50mm f/1.4 or f/1.8

[jdsfighter]

I'm looking to start a lens collection pretty soon, and I'm thinking of getting a 50mm as my first. As an employee at Best Buy, I get some nice discounts, as well as a few employee perks.

Here's the dilemma I'm facing currently, I'm not entirely sure what my niche is yet. I love landscape photography, but I also like photographing people and animals. So as I'm settling into my calling, I want to get a base set of tools together to help me.

Next month, I have a shoot with some other local photographers, we're going to Downtown Tulsa to capture some nice HDR photos as well as just some general photos.

My 2 options are as follows:
Canon f/1.8 50mm
Canon f/1.4 50mm

Now here's the catch, if I get the 1.8, I can get it brand new for free today. However, if I get the 1.4, I can pick it up for $200-$250, but I'm not sure if I'll have the money to get it for about another month or 2 (budget is limited right now).

So my thinking is, I should just grab the 1.8 for now, and when budget permits, go ahead and grab the 1.4, selling the 1.8.

Should I do this? Or just wait for the 1.4 and use my kit lens for now?

 

[pisicel]

Canon 50mm 1.8 is just some cheap plastic body. The lens is awful wide open.
I strongly suggest 1.4

 

[hukim0531]

My vote is for 50mm f1.4 also. Stopped down to f1.8, f1.4 lens will look much sharper, less hunting and faster focusing. Much better build quality also as pisicel mentioned.

 

[fjrabon]

I'm sort of confused. You can get the 50mm f/1.8 completely for free or you can wait and get the 50mm f/1.4 for $200-$250. Or you can get the 50mm f/1.8 free today and then buy the 50mm f/1.4 later?

Am I missing something here? You can get a free lens and the 50mm f/1.4 in a month, or you can get the 50mm f/1.4 in a month?

 

[jdsfighter]

If I get the 1.8, I'll be paying close to full retail for the 1.4, so it'll take me a couple extra weeks for the money. My real question, I guess is it worth grabbing the 1.8 just to experiement with, prior to dropping an extra $250 for the 1.4? Or just wait, get the 1.4 for about $150 off retail pricing.

 

[fjrabon]

If I get the 1.8, I'll be paying close to full retail for the 1.4, so it'll take me a couple extra weeks for the money. My real question, I guess is it worth grabbing the 1.8 just to experiement with, prior to dropping an extra $250 for the 1.4? Or just wait, get the 1.4 for about $150 off retail pricing.

ah ok, makes more sense now. It ends up being about the same effective discount of around $115 dollars off what most places charge for those lenses. The 50mm f/1.8 for *free* is a better 'deal' in that sense, but only if you actually want that lens.

 

[jdsfighter]

If I get the 1.8, I'll be paying close to full retail for the 1.4, so it'll take me a couple extra weeks for the money. My real question, I guess is it worth grabbing the 1.8 just to experiement with, prior to dropping an extra $250 for the 1.4? Or just wait, get the 1.4 for about $150 off retail pricing.

ah ok, makes more sense now. It ends up being about the same effective discount of around $115 dollars off what most places charge for those lenses. The 50mm f/1.8 for *free* is a better 'deal' in that sense, but only if you actually want that lens.

There's only 2 lenses I've ever worked with. The kit 18-55mm and the Canon 70-300m USM IS. So I'd like to experiment with it.

 

[SoCalTiger]

Apparently I need to get a weekend job at Best Buy. I didn't think the discount on camera equipment was that much.

Anyway, I currently have the 50mm 1.8 and I like it a lot. But, as other people said, AF isn't that great - it hunts, it isn't that fast and it is off frequently (AF isn't always right on target and there isn't full time MF to adjust it). I also find that the AF on the 50mm 1.8 is actually slower than the AF on the 18-55mm kit lens.

Regarding build quality - I don't think this is that big of an issue with the 50mm 1.8 as people make it out to be. It is just a cheap build compared to other lenses. I baby all my equipment anyway and mine still looks like new. I also do like how light it is. It also makes your DSLR look really inconspicuous - looks like a P&S Superzoom with it on.

That said -- I am planning on upgrading to either the Canon or Sigma 50mm 1.4 later this year. So, my advice is to just save up for the 50mm 1.4 in the first place.

 

[jdsfighter]

I went ahead and grabbed the f/1.8, as well as a 2 year accidental protection plan. I played with it a bit, and I'm satisfied with the auto focus and the aperature range. That being said, when I get enough for the 1.4, I'll be giving the 1.8 away (possibly on here), for free as I used my discount and can't technically sell it. Overall I think it's a decent lens for the price.

 

[SoCalTiger]

I went ahead and grabbed the f/1.8, as well as a 2 year accidental protection plan. I played with it a bit, and I'm satisfied with the auto focus and the aperature range. That being said, when I get enough for the 1.4, I'll be giving the 1.8 away (possibly on here), for free as I used my discount and can't technically sell it. Overall I think it's a decent lens for the price.

You could give it away free as long as the person pays you shipping plus a $80 "Handling" charge?

 

[jdsfighter]

I went ahead and grabbed the f/1.8, as well as a 2 year accidental protection plan. I played with it a bit, and I'm satisfied with the auto focus and the aperature range. That being said, when I get enough for the 1.4, I'll be giving the 1.8 away (possibly on here), for free as I used my discount and can't technically sell it. Overall I think it's a decent lens for the price.

You could give it away free as long as the person pays you shipping plus a $80 "Handling" charge?

Haha, I'm sure that could be arranged, but honestly, if I get another lens, I wont have any qualms about giving it away. Especially since I have the 2 year accidental coverage. Literally, no questions asked if I bring it in, smashed to bits, I just grab another off the shelf, and I'm on my way. Comes in handy.

 

[Espike]

You could also break the 1.8 in order to fulfill the BTP and help offset the cost of the 1.4. On accident of course...

 

[jdsfighter]

You could also break the 1.8 in order to fulfill the BTP and help offset the cost of the 1.4. On accident of course...

Uh oh, we have an insider XD

 

[Espike]

You could also break the 1.8 in order to fulfill the BTP and help offset the cost of the 1.4. On accident of course...

Uh oh, we have an insider XD

I know nothing!

 

[jdsfighter]

You could also break the 1.8 in order to fulfill the BTP and help offset the cost of the 1.4. On accident of course...

Uh oh, we have an insider XD

I know nothing!

You should know, come July it will no longer be BTP