What is everyone's opinion of this lens?

[mc_hudd]

Derrel, i respect your opinion very much, you have given me and many many others fantastic advice. while i do agree that the shots with busy backgrounds look awkward and the build quality is obviously cheap, i think that at the end of the day its a better option than the kit lens. i cant speak for the OP but im assuming she/he is limited to just the kit, im also assuming they are somewhat new to photography in general. I think you would agree with me that spending the $350ish on the 1.4 would be somewhat foolish for someone still very much in learning mode.

I am actually not limited by the kit lens. I actually have it (18-55mm), a 55-250mm & just recently got the 100mm Macro f/2.8. I just thought the 50mm (which would actually be 80mm w/ crop factor on T2i) would be a good portrait lens... actually I've read that it is. I thought I would like if for the DOF it's capable of. The reason I'm looking @ this one rather than the 1.4 is b/c I just bought the Macro which wasn't really cheap.

I am somewhat new to photography. I don't consider myself a complete beginner, but I definitely have A LOT left to learn! But, I don't plan on giving up photography any time soon, so if I got the 1.4 it definitely wouldn't be money wasted. I don't think buying the 1.4 would be foolish, but again, just spent quite a chunk on the Macro, so...

PS~ I'm a she.

 

[iNick]

mc_hudd, my apologizes, looks like i was wayyyy off base haha. In your case then i would go wit the 1.4 or even invest in some other equipment and enjoy the nice array of lenses you currently have.

ps. im very jealous of your collection. :er:

 

[mc_hudd]

mc_hudd, my apologizes, looks like i was wayyyy off base haha. In your case then i would go wit the 1.4 or even invest in some other equipment and enjoy the nice array of lenses you currently have.

ps. im very jealous of your collection. :er:

No apologies necessary. I didn't mean to come across as snippy in my post, if I did, I apologize. I'm still not sure whether to try the 1.8 or wait for the 1.4... Decisions, decisions!

 

[iolair]

I have the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II ... I use it a LOT. Compared to the zoom lens you have, it's sharper, works with less light. It weighs very little so it's comfortable to use on your camera for a long time hand-held. For the image quality you get, it's a bargain. If you have decent light and an uncomplicated background, and are on a budget, it's a great choice.

However ... it also hunts a lot to focus in lower light (mine does, anyway), and as mentioned if you blur out a busy background it looks ... well "jittery" was a good word.

If you can afford the 1.4 instead, then do. I suspect with the 1.8, although its image quality (apart from the bokeh) is very good, you may still find it disappointing compared to your 100mm macro, which I hear is brilliant. The ability of a lens with an aperture number less than 2 to blur out portrait backgrounds so well means if you're interested in portraits then IMHO you really should have at least one lens with that kind of maximum aperture in your toolkit.

If I was in your position, I'd go for the 1.8 now rather than the 1.4 later. On the crop-body it's a nice focal length, and worth having sooner - it's a real improvement over the 18-55. Don't overspend on it ... check eBay etc ... quite a lot of people upgrade to the 1.4 so when I've searched there's been quite a few 1.8's on there.

 

[Raian-san]

I have the 50mm 1.8 and it's fine. Although it is plastic, it still takes pretty good photo for the price. You can always upgrade to 1.4 later on and sell the 1.8. The price you retain on it is pretty good so I wouldn't worry about it. Lose like $20 after using it for a year or so, that's fine.

 

[Jarmo]

I've said this before and I'll say it again: bang for your buck!

Buying that cheap a lense you'd expect it to be awful on all ends but it draws surprisingly sharp pictures.

 

[mikehaugen]

According to Canonrumors.com we could be seeing an update to the 50mm primes sometime in the near future. EF 50 f/1.4 II & EF 50 f/1.8 III [CR2] « Canon Rumors so idk how eager you are to get one, but waiting till the 1.8 III gets released might be the best option. no time table for the drop date tho, could be weeks, could be months. im considering waiting it out because i assume the build quality is something that will be updated.

the last "update" actually cheapened the build quality (not sure about iq), don't know that I would hold my breath for that.

 

[mc_hudd]

OK, I saw a photo taken w/ this lens & the "jittery" blur really did stand out to me, but it would be something I could deal w/. Also, I'm wondering, could that be fixed in Photoshop? Maybe using the blur tool or the blur filter? I do this w/ photos now to make fake DOF. Has anyone tried this?

 

[Derrel]

I have the Canon 50mm f/1.8 II ... I use it a LOT. Compared to the zoom lens you have, it's sharper, works with less light. It weighs very little so it's comfortable to use on your camera for a long time hand-held. For the image quality you get, it's a bargain. If you have decent light and an uncomplicated background, and are on a budget, it's a great choice.

However ... it also hunts a lot to focus in lower light (mine does, anyway), and as mentioned if you blur out a busy background it looks ... well "jittery" was a good word.

If you can afford the 1.4 instead, then do. I suspect with the 1.8, although its image quality (apart from the bokeh) is very good, you may still find it disappointing compared to your 100mm macro, which I hear is brilliant. The ability of a lens with an aperture number less than 2 to blur out portrait backgrounds so well means if you're interested in portraits then IMHO you really should have at least one lens with that kind of maximum aperture in your toolkit.

If I was in your position, I'd go for the 1.8 now rather than the 1.4 later. On the crop-body it's a nice focal length, and worth having sooner - it's a real improvement over the 18-55. Don't overspend on it ... check eBay etc ... quite a lot of people upgrade to the 1.4 so when I've searched there's been quite a few 1.8's on there.

Definitely, do NOT over-spend on this thing. Buy it used. It's worth about $50.

 

[iNick]

Definitely, do NOT over-spend on this thing. Buy it used. It's worth about $50.

Unfortunately, unless you know someone, you wont find this lens for under $100 at the least. even on ebay they go for $100-$110 used.

 

[ulrichsd]

It has horrible, hashy background bokeh. it shoots very poorly directly toward bright light sources, with massive green lens flare ruining images--it is worse against the light than many zoom lenses are, which is basically inexcusable for a 50mm prime lens, but then, it's made by Canon to be the lightest and lowest-cost lens possible to make, and so it's a cheap POS design, with one less element than would ideally be the minimum for a 50mm, AND with a crude 1930's style 5-blade diaphragm (what a joke!). The lens has a plastic lens mount, and it is held together by plastic rivets, not by screws, so if the lens is smacked firmly, it suffers from what Kwanon calls "barrel separation"...ie, the lens snaps into two pieces. It's "sharp" enough,sure, but the images it produces are sickening on scenes that have busy backdrops. It is the $4.99 jug wine of the lens world.

I'm curious on opinions how the Nikon 50mm 1.8 compares to the Cannon 50mm 1.8? I think I remember reading it has 7 aperture blades, but its still mostly plastic, but honestly, I do like how low profile it is if I'm just going to take pictures of the family (even about 20-30% smaller than the 35mm due to the AFS motor). Bokeh seems pretty smooth, but I'm usually not taking pictures into the sun either.

 

[mc_hudd]

Definitely, do NOT over-spend on this thing. Buy it used. It's worth about $50.

Unfortunately, unless you know someone, you wont find this lens for under $100 at the least. even on ebay they go for $100-$110 used.

You're right, or at least this is what I've found too. I'm not going to pay that much for a used lens either (especially this one) when for only a few dollars more you can get a brand new one w/ a warranty.

 

[Ron Evers]

Definitely, do NOT over-spend on this thing. Buy it used. It's worth about $50.

Unfortunately, unless you know someone, you wont find this lens for under $100 at the least. even on ebay they go for $100-$110 used.

Boy am I ever glad I am not locked into modern lenses. I have a Minolta 50/1.4 which is very good & have been bidding frequently on a Canon FL/FD 50/1.4 without success, as I have been attempting to get one for $60 all in. BTW, I expect the FD 50/1.4 would blow the new 50/1.8 out of the water & maybe the 1.4 as well.

 

[SecondShot]

I have the 50 1.4 and while it gives me great images, it feels a bit too close on my crop lens T1i. I'm actively considering selling it and replacing with the Sigma 30 1.4

 

[fokker]

Meh, it's $100... buy it, see if you like it. If not, sell it on ebay for pretty much the same price. You will get your money's worth either way.

In my opinion, no kit bag is complete without a fast 50mm prime.