Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II - DPChallenge Forums

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

05/31/2005 09:06:50 AM · #26

I like this lens. I have had it for a couple of weeks, and have been using it more and more. It is brilliant for forcing a shallow DoF and eliminating background in portraiture that would otherwise be distracting. The low Av numbers also help access the higher quality autofocus mode on the 20d.

It has made me seriously think about a couple more primes: I do tend to use my zoom lenses at either max or min stop, and could probably substitute some of them with relatively few prime lenses. But then I would be tempted to buy more bodies, and before I knew it, I would be a man mountain of walking camera equipment...

Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm f/1.7

05/31/2005 09:50:19 AM · #27

Everybody keeps talking about the low price. How much is it?

Minutia

05/31/2005 10:03:05 AM · #28

It's 119.00 CAD at Henrys.com

tryals15

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

05/31/2005 10:16:18 AM · #29

I got mine for $69.94US at amazon.com...

Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm f/1.7

05/31/2005 11:20:50 AM · #30

Is it this one? For 96â�¬ on Amazon marketplace (second hand).

tryals15

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

05/31/2005 11:25:33 AM · #31

Originally posted by gloda:

Is it this one? For 96â�¬ on Amazon marketplace (second hand).

Yes, that's the same one...

theSaj

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

05/31/2005 11:36:53 AM · #32

Originally posted by tryals15:

Are you saying they are less intemidated by a huge, white, monster of a lens than the 50mm? Surely not... =]

Actually, I was comforted by such lenses in the hands of photographers. Made me think it was a good camera setup with a good photographer and that they'll have a better eye for a good shot. So I relaxed more....

;)

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

05/31/2005 12:55:26 PM · #33

Is there a comparable lens among the cashback action which comes with the Canon 350D? I would like to profit of that coupon, but I'm not very familiar with lenses yet.

Prof_Fate

05/31/2005 01:19:07 PM · #34

Originally posted by gloda:

Is there a comparable lens among the cashback action which comes with the Canon 350D? I would like to profit of that coupon, but I'm not very familiar with lenses yet.

The closest you might find would be the 50mm 1.4 (lots more money) and the 85mm 1.8 (also lots more money).

kyebosh

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 80-200mm f/2.8L

05/31/2005 02:19:28 PM · #35

Originally posted by suemack:

How would it be for sports images? Been looking at that lens too.

I can't imagine it would be very useful for most sports unless you're really close to the action. the 70-200 is a lot more commonly used for sports along with the 85's and 100's not to mention 300+mm lenses! I'm sure it has a niche in sports but i can't think of one offhand :-/

Prof_Fate

05/31/2005 02:25:57 PM · #36

Originally posted by kyebosh:

Originally posted by suemack:
How would it be for sports images? Been looking at that lens too.

I can't imagine it would be very useful for most sports unless you're really close to the action. the 70-200 is a lot more commonly used for sports along with the 85's and 100's not to mention 300+mm lenses! I'm sure it has a niche in sports but i can't think of one offhand :-/

basketball maybe? I used a 50mm back in college for that. A fast lens is helpful as many times flash is not allowed, and if you are on the sides of the court 50mm is not too bad

scuds

Canon EOS-30D

05/31/2005 02:34:36 PM · #37

Originally posted by tryals15:

I got mine for $69.94US at amazon.com...

Is that brand new? If so I'll be buying it from there! In Brazil they charge twice the price for the same lens, and it's still cheap (compared to other lenses).

scuds

Canon EOS-30D

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

05/31/2005 02:53:06 PM · #38

Originally posted by scuds:

Originally posted by tryals15:
I got mine for $69.94US at amazon.com...

Is that brand new? If so I'll be buying it from there! In Brazil they charge twice the price for the same lens, and it's still cheap (compared to other lenses).

Great, amazon won't ship to Brazil! So much for my lens

Ram21

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

05/31/2005 02:59:28 PM · #39

Originally posted by yido:

I've been thinking about getting the lens too b/c it's sharp, fast, and cheap, but what do most people use it for? e.g. landscape, architecture, portraits, etc.
It seems to long for landscapes and architecture, too short for portraits and wildlife. I'm wondering what I would use it for.

I bought this lens for my Dad, we use it mostly for dark conditions, like when shooting at a church production, durring rehersal. Stuff like that mostly where you need the extra stops and don't want to pay for an expensive lens to get that.

Message edited by author 2005-05-31 15:00:54.

ty_roni

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

05/31/2005 03:08:45 PM · #40

This was taken with that lens

Picture This

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8-4 Compact High Speed Zoom for Nikon

05/31/2005 04:05:50 PM · #41

I just got mine last week (its Nikon though). Mine was 89.95 I believe, at B & H. And yes, brand new. Have only had a chance to shoot a few photos with it, but I suspect I will loveeeeeeeeee it forever :)

SteveJ

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

05/31/2005 04:20:32 PM · #42

I have this lens, it is a great little performer.

It really is amazing tho'...years ago when you bought a new SLR the 50mm lens came with it and it was called the standard lens. Everyone wanted to get rid of them cos they thought it was inferior. In fact, the standard lens was well made, sharp and cos they were part of the deal, they were very cheap due to the large numbers made.

Now, everyone who is anyone, wants to have the little beauty in their camera bag! What a funny old world!

Enjoy your 50mm f1.8's, you won't be disappointed.

Steve

06/01/2005 08:00:57 AM · #43

I'll get the 350D in two weeks or so, and it comes with a 18-55mm lens. Is it worth buying the 50mm, or are both lenses similar? Also, is he 50mm a good lens for beginners? From what I've read here it would fit my shooting habits more or less.

06/01/2005 01:42:44 PM · #44

Bump - I'm new to lenses and need some input. See my last post. Thanks!

MikeO

Fujifilm x100

06/01/2005 01:51:14 PM · #45

Originally posted by gloda:

Bump - I'm new to lenses and need some input. See my last post. Thanks!

For the money its unbeatable. Not certain what the Kit lens is like on the 350D but if its similar to the 300D Kit lens then its not the best, its ok but you cant compare the 300D Kit to the 50mm.

Mike

Message edited by author 2005-06-01 13:57:45.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

06/01/2005 01:53:48 PM · #46

Originally posted by gloda:

The 50mm f/1.8 is a lot faster and sharper than the 18-55 kit lens.

Matthew

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

06/01/2005 01:56:12 PM · #47

The 50mm is a very good lens in that it can be opened up very wide - Av 1.8. That means that you can take fast low light photos and photos that have a very shallow DoF. These are useful in particular for portraits, where isolating your subject using DoF becomes much easier.

The 18-55mm will be useful for a broad range of uses, but its biggest (lowest) aperture setting is nowhere near that of the 50mm prime lens. It is not as sharp either.

If you plan on taking portraits, the 50mm EF2 is great value. If you have some spare cash and want a second lens, this is an excellent purchase and fun to play with regardless. However, it might be something to buy when you have more of an idea what you feel you are missing from the kit lens: if you are about to go on safari, a long zoom might be a higher priority.

I would not listen to the (inevitable) L glass purists at this stage, unless you have a lot of cash to spare. Some will say to buy nothing bu L glass. While it is one option to save and save for lenses, you may be like me, who has far too many competing priorities to justify spending many hundreds many times over. If I had waited, I would have had a body without any lenses for quite a while by now.

Message edited by author 2005-06-01 13:56:57.

Prof_Fate

06/01/2005 01:58:55 PM · #48

Originally posted by gloda:

Bump - I'm new to lenses and need some input. See my last post. Thanks!

It depends...your budget and the types of pictures you take (or want to take).

There are generally 3 levels of quaity in lenses: consumer (roughly $100 or less), advanced amateur ($200-$500) and pro ($500 and up)
You have Canon glass, the L glass is the pro class, and it is generally white, weather sealed and expensive.
Sigma, Tamron and Tokina (among others) make lenses also. Figure 1/2 the cost of the canon equivelent, if there is one.

F stop - the lower the number, the 'faster' the lens (the better it will work in low light is the main advantage). Generally, faster is more money. The 50mm 1.8 is very fast, and inexpensive, so it is highly recomended.

Zoom vs Prime. THe 50mm is a prime lens - it has one focal length. The 18-55 is a zoom lens. Generally primes will give better picture quality and are faaster. You zoom with your feet.

ON a full frame 35mm camera, 50mm is the 'normal' focal length (it looks in a pic like it does to your eyes). Smaller mm is wider angle, larger is telephoto. ON a 1.6x crop camera like the 350, 32mm is 'normal'.

18 is the 'starndard' wide angle for a 1.6x crop camera. You can use the kit lens, or Sigma makes an 18-55 and a pro level 18-50 2.8 (i just got mine today).

The most popular class of standard zoom is the 28-80 (or 28-75, 24-70, etc - depends on brand and level of lens). I got a Tamron 28-80 3.5-5.6 for $70 instead of the kit lens. At 28mm the largest aperture i can get is 3.5. At 80mm the largest is 5.6. For nice shallow DOF you need wide apertures..so that lens does not do well there, especially when compared to the 50mm 1.8.

Telephoto - how much do you want or need? I have a Sigma 70-300 4-5.6 and it was under $200 new, and has macro capability. A very good lens, especially for the money. See the
moon pic in my portfolio.

Some people buy only Canon glass. I buy the best i can afford - regardless of brand. If i can make some money with my camera, then i can afford to get better glass, till then it is a hobby that competes with food for my kids on payday.

As you get more experience, you will probably want better glass. Better is difficult term to define - better as in speed, construction, prestige, color or warmth, contrast, distortion...there are many things to consider, and it is what is important to you that matters to you.

BTW, i have a friend with the 18-55 kit lens. nice. I went with the 28-80 cause it was cheaper and had more range. i figured on getting a bette wide angle lens later on. THe kit lens in the kit ia $100. YOu can get teh kit lenses, new or nearly so, on ebay for $70.