Canon RF "nifty fifty" coming soon?! Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 is registered

Canon RF "nifty fifty" coming soon?! Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 is registered
(Image credit: Canon)

No matter whether you shoot with Canon or Nikon, is there a more iconic lens than a 50mm f/1.8? With a standard focal length that can capture anything from portraits to landscapes (in a pinch), a fast maximum aperture that lets in plenty of light, a compact and lightweight build that doesn't take up too much room in your kitbag and, most importantly, a price tag that doesn't cost the earth, the nifty fifty is a fantastic all-rounder.

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 is a well-loved lens by Canon DSLR users, but those who have made the migration over to the Canon RF mount haven't had a mirrorless equivalent as of yet.

• Read more: Best Canon RF lenses

However, could that all be about to change? News of a Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM have been circling on the horizon for a while, with some speculating that we could even be seeing the lens appear at some point in 2020. The rumors had gone quiet recently, but a recent post on rumor website Canon Watch shows that the RF 50mm f/1.8 is still on its way.

Apparently, two lenses with the SKUs 4514C005 and 4515C005 have recently been registered. Canon Watch posits that the '4514C005' refers to the upcoming Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM, after a patent for a variety of designs for an RF 50mm f/1.8 was previously spotted.

It seems unlikely that the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM will appear in 2020, with the main announcement season on its last legs and with big sales opportunities such as Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday just over the horizon. We wonder whether we'll be seeing this Canon RF nifty fifty appear at some point in early 2021 – but we can only wait and see!

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Louise Carey

With over a decade of photographic experience, Louise arms Digital Camera World with a wealth of knowledge on photographic technique and know-how – something at which she is so adept that she's delivered workshops for the likes of ITV and Sue Ryder. Louise also brings years of experience as both a web and print journalist, having served as features editor for Practical Photography magazine and contributing photography tutorials and camera analysis to titles including Digital Camera Magazine and  Digital Photographer. Louise currently shoots with the Fujifilm X-T200 and the Nikon D800, capturing self-portraits and still life images, and is DCW's ecommerce editor, meaning that she knows good camera, lens and laptop deals when she sees them.