Sorry for so many questions, but i need help with lenses

[Ajlista]

Ive been doing lots of research the past couple of days, and i took advice from a thread i posted quite some time ago about upgrading to a 60d, i was told that for now, i should just stock up on lenses, before jumping to a new camera, which i'm going to do, but i also want to purchase lenses that i can use for photography, and future videography, which i would really love to get into. So now, ive been checking out this, Amazon.com: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens: Camera & Photo, for a while now, looking at reviews and such, and it almost seems to good to be true? That its only 109$ for such a good lens as its been reviewed
Would you guys think this is my best choice? Or could you recommend other lenses that could be better, for a not so high price, maybe in the range of 110-400

 

[MattK0138]

It's a common belief that everyone should own the nifty fifty it's a good lens. It's cheaper because it doesn't zoom. Your zoom is your feet. It's a good fast lens that most have in their kit.

 

[gwhiz]

I just recently got myself a t3i and was using the kit lens for about a month before I decided to start looking into additional lenses. The first one I picked up was the 50mm 1.8 and I couldn't be happier with it. I've taken shots of the exact same scene with both lenses and the difference is striking. The 50mm 1.8 has much better clarity, color and bokeh than the kit lens. I've put the kit lens back on one time since then, and only because I needed a wider field of view for a specific shot.

I would definitely pick one up as a first lens to compliment your setup. and like matt said, your zoom is your feet, you'll get used to it lol.

Good Luck!

 

[Dao]

To determine what lens is best for you, you need to know what you want to accomplish.

- If your currently setup do not allow you do take a decent photo of a bird on the tree, then you need to find out what camera gear that you can add to your existing setup to get the job done. A long telephoto lens maybe needed.
- If you want to take a breath take wide view of Grand Canyon, a wide angle/ultra wide angle lens maybe needed.
- If all the insect shots you took were boring because the insects were too small in the photo and you like to see more details of the insect you took, a macro lens maybe a good choice.
- If .....
- If .....


I think the best thing to do is ..... instead of buying a new lens because you want to buy a new lens, it should be find out what you like to do that you cannot do with your current setup, and how you can resolve it. And sometimes, it is accomplished by buying new equipment(s), knowledge and experience.

As for the EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens, it is a fine lens with limitations. If you know what to do with the lens, it is a great lens especially for the price. Best bang for the bucks.

 

[joealcantar]

Nifty 50 on a DX body like yours basically converts to an 80mm (approx.) lens, which is normally the starting range of portrait lenses. This is why it does so well. Many moons ago the 50mm was the standard lens that came with film cameras etc. as it was/is known for taking an image basically as the human eye sees it on SLR or FX frame digital. So basically we get off cheap on the DX body with the 50 and it gives us great results. Buy your lens and use it, if you do not like it sell it later on once you pick up other lenses but know you will be happy with what you get for the money.
-
Keep it simple and shoot well, Joe

 

[Ajlista]

I really do like to take landscape photos, so for a while i was checking out wide angle lenses, i came across this which i did some research on Amazon.com: Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Lens for Canon SLR Cameras: Camera & Photo if i could get some opinions that would be awesome. But the thing is, im not always going to have the chance to get landscape photos too often, even though i love to take them, so in the end, would it be worth it to get it? Or stick with 50mm? Im not sure

 

[Compaq]

I own the nifty fifty and can vouch for its good uses. However, if you're looking to invest in glass for the future, you may want to reconsider. It is cheaply built, all plastic (and some glass, lol), even the mount. I wouldn't dare dropping it, it might shatter. As a learning tool, it is great, but it is so cheap you just buy a new one if it should break.

I have no experience with any lenses save the fantastic plastic and the kit lens (18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS). It is fairly sharp, but does not handle well other optical nastyties (is that a word?).

 

[KmH]

24 mm isn't really wide enough on a crop sensor camera for doing landscapes, the 10 mm, 11 mm, 12 mm range is.

I'll second what Compac said about the EF 50 mm f/1.8 II having minimal build quality. Plus it only has 5 aperture blades, they are poorly shaped, and so the lens delivers a poor quality bokeh.

From Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II Lens Review: 5. Conclusion & samples: Digital Photography Review

Conclusion - Cons

• Extremely cheaply built
• Harsh and distracting bokeh due to pentagonal aperture
• Vignetting at wide apertures on full frame (which only disappears at F3.5)
• Inconsistent autofocus in low light (most problematic when using large apertures)

 

[subscuck]

You've given a price range up to $400. If​ you're sure you want a 50mm, skip the craptastic plastic and go for the 1.4. Better build quality by far, faster, more accurate AF (especially in low light, low contrast, where the 1.8 likes to hunt then give up), more aperture blades for better bokeh on OOF backgrounds. People buy the 1.8 based on price more than anything. Yes, it's good value for the money, but as your skills improve, and you get more demanding of your gear, you soon realize there's a big difference between "value" and "quality".

 

[Ajlista]

I understand what you mean subsuck, but now thinking about it for my future photography, and videography, would the 1.4 50 be worth it in the long run, would it be usefull for filming? Or would it be almost useless.
@keith, thankyou, for clearing up the wideangle for me, now i know what to actually look for xD
And thankyou for telling me about the poor build quality of the 50mm 1.8, being 14, unemployed, 100 dollars, quite a bit of money, that i dont want to waste on something that could potentially break easily

 

[Ajlista]

Also, there probably isnt a good fisheye for landscapes in my price range? Correct?I was looking, and i cant really find any
Also, i no longer have my 18-55mm lens, may it rest in peace. Lol as of now im using a 28-80 tamron lens, which gets the job done i suppose, so now thiknking should i just repurchase my 18-55mm lens?