I need help finding a new lens, please!

[o hey tyler]

If you have an iPhone, ipad, or iPod touch, there's an awesome app called "Nikon Lenses" that tells you everything you could want to know about all their lenses, from price to specs. It's pretty cool, check it out!

Sent from Erics iPhone Pittsburgh Wedding Photographers - Eric Porado Photography

WOW THAT IS PRETTY COOL BRO. Too bad it's totally useless for a Canon user. Which you would gather from the first post.

 

[dallasimagery]

It sounds like there's other things going on here than the lenese... the 50/1.8 has a stellar reputation as a fantastic lense. Some of my very favorite shots, I took with that lense:

 

[anything you synth]

okay, so this one was with my 50mm.

EXIF data

shutter speed - 1/125 sec

exposure program - manual

f-stop - f/5

aperture value - f/4.9

max aperture value - f/1.8

iso speed ratings: 100

focal length - 50m

metering mode - partial

no flash, etc.

 

[tyler_h]

Have you tried setting up on a tripod, using mirror lock up, timered release, and manual focus.

If you can do something like this shooting a ruler etc longwise you can try to focus on a particular mark and determine if this is the issue. If you don't have a tripod and sturdy surface or a bean bag to support the camera will do. This way you can eliminate a lot of the causes of soft images to test your lenses with your body. Try this at ~f/5.6-8 (typical sharpest range of lenses) and keep your ISO at 100 (tripod/etc will allow for the longer shutter speed).

 

[anything you synth]

I will try those steps to see what the problem is, but I think manual focus is out of the question with the 50mm....

 

[tyler_h]

I will try those steps to see what the problem is, but I think manual focus is out of the question with the 50mm....

Sure, its not a brilliant (understatement of the century) focusing ring, but I've liked and kept more MF than AF shots with it. It's AF isn't real good and does tend to miss a bit, I know mine does.

With static subjects at least; one thing you can try is shooting a burst while slowly adjusting the focus. That way if you are a little out in the first shot the next or the one after that might be the keeper. The 50 will be relatively soft at 1.8 regardless, but 2.8 through 11ish is typically pretty good and would be deemed usable to most.

Have you dropped either lens? cause the construction isn't very sturdy and this can cause misalignment of elements which will significantly degrade image quality.

 

[riverstone images]

That was my first question too, are you using a tripod? For those tack sharp photos, a tripod is essential and you will need to turn off the IS - although the 50D does not have that option I'm pretty sure.

 

[Dao]

- Your photo seems to be a little underexposed. Underexposed photo usually has more digital noise and the image may not look as sharp as the one which has less noise.

- If you were not using the panning technique, 1/125 shutter maybe (it depends how fast the person on the bicycle moved) a little slow. Maybe need at least 1/250 or 1/500 to avoid motion blur.

Take a look at this link Canon Photo Shooting - Techniques

 

[ghache]

I recently got a tamron 17-50 2.8 (The non VC version is suposed to be sharper and has basicly no problem compared to the new VC version) and i really like the lens, its fast, decently built, and its SHARP and the contrast of that lens is really nice. color rendition is also nice, Focus is a tad slow but nothing to worry about.

I got it since i was tired of haulling my other heavy lens (24-70, 70-200)and i would probably kill myself if i break it at a party, camping or whatever. I have 50 1.8 but its not a great walk around lens if you plan on shooting landscape.
I highly recommend it.

Here a test shot i did with the lens (iso 3200)
46mm wide open at F2.8

I think it creates a really nice out of focus background.
it has a bit of distortion at 17mm but its gone at 20mm.
barelly noticeable vignetting,
sharp wide open in every focal range.



I might have gotten a really sharp copy but i wouldnt esitate a second doing portrait for clients with that lens.

 

[dallasimagery]

THe thing I don't like about lenses like tamron and such is the AF isn't usually near as good as Canon's. I had the tammy 28-70 for a while and the quality was good but the af was piss poor.

 

[gsgary]

I recently got a tamron 17-50 2.8 (The non VC version is suposed to be sharper and has basicly no problem compared to the new VC version) and i really like the lens, its fast, decently built, and its SHARP and the contrast of that lens is really nice. color rendition is also nice, Focus is a tad slow but nothing to worry about.

I got it since i was tired of haulling my other heavy lens (24-70, 70-200)and i would probably kill myself if i break it at a party, camping or whatever. I have 50 1.8 but its not a great walk around lens if you plan on shooting landscape.
I highly recommend it.

Here a test shot i did with the lens (iso 3200)
46mm wide open at F2.8

I think it creates a really nice out of focus background.
it has a bit of distortion at 17mm but its gone at 20mm.
barelly noticeable vignetting,
sharp wide open in every focal range.



I might have gotten a really sharp copy but i wouldnt esitate a second doing portrait for clients with that lens.

How fast were those bananas going

 

[dandaluzphotography]

okay, so this one was with my 50mm.

EXIF data

shutter speed - 1/125 sec

exposure program - manual

f-stop - f/5

aperture value - f/4.9

max aperture value - f/1.8

iso speed ratings: 100

focal length - 50m

metering mode - partial

no flash, etc.

Hi,

1/125th for someone riding a bike? I don't think this is fast enough. For a portrait shot, sure, but to freeze motion (if this is what you're after)? No way. The picture will look exactly like what you've posted.

Danny

 

[ghache]

I recently got a tamron 17-50 2.8 (The non VC version is suposed to be sharper and has basicly no problem compared to the new VC version) and i really like the lens, its fast, decently built, and its SHARP and the contrast of that lens is really nice. color rendition is also nice, Focus is a tad slow but nothing to worry about.

I got it since i was tired of haulling my other heavy lens (24-70, 70-200)and i would probably kill myself if i break it at a party, camping or whatever. I have 50 1.8 but its not a great walk around lens if you plan on shooting landscape.
I highly recommend it.

Here a test shot i did with the lens (iso 3200)
46mm wide open at F2.8

I think it creates a really nice out of focus background.
it has a bit of distortion at 17mm but its gone at 20mm.
barelly noticeable vignetting,
sharp wide open in every focal range.



I might have gotten a really sharp copy but i wouldnt esitate a second doing portrait for clients with that lens.

How fast were those bananas going

They were going pretty slow at 425 degree baking in my banana bread the very same night haha

 

[Dao]

I recently got a tamron 17-50 2.8 (The non VC version is suposed to be sharper and has basicly no problem compared to the new VC version) and i really like the lens, its fast, decently built, and its SHARP and the contrast of that lens is really nice. color rendition is also nice, Focus is a tad slow but nothing to worry about.

I got it since i was tired of haulling my other heavy lens (24-70, 70-200)and i would probably kill myself if i break it at a party, camping or whatever. I have 50 1.8 but its not a great walk around lens if you plan on shooting landscape.
I highly recommend it.

Here a test shot i did with the lens (iso 3200)
46mm wide open at F2.8

I think it creates a really nice out of focus background.
it has a bit of distortion at 17mm but its gone at 20mm.
barelly noticeable vignetting,
sharp wide open in every focal range.



I might have gotten a really sharp copy but i wouldnt esitate a second doing portrait for clients with that lens.

How fast were those bananas going

They were going pretty slow at 425 degree baking in my banana bread the very same night haha

How fast? It depends on how many hungry monkeys inside your kitchen.