Yongnuo YN50mm f.8
Score: 70/100
Lightdow 85mm Portrait Lens
Score: 66/100Rankings
The Yongnuo YN50mm f/1.8 for Canon EF is an ultra-light, budget-friendly fast prime that delivers solid central sharpness. Its drawbacks include a plastic build, flare at wide apertures, and lack of image stabilization. Ideal for budget-conscious portrait and low-light shooters who value size and price over premium durability.
The Lightdow 85mm f/1.8 is an affordable, all-metal manual-focus portrait lens for Canon EF mounts with a bright aperture and smooth 8-blade bokeh. It lacks autofocus and image stabilization, and its corner sharpness is softer at wide apertures. Best suited for manual-focus enthusiasts seeking budget-friendly portrait optics.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
50 mm | 85 mmbest | |
1.8best | 1.8best | |
| ↓ lower better | 0.45 mbest | 0.85 m |
| ↓ lower better | 119 gbest | 430 g |
7 | 8best | |
0.2best | — | |
6best | 6best | |
5 | 6best |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Compatibility(1) | ||
Mount Compatibility | Full-frame, APS-C | Canon EF/EF-S |
Features(2) | ||
Autofocus Type | DC | None |
Focus Type | Auto | Manual |
Optics(5) | ||
Focal Length (mm) | 50 mm | 85 mm |
Minimum Focus Distance (m) | 0.45 m | 0.85 m |
Number of Optical Groups | 5 | 6 |
Diaphragm Blades | 7 | 8 |
Coating | Multi-coated | Ultra Multi Coating (UMC) |
Build & Design(3) | ||
Filter Thread Size (mm) | 52 mm | 72 mm |
Weight (g) | 119 g | 430 g |
Length (mm) | 83 mm | 110 mm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Yongnuo YN50mm f/1.8 line for its lightweight construction, fast quiet DSM autofocus (in newer mounts), and surprisingly high sharpness-especially the Fuji Pro's 11-element design. They also note the budget clones' brittle plastic build and the tendency to flare wide open, while praising the value proposition against native lenses.
Everyday users love the lens for its sharpness, bokeh and ultra-light weight, calling it a superb value for portrait and low-light work. Common complaints revolve around the cheap plastic feel of the budget versions, flare and corner softness at f/1.8, and occasional AF hunting in low light.
Professional reviewers acknowledge the Lightdow 85mm f/1.8's solid metal construction and pleasing bokeh, crediting its aspherical and ED elements for good color fidelity and flare control. However, they point out the lack of autofocus and softer edge performance as significant drawbacks compared with native Canon lenses.
Consumers appreciate the lens's sharp portrait output, creamy bokeh, and lightweight feel for the price, but many struggle with the manual-focus workflow, encounter shutter-lock quirks, and note the limited close-focus capability and corner softness when shooting wide open.
