50mm f1.8 quality control question

[jtfoto]

I made enquiries with my usual supplier re Canon's 50mm f1.8 with a view to filling the gap between my 17-40L and 70-200L f4 and was told not to waste my money, little as it is ($A179).
He told me that they had sent many examples back to Canon Australia due to shoddy performance and build quality.
As these guys are probably one of the largest Australian camera suppliers and I have had nothing but great advice and service from them over the last ten years, I am curious how many owners of this lens have, or are having problems.
Has anybody returned their lens because of lack of sharpness?

[drisley]

No problems here!
One of my favourite lenses, and I bet most people here would say the same thing.

[yb98]

I have it since 1 month and had no problems till now.
The sharpness is great.

Yacine.

[maderito]

I'm consistently amazed at the low quality of advice handed out by camera store employees (all forum member camera store owners/employees excepted :) ). Maybe it's because I just don't understand that their more important function is to sell product.

Was he trying to sell you the 50 f/1.4 for $200 more. After all, you did probably did tell him about all of your expensive L glass.

I recently purchased the 50/1.8 for a relative. (I have the 50/1.4). I was struck by how insignificant it felt and looked. But I've read nothing but good things about it, save for a few pros who complain about its low build quality and durability.

[Case]

I've never really read anything bad about the 50mm 1.8 as far as perfromance goes. The build quality is often criticised, but although it's no L lense it seems sturdy enough. As maderito said, it doesn't feel like much, but it does do a great job!


Or, if money isn't an issue :

http://svc003.bne012i.server-web.com/catalogue/dirtcheap/cache/item-756public.html?cache=no

yummy

Chris

[dn7elson]

Has anybody returned their lens because of lack of sharpness?

I've only had mine for about 3 months, but no problems either functionally or with sharpness. Fabulous lens for the price and extremely sharp.

I would imagine that the profit margin on this lens is quite small and may not "warrant" the time and effort for them to stock it if they figure that it detracts from their ability to move items with a greater spread.

[Patrick 10D]

The thrifty fifty was the first lens that I bought about 1.5 years ago for my 10D. I haven't any problems with it at all, other than I should use it more often!

My only gripe would be that it is noisey! I suppose that L glass spoils you.

[jtfoto]

The funny thing is it was him that sold me the L lenses. I had specifically told him I only wanted to fork out a little dough and that the f1.4 was not an option. Therefore he had no reason to try and sell-up. So you can understand why the interest in his comments regarding the high return rate to Canon.

[scottbergerphoto]

The funny thing is it was him that sold me the L lenses. I had specifically told him I only wanted to fork out a little dough and that the f1.4 was not an option. Therefore he had no reason to try and sell-up. So you can understand why the interest in his comments regarding the high return rate to Canon.
Sounds like there are three possibilities:
1. He wants you to buy up, but you've ruled that out.
2. He wants to keep you as a customer and doesn't want you to be unhappy.
3. He doesn't want the aggravation of you returning and complaining about a defective lens.
If this was a scientific forum, the reports you are getting from individual reporters would be called anecdotal evidence. Canon makes thousdands of these lenses. The only real way to know how reliable the lens is would be to ask Canon to tell you their return rate for this lens under warranty. Good luck in them telling you. Next to that, a distributor would have a good idea based on how many he/she sees come back. Your retailer may have had significant number returned. His may be skewed view if he got a bad batch. Bottom line is do you trust him?
If I wanted it, I would buy it from a place with a good return policy and test it out.
Scott

[ron chappel]

I've read some negative comments on the consistancy of the build of these lenses but those comments were very old internet postings and nothing-absolutally NOTHING but praise from anything said about it the last few years.
The camera store employee could well be telling the truth but too damn bad for him.Just buy the lens.If it's faulty then you can say,'well,you were right-give me another one under warrantee please'

You are the winner with this lens.You just can't really lose.

[cmM]

it's small, light, made out of plastic. You will return it after a week if you bang it against walls :)
As far as image sharpness, no complaints.

I use this lens the most (but then again, I don't have too many). In the price range, I think this lens is a winner by far.

[jtfoto]

Plenty of valid points here!

I guess I'd better just get me one - as said there is always warranty.

Thanks guys for the reassurance.

[Liang]

I like my 50/1.8. No problem.

[robertwgross]

The funny thing is it was him that sold me the L lenses. I had specifically told him I only wanted to fork out a little dough and that the f1.4 was not an option. Therefore he had no reason to try and sell-up.

No, that just made it a challenge for the sales guy.

---Bob Gross---

[timmyquest]

The funny thing is it was him that sold me the L lenses. I had specifically told him I only wanted to fork out a little dough and that the f1.4 was not an option. Therefore he had no reason to try and sell-up.

No, that just made it a challenge for the sales guy.

---Bob Gross---

the f/1.8...plastic, lite, simple...great pictures. Because of this it's a POS?

:?

[polloloco81]

Mine's coming in tommorow! :) In my opinion, for 70 bucks, the lense is definitely worth it, and some of the members have posted some example shots they have taken with the lens and they look pretty damn good. Supposedly more sharp than the kit lens!

[timmyquest]

better by far

[FJC]

I'm very happy with mine. It is plastic, and of course isn't as well built as my 70-200mm F/4L or 17-40L, but it works fine and gives fantastic pictures.

If I had it to do over, I'd buy it again.

[paul162brown]

I love my 50mm and have taken some of by best shots with it. It is light and sharp very good value for money. Every EOS owner should have one.

However, I had mine for around 4 months, with fairly light use, as I also use a 28mm on my D30, when it suddenly failed. All shots were badly overexposed and it would not stop down properly. It was returned to Canon UK and after about 8 weeks they returned it, repaired under warranty, having replaced most of the insides!

However, I still don't care. When you consider cost and picture quality together, this is a top lens, even if it is not the toughest. The old Mk 1 lens and the 1.4 both have metal mounts I beleive, but you pay extra for that.

:D :D

[agentm]

Could some of you point to photo examples that you took with this lens. I want to compare the quality of your photos with what I achieve with mine.

Thanks

[timmyquest]

http://www.antiwall.com/june2004/dakota.jpg

http://www.antiwall.com/march2004/images/2aidan%20and%20meghan.jpg

http://www.antiwall.com/march2004/images/14tigger5.jpg

http://www.antiwall.com/march2004/images/5john.jpg

http://www.antiwall.com/april2004/images/zaunt.jpg

http://www.antiwall.com/march2004/images/3meghan%20close.jpg

[toddb]

Can't complain....do you realize how excited I was to get a F1.8 lens for that cheap. Takes great portraits. These images have some post PS touches, but I do this for all my lens. Again, did you see the price tag?
http://www.toddburke.net/gallery/web/CRW_0465.jpg

http://www.toddburke.net/gallery/web/Reese_01_web.jpg

Have you ever been hiking in the mountains with a slower lens wishing you could put something a little faster on...this is it. I didn't have time to dig for a better shot, but check this out. I couldn't get a fast enough shutter speed on my 28-135mm IS (remember IS only helps if things are not moving) and I was able to with the nifty fifty. Super small and light to carry with you...can't go wrong imho.

http://www.toddburke.net/images/Rainier_September_2003/images/rainier_debbie_em_02.jpg

[robertwgross]

The funny thing is it was him that sold me the L lenses. I had specifically told him I only wanted to fork out a little dough and that the f1.4 was not an option. Therefore he had no reason to try and sell-up.

No, that just made it a challenge for the sales guy.

---Bob Gross---

the f/1.8...plastic, lite, simple...great pictures. Because of this it's a POS?

:?

I suggested nothing of the kind.

If a customer goes to a camera shop and says "What do I need for a 50mm lens?", the salesman can suggest an expensive lens or anything else. But, if the customer comes in with reasons for this or that, it marks the customer as being informed, and the salesman takes a completely different tactic for selling. He tries to offer an expensive lens with reasons that might have been overlooked. But that depends on how gullible he thinks the customer is and how greedy he is for a sales commission.

---Bob Gross---

[polloloco81]

Just got home from work and there's a UPS box waiting for me on the couch. Lord and behold, it's my battery grip and the 1.8! Yay! I'll go find something interesting to shoot and I'll post some pics later :)

[drisley]

Mine's coming in tommorow! :) In my opinion, for 70 bucks, the lense is definitely worth it, and some of the members have posted some example shots they have taken with the lens and they look pretty damn good. Supposedly more sharp than the kit lens!

The 50mm F1.8II is MUCH, MUCH sharper than the 300D kit lens.
THis was from a post I had in another thread.

EFS 18-55mm @50mm F5.6
http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/rebel/18-55mm.jpg

EF 50mm F1.8 II @50mm F5.6
http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/rebel/50mm.jpg

[drisley]

Just got home from work and there's a UPS box waiting for me on the couch. Lord and behold, it's my battery grip and the 1.8! Yay! I'll go find something interesting to shoot and I'll post some pics later :)

Excellent! :D
Btw, here is a tip. There is actually a place IN THE GRIP to store the battery cover from your camera so you wont lose it.
I didnt even know that when I got mine until somebody here pointed that out.

[polloloco81]

Just got home from work and there's a UPS box waiting for me on the couch. Lord and behold, it's my battery grip and the 1.8! Yay! I'll go find something interesting to shoot and I'll post some pics later :)

Excellent! :D
Btw, here is a tip. There is actually a place IN THE GRIP to store the battery cover from your camera so you wont lose it.
I didnt even know that when I got mine until somebody here pointed that out.

Oh yeah, I was thinking to myself when "hmm, I will definitely lose this cover if I don't find a safe place to put it" until I saw a little snippet in the instructions that you can store it in the grip. Kudos to them designers at Canon :) Anyways, here's a pic of my niece Vivian. F/2, 1/60, ISO200 using the 1.8. I'll post more tonight!

http://www.digitalempiredesign.com/web_vivi.jpg