Experience in the use of the lens YongNuo YN EF 50 mm F1.8

It is believed that a picture taken with the lens focal length is approximately equal to the diagonal of the frame, will look most natural for human perception. Such a lens is called “normal.” It is necessary to clarify that in fact the normal focal length for a film / matrix size 24×36 mm is 43 mm. But this does not prevent the lens with a focal length of 50 mm was to become mandatory, according to most photographers, photographic element in the set. It is worth mentioning about the “equivalent focal length” lens for full frame cameras with no matrix (crop-camera): Fekv = F * Crop factor. In this case, since we continue to go about the system Canon EOS, then Fekv = F * 1.6 (50 * 1.6 = 80 mm).

I am sure that all enjoying photographic equipment Canon sign one of the most popular lenses of this manufacturer – Canon EF 50mm f / 1.8 II. It was he who most often acquired immediately after purchase “reflex”. Its low price and high aperture ratio obtained for this price, left no doubt the “rookie” in the ranks under the banner of Canon.

Manufacturer from China YongNuo, well known for his on-camera flashes, on-camera LED (LED) lamps, sinhonizatorami flares and various accessories to them, rapidly expanding range of products, entering the ranks of manufacturers of optical devices. It all started recently with the release of teleconverters under the name «YongNuo». Their quality and ease of use while I can not say. The next step was the release of the lens. They became YN EF 50mm f / 1.8, looks very similar to the above-mentioned Canon EF 50mm f / 1.8 II. In fairness, it should be noted that until recently, the model flares from YongNuo, well, very reminiscent of the flash from Canon.

Lens YN EF50mm f / 1.8 at the end of 2014 is not officially sold in our country, so it was purchased through the service Ebay in China (at the time of purchase, in December 2014, its price was 3300 rubles.). And therefore, to evaluate the difference in cost can only be compared YN EF 50mm f / 1.8, bought there, with Canon EF 50mm f / 1.8 II, sold here. YN EF 50mm f / 1.8 was cheaper than about 700 rubles. It is not critical, but it’s nice, especially as a percentage of the purchase price.

His body and mount made of plastic. In size lens YN little more Canon: 73×55 mm and 68.6h40.6 mm respectively. The diameter of the filter for both is 52 mm.

Anti-reflective coating on the lenses present, what they say reflect purple and green colors.

Aperture blades in glass from YongNuo two more compared to said lens from Canon. Through this lens bokeh looks advantageous form of light sources in the image closer to the circle, because the aperture is in the form of a heptagon, not the pentagon, like lens Canon (because of these pentagons on a photo taken with a Canon EF 50mm f / 1.8 II, its many and criticized).

Needless to say, that we are an ultrasonic auto-focus drive is not. Motor in the lens, making noise, reminiscent of the crunch, it is smartly suggests sharpness. Yes, this noise could spoil the mood to anyone who takes the camera video, but not particularly worried about when taking pictures. But the quality of the AF was an unpleasant surprise. When used with not a full frame camera Canon 40D, Canon 450D noticeable error autofocus. First, even thought it was a stable front focus (focus falls on an area which is closer to the camera than the one on which the focus point is shown in the viewfinder or on the camera). But by taking some statistical sampling is easy to see that there are pictures with sharp focus and autofocus misses can be as one, and the other way, but with a predominance of the effect of the front focus. And then immediately remembered the experience of using the lens Canon EF 50mm f / 1.8 II, which once I had. In this model, but will not let me lie fellow photo, cases with precision AF never went well. It is believed that the cause of the error in the operation of the system autofocus lens design features are associated with the direction of the maximum decrease in its value. For this reason, the developer does not have potential service program alignment. Everything to simplify and reduce the cost. True, I heard that someone was lucky, and the lens is always exactly focused. I think this is a real stroke of luck coincidence features autofocus those elements that are in the camera, with autofocus drive features present in the lens. But it’s all about the other lens, which is so similar to the subject, and to give them full and detailed comparison is not possible.

Returning to YN 50mm f / 1.8. AF error that occur when using a lens with no full frame cameras Canon 40D, Canon 450D, become completely indecent, when you install the lens on a full-length machine Canon 5D Mark III. This is understandable, because the value of the depth of field (DOF) is inversely proportional to the size of the photosensitive member unit (matrix or film). In this case, the larger diagonal of the matrix, the smaller the depth of field. That’s why all the more obvious inaccuracies focus.

Another annoyance was the failure of the lens to focus the use of cameras Canon 40D and Canon 5D Mark III mode LiveView. And, if in respect of 40D, as the first SLR camera Canon, in which the opportunity to focus mode LiveView, with all the features of the “first pancake” in this area could be something similar to assume that when working with “dimes” nothing to expect and it never occurred. Drive the lens works, trying to lock on sharpness, but after a round-trip stops without completing the job.

In any case, to assess the quality of the image produced by this lens, translate two-position switch on the lens to manual focus (AF – MF). Focusing ring YN EF 50mm f / 1.8, as well as ring Canon EF 50mm f / 1.8, as well as the vast majority of modern ring autofocus lenses for digital cameras, has a small stroke that makes it extremely difficult achieving focus manually.

Below are pictures taken with the camera: Canon 450D, Canon 40D, Canon 5D Mark III, using lenses YongNuo YN EF 50mm f / 1.8 and Pentacon 50mm f / 1.8 (with adapter M42 – EOS EF).

The difference in the viewing angles due to the size differences “working segments” cameras Canon EOS (44 mm) and camera type Practika screw mount lenses M42, which was created this lens (44,7 mm).

To summarize, it must be admitted that, despite some structural differences, which can be assessed without disassembling the lens (a larger number of aperture blades, the presence of the four screw mounts on the end of the lens barrel side mount) compared with the same lens from Canon, name objects YongNuo YN EF 50mm f / 1.8 optics innovation in the ranks does not work. And it’s not so much in the resemblance, but in similarity problematic issues in their work. The lens of a series of the most inexpensive, for which he can forgive a lot, but if in the same sentence to express my impression of the work with him, it would be “not credible.” I would not have chosen it for sequential shooting celebration or an important event, where it is important not to miss the moment, which need the speed and accuracy of focus. For a leisurely portrait shooting, when you can adjust the focus manually, the subject is also not the best choice, because, as mentioned earlier, manual focus constructively organized uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, at the moment the workmanship and on-camera flash units, the LED light at YongNuo higher than the quality of the lenses. But production in China is developing comprehensively and with incredible speed. 10 years ago I had not heard of the company YongNuo. And there is no doubt that in the near future there will be new objectives of this manufacturer. There has been the announcement of the imminent YongNuo YN EF 50mm f / 1.4, which, judging from the photos on the network, again strangely similar to the Canon EF 50mm f / 1.4. And I want to believe that the manufacturer will be able to raise the level of manufactured goods and save on auto-focus elements in the least.

Experience in the use of the lens YongNuo YN EF 50 mm F1.8