question about lens? EF 50mm f/1.8 vs. L lens?

[Csst]

i was wondering EF 50mm f/1.8 or a EF 50mm f/1.4 how is this lens compared to a L series lens as far as quality wise even if there shot at 50mm?

[drisley]

The quality of the 50mm F1.8 compares very favourably to L lenses.
The MTF chart of the 50mm F1.8 is as good as, and sometimes better than, L glass.

[RichardtheSane]

I suppose it depends on the L lens.

Compared to a 28-300L I am sure it will be sharper at 50mm. compared to a 50mm F1.0L definitly not sharper.
24-70L, maybe getting close...

Really, all you need to know is it is a very sharp lens :D

[Csst]

ohh i see so it maybe sharper depending on what L lens were talking about i see so it would be better than some L lens that have a focus of say 24-70L ? but compared to a 70-300 L or a 100-400L?

[blinking8s]

the f 1.8 is pretty darn sharp...

http://www.blinking8s.com/photos/IMG_0209.JPG ;)

i just got my 70-200 f4L and due to extremely poor weather i havent played with it at all after work each night...so yeah, seen any L results yet

[drisley]

The 50mm F1.8 has an MTF of 4.2.
By comparison, the 70-200mm F4L, considered by many as one of the sharpest zoom lenses anywhere, has an MTF of 4.1.

So, for under $100, I would say the 50mm F1.8 is MORE than worth it!

More MTF tests
http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/canon.shtml

[Laziferous]

My 50mm f1.8 is sharper at f1.8 than my 17-40 f4L at f4 (anywhere between the zoom range). Granted, they aren't the same focal length, but I would have expected the L lens to be sharper at f4, than the 50mm is at f1.8. For the price, it certainly is WELL more than worth it.

Don't get me wrong though... I am in absolute LOVE with my 17-40.

Best.

Lens.

Ever.

.

:D

[mxer82]

Besides being sharper, what is the advantage of having the 50mm 1.8 over the kit lense? What is the intended purpose for the 50mm??
Thanks
Tim

[drisley]

The 50mm F1.8 resolves much more detail, and shows much more contrast than the kit lens.
In addition, you have a much wider aperture at F1.8 which allows for low light shooting, and tremendous depth-of-field effects. This makes it ideal for portraits amoung other things.

I posted this before, but have a look at the difference.
The top image is the 300D kit lens and the bottom is the 50mm F1.8 at same settings.
18-55 Kit Lens
http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/rebel/18-55mm.jpg
50mm F1.8 II
http://www.mts.net/~lftbrain/rebel/50mm.jpg

[Vlad]

My 50mm f1.8 is sharper at f1.8 than my 17-40 f4L at f4 (anywhere between the zoom range). Granted, they aren't the same focal length, but I would have expected the L lens to be sharper at f4, than the 50mm is at f1.8.

I bought 50/1.8 Mk I a week ago on eBay. It performs like a charm when stopped down, but the quality suffers at wide aperture [1.8].
http://www.aeimages.com/learn/lens-quality-50.html

Is it a common experience?

17-40/4L is on my wish list but reading about its sharpness quality compared to 50/1.8@1.8 is not of much comfort to me ...

Vlad

[Tom W]

My 50mm f1.8 is sharper at f1.8 than my 17-40 f4L at f4 (anywhere between the zoom range). Granted, they aren't the same focal length, but I would have expected the L lens to be sharper at f4, than the 50mm is at f1.8.

I bought 50/1.8 Mk I a week ago on eBay. It performs like a charm when stopped down, but the quality suffers at wide aperture [1.8].
http://www.aeimages.com/learn/lens-quality-50.html

Is it a common experience?

17-40/4L is on my wish list but reading about its sharpness quality compared to 50/1.8@1.8 is not of much comfort to me ...

Vlad

Its common that it performs a little soft at wide apertures. My 50/1.4 is a little soft until I get to around f/2.5 or so. Its slightly (though not much) better than my 50/1.8 Mk I was.

While I'm sure that it performs favorably to my 17-40 at an equal f/4, I am also certain that below f/2.5 or so, it is softer than the 17-40 at f/4. This has been my experience anyway.

[johneo]

i was wondering EF 50mm f/1.8 or a EF 50mm f/1.4 how is this lens compared to a L series lens as far as quality wise even if there shot at 50mm?

I bought my 50mm f/1.8 for about $60 and, though I don't use it often, it was a very good investment.
It is a very sharp lens ... cheap feel and noisy but still ... a very good value!

I only have 2 "L' lenses (17-40 & 100-400) and the 50 f/1.8 is as sharp if not sharper, at a fraction of the cost. (I really wish they had more 'cheap' lenses like the 50 f/1.8 :roll: )

Knowing I wouldn't use it a lot, I didn't consider the 50 f/1.4 as the price is considerably more.

The below shot was the 1st shot I took with it ... fresh out of the box, built in flash on my 10D (photo needed to be cropped{see upper right :shock: NOT pretty :oops: } and was resized but that's all))

http://members.cox.net/johnori/k133595n.jpg

[Vita Rara]

I posted this before, but have a look at the difference.
The top image is the 300D kit lens and the bottom is the 50mm F1.8 at same settings.

OK, that direct comparison did it for me. Just ordered the 50mm F1.8 from B&H for delivery next week.

Mark

[Haifidelity]

I suppose it depends on the L lens.

Compared to a 28-300L I am sure it will be sharper at 50mm. compared to a 50mm F1.0L definitly not sharper.
24-70L, maybe getting close...

Really, all you need to know is it is a very sharp lens :D

Less sharp than the 50mm f/1.0L?? from all accounts, the 50mm F/1.0L was an eventual letdown. Canon made this lens only to say that it was possible and now rests as a collectors item more than anything.

Photodo.com scores of the 50mm f/1.0L, f/1.4, f/1.8II

Grade: 3.9 35mm/AF Canon EF 50/1,0L USM
Grade: 4.4 35mm/AF Canon EF 50/1,4 USM
Grade: 4.2 35mm/AF Canon EF 50/1,8 II

Both of my f/1.8MKI and F/1.4 have outperformed my L lenses, with only the F/1.8 being soft wide open (at f/2.8+, it's excellent) and the bokeh rendition is not as good as the f/1.4 and the L's.