50mm f/1.8 of f/1.4

[PhotographyIsConfusing]

Whats better to buy a 50mm f/1.8 or save a little more for a 50mm f/1.4. Or should I buy a 85mm f/1.8?

 

[AlexColeman]

85 will be telephoto.
It all depends on your needs, you have to value whether the time without the 50 is worth the F1.4, or you want it now.

 

[redtippmann]

hi I have the 50mm f/1.8 Nikkor lens and I am very happy with the quality and the price. I used the extra money for a nice bag. But I am not sure what camera you shoot but if you are like me and use a D50 with this lens it will be like having a 75mm lens which can be nice.

 

[dtornabene1]

Not sure if you are talking about a Canon or Nikon, however if you are talking about Canon, it's a easy; wait for the f/1.4. The 85 is a great lens, but more so for a full frame sensor.

I like the 50mm f/1.8 a lot because it is a cheap lens that is fast. With that said, the f/1.4 if much better glass and construction.

I personally own the 50mm f/1.2 L USM and the 85mm f/1.2 L II USM. These are some of the finest lenses made. In my opinion, the 50mm f/1.4 is a great bargain. You'll save close to $1,000 at get amazing photographs though.

-Nick

 

[redtippmann]

yea I was talking about Nikkor and the only reason i got it was because it was a Nikkor and only like 100 bucks and I wanted a good fast lens and that's what i got.

 

[dtornabene1]

yea I was talking about Nikkor and the only reason i got it was because it was a Nikkor and only like 100 bucks and I wanted a good fast lens and that's what i got.

Got it, sorry. I'm sure the price points are the same either way. The Canon 50mm f/1.8 is only about $90. Same sort of deal.

-Nick

 

[PhotographyIsConfusing]

I shoot Canon. I have a Rebel 2000 and EOS 350D(Rebel XT). I want this lens to replace my off brand kit lens and to shoot mostly portraits. 't know ho

Also I don't know anything about cropped senors or anything. Just that 35mm is full. Can someone explain?

 

[redtippmann]

to the best of my knowledge there are high, medium, and small format cameras. from the little research i did the XT has a sensor size of 3.28 cm2 so that would fall into the small format range(correct me if im wrong) so that would turn a lens that is made for 35mm into a lens with a farther focal point of lets say 50mm into a lens around 75mm.

My sensor size is 3.67cm2 and have a 50mm lens and on my camera it now is a 75mm so I would think your would be similar.

 

[Dao]

I shoot Canon. I have a Rebel 2000 and EOS 350D(Rebel XT). I want this lens to replace my off brand kit lens and to shoot mostly portraits. 't know ho

Also I don't know anything about cropped senors or anything. Just that 35mm is full. Can someone explain?

Personally, if cost is a main factor, I will gear more getting both 50mm F/1.8 with 85mm F/1.8.

Maybe a used 50mm F/1.8 MK1 with a used 85mm F/1.8 (if you can find them in good condition and good price) I do not have the 85mm yet, but I just like the result I saw from photos taken with the 85mm F/1.8. Especially the background when compared with 50mm as well as the lesser perspective distortion with the longer telephone lens.

Cropped sensors usually refer to sensors that are smaller than the Full Framed sensors or 35mm film size.

 

[Dao]

to the best of my knowledge there are high, medium, and small format cameras. from the little research i did the XT has a sensor size of 3.28 cm2 so that would fall into the small format range(correct me if im wrong) so that would turn a lens that is made for 35mm into a lens with a farther focal point of lets say 50mm into a lens around 75mm.

My sensor size is 3.67cm2 and have a 50mm lens and on my camera it now is a 75mm so I would think your would be similar.

Technically, the focal length of the lens will not change when you use it in the FF/35mm Film camera or a cropped sensor body. It is that the light capture area is smaller in the cropped sensor body than in the FF/35mm film camera. As a result, the field of view is smaller in the cropped body with the same focal length.

So, the different is only the field of view. Other characteristics will basically the same. i.e. Perspective distortion

 

[andrew99]

I have a 50 f1.8 (Nikon). Amazing image quality for the price. But I always found myself backing into walls when shooting at home, so I recently picked up a 35mm f2.0, which I am really liking (it never left my camera over the Christmas holidays). You do get a slight amount of wide-angle distortion when shooting people, but I love it. When the warm weather comes, and I am shooting outside more, I'd like to get the 85mm prime also. Btw, I shoot with a crop sensor camera, which I think is important for people to mention when talking about these primes.