Canon 50mm f/1.8 prime lens....
Discussion
OK, I'm big time into glass these days now that I have my 40D and I've got a 50mm f/1.8 prime in my sights right now.
It's the cheapest lens Canon do I believe, and at just £45 from the US, a bargain if ever there was one! I've heard the build quality of this lens is crap. Really crap and it feels like a toy rather than a lens, however I've also heard the optical quality is superb. Twice so considering the price!
So, I was wondering who has one and what are their experiences like with it? Should I save 4 times the amount and get a 50mm f/1.4 or should I ignore this and get the 1.8?
From my point of view it seems like a bargain buy and a nice prime lens addon for my collection. My next major lens purchase won't be until May next year (especially after realising the cost of the 70-200mm f/2.8L), so I'll have to make do in the meantime with my EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM until then.
If anyone has one 2nd hand that they no longer need, let me know and I'll buy it off you!
It's the cheapest lens Canon do I believe, and at just £45 from the US, a bargain if ever there was one! I've heard the build quality of this lens is crap. Really crap and it feels like a toy rather than a lens, however I've also heard the optical quality is superb. Twice so considering the price!
So, I was wondering who has one and what are their experiences like with it? Should I save 4 times the amount and get a 50mm f/1.4 or should I ignore this and get the 1.8?
From my point of view it seems like a bargain buy and a nice prime lens addon for my collection. My next major lens purchase won't be until May next year (especially after realising the cost of the 70-200mm f/2.8L), so I'll have to make do in the meantime with my EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM until then.
If anyone has one 2nd hand that they no longer need, let me know and I'll buy it off you!
beanbag said:
If anyone has one 2nd hand that they no longer need, let me know and I'll buy it off you!
Secondhand price is about the same as the new price! I don't think the extra for the 1.4 is worth it for most people. Better to get the 1.8 and put the saving towards something else.The 1.8 is a great lens for the price and for £45 you really can't go wrong. However, as people have mentioned the build quality is a little poor and there's a lot of play in the focusing - this is where the 1.4 would probably excel, apart from the wider aperture it has USM and I think it has a metal mount too.
theRossatron said:
The 1.8 is a great lens for the price and for £45 you really can't go wrong. However, as people have mentioned the build quality is a little poor and there's a lot of play in the focusing - this is where the 1.4 would probably excel, apart from the wider aperture it has USM and I think it has a metal mount too.
You are right in everything you said. However at £200+ it's not as cheap as the 1.8.In fact, some photographers call it a "disposable" lens!!!
Edited by beanbag on Friday 25th July 16:28
I got one for my 40D and it does look cheap and crap, but of hte pictures I've take recently many of the better ones came via the nifty fifty than my 17-85 zoom.
Put it like this I picked up my stupid FastPack bag the ther day and the zip was left open. Out dropped the 50 mm and my 40D with 17-85 attached - fook !
The camera and 17-85 were fine, but I can now tell you what the insides of the 50mm look like.
I ordered another 50 mm 1.8 from 7day shop the same evening.
My hand slipped and I added a 28 mm prime in the same order as well, but these things happen.
Put it like this I picked up my stupid FastPack bag the ther day and the zip was left open. Out dropped the 50 mm and my 40D with 17-85 attached - fook !
The camera and 17-85 were fine, but I can now tell you what the insides of the 50mm look like.
I ordered another 50 mm 1.8 from 7day shop the same evening.
My hand slipped and I added a 28 mm prime in the same order as well, but these things happen.
beanbag said:
Bought! 
You won't regret it. I don't think they come up 2nd hand too often, because it's such a good little lens for the money. Go to ISO400, and you can happily take great pictures indoors when others are struggling. And on a light-ish body, it makes it very easy to take the camera with you, when a larger zoom will be to omuch hassle.Ordinary Bloke said:
beanbag said:
Bought!
You won't regret it. I don't think they come up 2nd hand too often, because it's such a good little lens for the money. Go to ISO400, and you can happily take great pictures indoors when others are struggling. And on a light-ish body, it makes it very easy to take the camera with you, when a larger zoom will be to omuch hassle.This weeks purchases:
EF 17-40mm f/4L USM
EF 50mm f/1.8
Now all I need to do is start saving for that ruddy 70-200mm f/2.8L.....just $1600 to go.....
Greendubber said:
I have a nifty, it doesnt feel very solid and sounds like an angry wasp when it AF's but for £50 its a bargain and a half. Mad DOF too, quality little bit of kit, everyone should have one in their bag.
It's a great little lens - had one for a year or so. The only reason I upgraded to the 1.4 was because of the low light stuff I was doing for Beltane and such, so the extra stop is really handy. That stop and the difference in build quality make it apparent where the extra money is going though, I'm very pleased with it.ThatPhilBrettGuy said:
Vipers said:
was there a 1.8 I
Yes and some people think it's better optically than the MK2.Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff