Canon EF 50mm f/1.8
Score: 85/100
Panasonic LUMIX G Lens
Score: 60/100Rankings
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a compact, fast prime lens offering excellent sharpness and silent autofocus, making it a great value for beginners and vloggers, though its plastic construction and lack of a hood limit its professional appeal.
The Panasonic LUMIX G 25mm f/1.7 ASPH is a compact, fast-aperture prime that delivers sharp images and quiet AF, making it a strong value for Micro Four Thirds shooters. Its lack of IS and weather sealing keep it from harsher environments, but its portability and price are hard to beat.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
| ↓ lower better | 50 mm | 25 mmbest |
50 mmbest | 25 mm | |
| ↓ lower better | 1.8 f | 1.7 fbest |
| ↓ lower better | 159 gbest | 222 g |
| ↓ lower better | 111.3 mm | 82 mmbest |
| ↓ lower better | 35 cm | 25 cmbest |
0.21 xbest | 0.14 x | |
12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Mount & Compatibility(2) | ||
Mount Type | EF | Micro Four Thirds |
Autofocus Motor Type | STM | Stepper motor |
Optical(5) | ||
Focal Length (Min) (mm) | 50 mm | 25 mm |
Focal Length (Max) (mm) | 50 mm | 25 mm |
Maximum Aperture (f-number) (f) | 1.8 f | 1.7 f |
Minimum Focus Distance (cm) | 35 cm | 25 cm |
Maximum Magnification Ratio (x) | 0.21 x | 0.14 x |
Physical(3) | ||
Weight (g) | 159 g | 222 g |
Length (mm) | 111.3 mm | 82 mm |
Filter Thread Diameter (mm) | 49 mm | 46 mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers rate the lens highly for its performance-to-price ratio, praising its sharpness, compactness, quiet STM autofocus and smooth bokeh, while noting the plasticky feel and lack of a hood as drawbacks.
Everyday users love the affordability, sharpness and video-friendly autofocus, but complain about the cheap plastic build, missing hood and the quirky focus-by-wire behavior.
“Game-changer for portraits and low light.”
“So much sharper than the kit zoom.”
“Perfect for vlogging and YouTube-quiet focus and nice background blur.”
Professional reviewers praise the Panasonic 25mm F1.7 as one of the best value-driven primes for Micro Four Thirds, highlighting its sharpness, compactness, fast aperture, and quiet stepping motor for video.
Everyday users echo the experts, lauding the lens as a perfect walk-around option with strong low-light capability, fast and silent AF, and impressive sharpness. Common complaints focus on flare, the absence of weather sealing, and occasional focus quirks on older bodies.
