Last Updated on 03/18/2019 by Mark Beckenbach
If you’re on the hunt for affordable but really solid 50mm lenses, then this list will be tempting.
It’s tax time here in the US, and in continuing with our search for really affordable lenses and cameras we’ve found a number of great and cheap 50mm lenses for you to choose from. We’re trying to ensure that you don’t break the bank. Because we’re catering this to full frame shooters, you’re going to find a 50mm lens with glorious bokeh that you’re seriously going to love.
So let’s take a look at the list!
Sigma 50mm F1.4 Art
We really liked this lens, and for many photographers who upgraded it’s considered their ‘bread and butter’ lens. When it hit the market, it topped all of the sharpness charts along with Zeiss. Besides that, it has a bit of weather sealing built into it, gorgeous bokeh, and fast autofocus performance. It’s pretty much the standard for 50mm f1.4 lenses in the modern world. On this list of cheap 50mm lenses, it’s probably the highest-end option. Check out our review.
Buy Now (Used prices below $600): Amazon

Rokinon 50mm F1.4 (Sony FE)
We were really surprised at how good Rokinon’s 50mm f1.4 FE lens is. It has autofocus, which is rare for anything from Rokinon. But when you look at the image quality you can get along with the colors, sharpness, and bokeh at this price point you’re realizing very quickly that you can’t go wrong. It’s more expensive than a 50mm f1.8, but of all the cheap 50mm lenses on this list this is the one that really made our jaws drop. Check out our review.
Buy Now ($549): Amazon

Nikon 50mm F.8 S Z (Nikon Z)
This first offering for the Nikon Z mount has weather sealing along with really nice image quality. While we’re not as enthused with the camera system, we can’t knock the lenses for the system that much. They’re small, well performing, and at a decent price. Check out our review.
Buy Now ($596.95): Amazon
Canon 50mm F1.4 (Canon EF)
It’s now a very old lens, but the Canon 50mm f1.4 is still a good option for photographers who use DSLR cameras and want something small and affordable. The bokeh along with the overall image quality has a special character to it that has more or less been engineered out of most modern lenses. Due to its age, of course it’s making this list of cheap 50mm lenses. Check out our review.
Buy Now ($349): Amazon
7Artisans 50mm F1.1 (Leica M, Easily Adapted)
This lens by 7Artisans is nowhere near as expensive as a Leica lens, but to be fair it also doesn’t have Leica’s build quality or overall image quality. However, it is still no slouch and feels great in the hand with gorgeous image quality. When you look at the fact that it isn’t even $500, it of course deserves to be on this list of cheap 50mm lenses. Check out our review.
Buy Now ($359): Amazon