canon 50mm f1.8

[Josh66]

one of my favorite lens because of the price and the photo it can take! However, if you have couple more to spend, you should get the 1.4

is the 1.4 really worth the extra 200-300 bucks? I know it's better than the 1.8 but does the .4 aperture increase make it worth 4 times as much money?

Im a nub serious question...

Yes. It is. (IMO)

You're not just buying an extra third of a stop... (or whatever it is...)

Build quality is better, AF is better (USM), the aperture has more blades (=better bokeh), metal mount, easier to use focus ring, etc...

Every aspect of the lens is better, except for maybe image quality. From everything I've heard, the 1.4 and 1.8 are pretty much equal on image quality.


I'm not saying the 1.8 is bad, just that the 1.4 is better - and worth the extra cost, IMO.

If you have the budget, I would go for the 1.4, but if not - the 1.8 is a good lens too.

 

[subscuck]

From what I've been told, the 1.8 is pretty much on par with the 1.4 in terms of image quality. What you are paying for is better performance in terms of focusing and the superior build quality.

You've been told right. To get an optically superior lens, you have to step up to the 50L or Sigma 1.4. Bokeh is better on the non-L 1.4 than the 1.8, but bokeh is really overrated anyway, and newbs put far too much emphasis on it as criteria for lens buying. I'll take sharpness over marginally better bokeh anyday. JMO

 

[dak1b]

have fun w/ ur new 1.8! and hopefully it doesn't get stuck on your body or breaks.

 

[burstintoflame81]

I have the 1.4 and love it. Better build and super fast focus. Fast lenses also make the viewfinder brighter for composition and focusing...this is often not touched on. There are many journalists who like fast primes for that very reason. i also had the 85mm 1.8 which had great bokeh, fasr focus and also better built than the 50mm 1.8. All of these lenses are great with extension tubes also for macro.

 

[Robin Usagani]

The 1.4 has a metal mount. Im not sure if 1.8 does. Also you can manually focus it even when the AF is on. You cant do that on the 1.8 plus the manual focus is a little awkward.

 

[mmurfitt]

I had this lens, but sold it about a year ago. It was a real love hate relationship. I loved the lens, I loved using it, I loved the feel of it, but when the aperture was wide open the depth of field is so small I couldn't trust the shot to be 100% in focus, and as I'm a pro photographer I couldn't depend on it..which was a real pity, which is why I sold it.
I'm sure it was just me, but be careful when you're using it with the aperture wide open..
Other than that, it's awesome!

 

[Bryce]

My friend just got a canon camera and someone had that lense for sale for $75 never used and he ended up offering her $50 and she took it. He loves the thing and has gotten some nice shots with it. I tried it and it focused real quick on all targets and took great shots. I have heard there is a part on the inside that may fall off and jiggle in there. I thought the lense was a steal for the nice shots he gets.