Lens Buying... (50mm)

[Twist]

I am really up in the air about between the 50mm 1.8 and the 1.4. The lens is something I would like to get now but the 1.4 isnt in the budget as I just picked up a 28-135IS.

I dont like the idea of buying twice but is this a tactic others use in their lens buying. Buy a lesser lens use it until you save up for the next best one, sell your previous lens at a loss. Or hold off until you can get the optimal lens. I havent looked into the resale value of lenses much.

I guess the 70 bucks for the 1.8 is really just a drop in the bucket. Thats the costs of 2 camera bags that I would probably misbuy anway. Building an essential list of equipment to start out can be a little overwhelming even if you arent trying to start out with the best of the best. (ie tripods, filters, and such)

[CyberDyneSystems]

I use my 1.8 so rarely I have no intention of the 1.4 upgrade,.

But that's me,. some people use the 50mm a lot more often and the 1.4 may make a lot of sense due to it's advantages.

[defordphoto]

Two camera bags for $70? You must be buying itty-bitty bags! ;)

Anyway, looks like you discussed yourself into a corner. Get the 1.8 and get the 1.4 later. I bought the 1.8 a long time ago....4 cameras ago and still have not bought the 1.4,

The 1DMKII looks kind weird with the $70 1.8 on it.

Takes killer photos though... ;)

[Twist]

hey i am new... I only have one lens but this last last bag I got fits my Rebel with 28-135 mounted and about nothing else in the main pocket. I have been researching night and day on lens but forgot to look into the other things like decent bags and tripods. No research before I bought ends in more wasted money.

[Twist]

that was meant in sarcasm... stinks how that never comes through correctly.

[CyberDyneSystems]

that was meant in sarcasm... stinks how that never comes through correctly.

You need to learn to make prdigous use of "smilies" :D :lol: :cool:

[Twist]

true cds... thanks for the title edit. but also wondering about the buy twice method and resell vs. buy once and take your grave method.

[pcasciola]

You need to learn to make prdigous use of "smilies" :D :lol: :cool:

Twist,

If you want to learn how to effectively use smilies to convey emotion, check out some of Marie's posts. She's known to use them once in a while. ;)

[Citizensmith]

Stop and try and figure out, are you buying a 50 because you really like that focal length, or because everyone tells you you should. Personally I found the 50 1.8 very boring and sent it ebay direction. You may decide the 28 2.8 or 85 1.8 would be a better choice.

[mbze430]

50mm boring!??! WHAT??! That lens (1.4) is on my 35mm film camera all the time. (since it's more like a 80mm on my 20d). Its the best walkaround lens, hands down.

Personally, I recommed everyone I talk to start off with a 50mm equivalent. So depending what you are shooing on, get that.

I am personally looking for the 35mm f/1.4l (close to 50mm on the 20d). but not before getting the 85mm f/1.2 and the 135mm f/2l (I am in to portrait more so than anything else so those are my priority).

[Andy_T]

Citizensmith ...

if you found it boring, then it was ... for you.
Everyone has different preferences. :lol:

Just a question ... how much did you lose when putting it on eBay? I'd assume something in the $10-20 range.

That seems a very paltry amount if it allows you to use the lens, while you otherwise had to wait for, say, 6 months.

Just my thoughts on that one :lol:
I WANT to have the 50/1.4. I WILL buy it at some point in time.
However, at the moment after having bought my 20D I don't see how I can justify the expense to my wife.

So I'm currently trying to score a nice 50/1.8 MKI (the metal mount version) from eBay that I will use until I see the need to upgrade it.

Best regards,
Andy

[nosquare2003]

Twist, why do you want a 50mm lens?

I suggest you to use your new 28-135mm lens a bit longer so as to determine your next lens purchase. Try to find out what limits you with the 28-135mm lens, e.g. lens speed, focal lengths, etc. It will save you from "wrong" purchase.

Anyway, the 50/1.8 is a cheap but good lens.

[milou]

I WANT to have the 50/1.4. I WILL buy it at some point in time...I don't see how I can justify the expense to my wife.

So I'm currently trying to score a nice 50/1.8 MKI (the metal mount version) from eBay that I will use until I see the need to upgrade it.

Nicely put - same here ;)

[Andy_T]

Twist, why do you want a 50mm lens?


Now, without trying to read other peoples minds, I would assume he just wants a sharper and faster lens:lol:

After all, I assume he read this: http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/

Best regards,
Andy

[Twist]

I want the 50 for low light situations and would like to try portraits. I find so often that my lenses dont cut it for indoor shots or afternoon/evening shots outdoors. I have looked at most every link out there and checked several threads. Some people say get the 1.8 then get the 1.4 later and others say dont double buy and get the 1.4 as soon as you can.

I suppose the best option, at least in this case is get the 1.8, see how the lens suits me, if not ebay it. With this lens choice it isnt that big of a price spread. but when you get into the 70-200 4.0L, 70-200 2.8L, and the 70-200 2.8L IS there is that larger price gap.

[Olegis]

I agree that the 50mm f/1.4 is much nicer lens than the f/1.8 MkII version, but I just couldn't justify the price difference. I say - buy the f/1.8, and see if it suits you (don't forget that in really low-light situations you can bump the ISO up to compensate for that additional f-stop). If it does - stick with it, if it doesn't - you can always upgrade to the faster version later.

[pcasciola]

Stop and try and figure out, are you buying a 50 because you really like that focal length, or because everyone tells you you should. Personally I found the 50 1.8 very boring and sent it ebay direction. You may decide the 28 2.8 or 85 1.8 would be a better choice.
I agree with this. Not that it is a boring lens, but to question why you are buying it. I bought mine because a lot of people here and at work said it's a must have for $75, and I only had the kit lens and the 300/4L at the time. 50mm is considered the "normal" focal length, but when you are using a smaller sensor it results in an effective FOV of an 80mm. For me, I'd get much more use out of a 28mm or 35mm prime at F2 or less.

Bottom line is, take some shots with your 28-135 where you think you'd want to use the 50/1.8, and see what focal length you are at. There's a good chance it will be less than 50.

[BearSummer]

Hi Twist,

in most cases I would suggest you save up and buy the best rather than getting something half way and then losing money when you part ex the mid point lens. The 50 1.8 however is so cheap (in comparison to the other lenses) that you probably wont miss the difference. If you find that you love that "look" then go and get the 1.4, if the 1.8 becomes your walk around lens then its probablu worth the extra cash. (I got the 1.4 because I needed it to be reliable, wanted usm, ftm and hated twisting the front optic to manually focus which is kinda hard with a lens hood)

Best wishes

BearSummer

[Citizensmith]

Citizensmith ...

if you found it boring, then it was ... for you.
Everyone has different preferences. :lol:


That was exactly the point I was trying to make though. When it comes to which focal lengths you use you really shouldn't be listening too much to what goes on here. Play with a zoom and find out where you are happiest. Maybe you are always bumping up against the 28 end of your zoom. In which case a 50 is a waste of money.

Personally, since getting a RebelD back in 2K3 I've been using nothing but a 24 2.8 and 85 1.8 and didn't miss anything in between.

[Andy_T]

So I'm currently trying to score a nice 50/1.8 MKI (the metal mount version) from eBay that I will use until I see the need to upgrade it.

Got one! :lol:

Near mint condition, sold by a reputable camera dealer ...
for EUR 110 including a (rubber) lens hood

I'm a happy camper.

It'll be great company for my 18-55, Tamron 28-75/2.8, 85/2.0 M42 and 135/3.5 M42 lenses.

Best regards,
Andy

[Phil V]

If you think you're planning on selling it later, buy one second hand, that way you will only 'lose' your eb*y fees (not even that if you're lucky).:lol:

[Twist]

I tried a couple things on my 28-135IS. 50mm seems like a good focal length but at 4.5 I had to have the ISO upwards of 800 to get a decent lighting balance. $80-90 bucks is really a drop in the bucket. Not much to sweat over. I still need a different bag, lucky my bro wants my current tiny bag. And cleaning supplies since i found dust on my sensor. Then I really need a decent lightwave, compact tripod for walking around in the woods.

So my next choice... 70-200 4.0L, 70-200 2.8L, and the 70-200 2.8L IS??? j/k

[nosquare2003]

I tried a couple things on my 28-135IS. 50mm seems like a good focal length but at 4.5 I had to have the ISO upwards of 800 to get a decent lighting balance. Then I really need a decent lightwave, compact tripod for walking around in the woods.

So my next choice... 70-200 4.0L, 70-200 2.8L, and the 70-200 2.8L IS??? j/k


What shutter speed do you use at 50mm, f/4.5 and ISO800? If you are using a slow shutter speed due to Image Stabiliser, the 50/1.8 will only help a bit. A decent tripod will do better.

Don't settle for cheap tripod by the way.

[Twist]

I was shooting at 1/10 and acheived decent lighting. Anything just below 1/4 starts to show my shakes even with the IS. I agree a tripod is a must thing. I had bought a $25 best buy special years ago when i got my sony handycam. I just need to start doing some research for a decent tripod. For some reason picking lenses seems easier then tripods.

[nosquare2003]

So I suggest you to look for a good tripod rather than the 50mm prime then.

[nosquare2003]

Hmm, you may have a look of Manfrotto 190 / Bogen 3001 and add a head on it. It doesn't cost a lot more than a 50/1.8.

[eunger]

I just received my f/1.8 today from B&H and I have to say that it is all that I had hoped for. I definately would recomend it (even though I have only had it one day.)

[Andy_T]

Twist,

you will *not* be able to use the 50/1.8 at anything near 1/10 of a second, because it does not have IS.

To get good results, the 'rule of thumb' suggests going no slower than 1/125 (at least 1/focal length, and you have 80 mm equivalent focal length, as there is no 1/80, go to the next faster speed) to avoid camera shake 'for an average user'. If you have shaky hands, it'll be more, if you have perfect technique or maybe can brace the camera, you could use less. As 1/10 is very slow on the IS lens, I think that you don't have shaky hands and might be able to get the same results at 1/60.

1/60 at f/1.8 will give the same exposure as 1/10 seconds at f/4.5 (2 2/3 stops difference, full stops would be 1.8-2.5-3.5-4.9). So you don't gain anything in terms of low light performance over the IS, and the suggestion would be to use a tripod or improve the lighting ... either with your 28-135 or with the 50/1.8.

Best regards,
Andy

[mdude85]

I don't think the OP should have to justify owning a 50 mm lens. it's practically a must-have for any photographer...

I think what the OP is trying to ask is if he needs the extra .4 stops in the 50 mm f1.4. If he shots a lot in low light, the extra aperture might be useful, but the DOF is quite shallow.

[cactusclay]

Just went to the camera store yesterday, because I couldn't find a 85 1.8 in stock on the Web and while I was there I tried out a few lenses. I just did some quick tests viewing the results on my lcd screen and this could be lens variation as well as a multitude of other things, but I put a 50 1.4 on my camera and shot it wide open with a flash at a poster. At 1.4 the image was pretty soft, by 2.0 it was pretty sharp. Well, my 1.8 50 is getting pretty sharp by 2.0 as well, so I really don't think the speed is all that revelent. I do think the color and contrast is a tad better with the 1.4, but I don't think I would buy it because it was faster.

[Twist]

Thanks for everyones input. I agree a tripod is a must. Next thing on my list to get. The 1/10th was working for my test but that was more of just testing my shake while shooting a fixed item. I would have to deal with a higher shutter when shooting a oving object. But i am still learning since i have ben a P & Ser for all these years.

So first a 50mm 1.8 then a tripod. If anyone happens to read this last comment could recommend a decent backpacking tripod. Light, compact, doesnt need to be heavy duty. at the most it might have a 70-200mm 2.8L on it with the RebelD weight wise. More then likely it would be the 28-135 or a 14-70L.

[cactusclay]

Bogen makes a 3001 I think it is, anyway it's the small one. I had it years ago, when I use do a lot of backpacking with my 4x5 and 6x7. It wasn't as light as a Carbon fiber, but I don't think they had them back then. Anyway it did the trick. I have the bigger one now that I use in the studio, I think it's the 3021 or something-to many numbers to keep straight in my head.The truth of the matter now, is that for backpacking I now have this really lite little cheap Slick tripod and although it's not very sturdy, it works in a pinch as long as I pay attention to the wind and uneven ground, so it doesn't topple over. I wouldn't use it for large or medium format stuff, but it's fine for thirty five mm. A 70-200 2.8 might be pushing it though.