Nikon 58 / 1.4G)

  • Onotole

    What other lens is there - look what eyes!

    • Н

      The grasshopper has unusual eyes.

      • Charles

        And it's dark inside :)

  • Sergei

    Afftor! Well, do not shoot vertical frames! And not relevant, and takes out when viewing!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      In contrast to the video shooting, the vertical orientation in photography, it is often called portrait orientation, is an indispensable element in creating a composition, in particular, for the same portrait.
      As for the irrelevance of portrait orientation - for the first time I have heard this in many years of my practice, please explain this statement.
      As for "it gets when viewing" - this is already the personal preferences of each individual user, but I see such a remark for the first time in 10 years of the site's operation.
      Thank you.

      • Valentine

        Probably, the videographer wrote ...

  • Denis

    much better enlightenment of optics

    I'll do some fun: “the best” is a superlative degree, therefore there cannot be “better” :)
    more correct would be "much better quality"

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Fixed

  • Cryptor

    Hunt about Yong 1.4 to read)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      They promised to send me 50 1.4 for review. I don’t know when it will be.

  • Vladislav

    Somewhere there is a typo, or the 'not' is missing, or the ending:
    '4. It is known that the lens has problems with focusing accuracy by means of OVI in Canon 400D, 450D cameras. '

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Fixed

  • Engineer

    YN has been making overwhelming progress lately. This is confirmed by the release of three new autofocus lenses of very good quality - one super wide-YN14F2.8 and two fifty rubles: 50F1.8 (second version) and excellent 50F1.4 (I have it). A genius and purely psychological trick - knowing that the world is full of photo hamsters who simply whisker from the “magic” of the red ring (“elka”), but have never removed these over-praised “elks”, YN now puts red rings on its products ...

    • Arkady Shapoval

      For the Nikon variant, 14 / 2.8 also has a gold ring, an analogue of red in L-optics.

    • koba

      red is originally China's primary color. Where were others when China had red as its main state millennia ago. Do not forget that only in the 6th century AD the Japanese began to change some of the hieroglyphs to call their writing the Japanese letter, and before that, of course, they simply used Chinese. Even now, the Chinese and the Japanese cannot talk directly, but they communicate perfectly with the help of letters. And not only poems, novels and philosophical treatises are devoted to the red color in China. If you look at the history of lens production in China (3-4 other companies operate here and now and produce Chinese versions of the box, that is, the old Zeiss and these manual lenses, as the owners say, are just excellent) and more than once they put red edging on them, and on everything anything here. It should also be borne in mind that in the modern world, more than half of the sales of photographic equipment manufacturing companies are in China, somewhere more, somewhere less, and with a red border there will be more sales. Red uvet here as well as in Japan is associated with tea, in China and Japan black tea, as we call it, is called red tea, and the colors associated with tea are the closest and most respected. In second place is yellow, and here you are, the color from Nikon and other Azist manufacturers. And then others like blue, green, etc.

  • anonym

    Announced white.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Thanks, added

  • Ivan Nikolaevich

    somehow
    https://youtu.be/PYqvR0i1fdw

  • matrix_mentor

    Great review, thanks! When I saw the difference in price with the 1st version I thought that suddenly it was better ... I got a new one from my hands for 1r in cellophane ... I just started taking a photo (canon 2500d) and that is a feeling that this lens is a bit wrong ... It also works on that thanks, but I have a good Chinese phone, which is no worse than an iPhone 200 (by years of production), while the price difference is not less than 6 times ... And it’s strange with such a quality phone, to see a cloned lens in this design ... they just realized that it is possible to make lenses at all and at least in a couple of years they will come to the range and quality (at least by analogy with xiaomi phones) ???

  • darkwalker

    The developers report that the updated lens retains “all the advantages” of the first version, while receiving a new design and lens coating technology. “By improving the mechanical structure and technology of spraying, we got an increase in accuracy, autofocus speed and light transmission,” says Yongnuo. "In addition, control is provided for halos and glare in the backlight."

    • Arkady Shapoval

      The new enlightenment does not in any way give the lens a new focusing logic. In addition, the new enlightenment is felt very weakly, it is simply impossible to feel the difference in "light transmission" by touch. And the laboratory 1-2% is not particularly needed by anyone in this price range.
      By the way, the above improvements can be found in section about differences from the previous version.

  • Sergei

    Greetings. The most important question for me is changing: is it worth it to overpay for the second given version of the lens or take the first version of this lens?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I would not overpay.

      • Alexander

        Now on Ali he is 60 ye against 45 ye for the old. Not such an overpayment.

        • Arkady Shapoval

          Also true

  • Vladimir

    Thanks for the site. But IMHO p. 3 of the disadvantages you need to transfer to the advantages, since the diameter of the filter corresponds to the whale lens, therefore, it is not necessary to expand the range of filters

  • Sergei

    The choice among all versions is Canon 50 / 1.8 and Yungnuo: I will use the Sony A7P2 through the mc-11 adapter. If you do not look at the price, af. More interested in the curvature of the field (architecture), the resolution in the far field. Work in manual mode.

  • Vladimir

    I bought this lens for 6d. I like it in some places, but the front focus is such that I had to set the edit by as much as 20 units. After - it got better. Contradictory, but for my money, nice glass, even the newlyweds during a “walk” at -10 managed to shoot on the street, did not disappoint :) and most importantly - they liked that the background was blurred and all that)
    Dear Arkady, according to your feelings, because in your hands were both Yongnuo 50 1.4, and this instance of the second version, and especially Yongnuo 35 1.4. Buying the latter (overpaying $ 300), you just get a wider angle, or also a fundamentally different image quality?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      35 1.4 is a completely different lens, very different from 50 1.8 of the first and second versions. 35 1.4 aperture 1.4 is significantly better than 1.8 a fifty dollars. Option 50 1.4 is also significantly better than 50 1.8, but I don't see much point in changing 50 1.8 to 1.4.

  • Magda

    Kind people, help in any way you can, tell the Yongnuo kettle for taking pictures of animals and indoor sports. For the street, I have a Canon, on this site they recommended a 55-250 lens, I'm happy as an elephant, thank you, man. If you tell me with Yong for inside, I will be very grateful in advance.

    • B. R. P.

      For sports and other dynamics, a good af is needed, Yongnuo has nothing to do with it. Yes, and the zoom for the speakers is more convenient, you are like 55-250 on the street happy.

      • Magda

        Willingly I believe. And from canon for dynamic indoor photography (animals), what could you advise from your experience? 🙏

  • Thomas Irkutsk

    They are, of course, not expensive Yangnuo lenses, but I have the impression of the photographs taken with their help that they are all at dusk. Some kind of dark, even if done on a clear day.

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