Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II

[the7ferret]

WOW!

I bought that lens since I lot of you people recommended it and WOW!
I was amazed best money I ever spent. Hell im gonna be late to work cause Im writing this but yea, if your not sure if you should get it go for it.
Ill post some pics if you guys want when I get home from work.

[Chazs]

Ill post some pics if you guys want when I get home from work.

That'd be great. I'm vasilating back and forth between the 1.4 and the 1.8; just can't make up my mind. Is it plastic like the kit lenses? Call me a dork, but if it is I think I'll get the 1.4. Sure would be nice to save a few bucks, though.

[Persian-Rice]

1.4 is better, the bokeh is not all that great on the 1.8II. But overall the Nifty Fifty is the best. I mean for what?? $65?? It has image quality comparable to almost any lens out there.

[HJMinard]

That'd be great. I'm vasilating back and forth between the 1.4 and the 1.8; just can't make up my mind. Is it plastic like the kit lenses? Call me a dork, but if it is I think I'll get the 1.4. Sure would be nice to save a few bucks, though.

Yes, the 1.8 is plastic, but does that really matter if the image quality is comparible? If you're worried about longevity, you can buy multiple 1.8's for the price of a 1.4.

Not at all trying to dissuade you from buying the 1.4 if your heart is set on it ... just pointing out that the image quality difference is not equal to the price difference (not even close).

[michael.luczkow]

i have the one point eight also. for 70 bucks you can't go wrong. and be honest. it's not a lense your going to use all the time so put the money somewhere else. that's why I say anyway.

[johneric8]

i have the one point eight also. for 70 bucks you can't go wrong. and be honest. it's not a lense your going to use all the time so put the money somewhere else. that's why I say anyway.

I disagree, I use it all the time and have incredible photos to show for it. I make good money off of that lens. One of my favoirites, I will choose it over some of my dads L lenses. You gotta have it man. It's the best bang for your buck on the planet! Trust me..

[R1 Kid]

I'm just chiming in my 2 cents worth. Buy the 1.8, you CAN'T be sorry.

[tim]

The 50mm F1.8 comes in very handy for theatre photos in low light.

[kck_8d]

Can you offer a brief comparison between 50/1.4 and 50/1.8 II ?

[tim]

Persian-Rice might be able to, I don't have one, but i've read a bit. From what i've read it's better in every way, but it costs around 4X more and it's not 4X better. Faster focus, better optics, better build quality, and apparently not too far short of an L lens.

[AndrewR]

Just saw the 1.8 for sale here in Japan for the sum of Y10,800 -- about $104 or so. Guess I'm sticking with US vendors and waiting until we move back to the States. :)

[the7ferret]

here is a shot of my girl out in the sun. Mind you this lens is stepped down to f3.5.
ill take some interior shots tomorrow..
me tired

not to mention that the focus on here is lighting fast.
i was amazed it can focus faster than it takes to chirp that its focused.

[Claire]

Everyone loves this lens. I have to get it to see for myself. :D

[eunger]

I have to agree that this is an exceptional lense, especially when you consider the price. Here are a few sample picture I took when I was experimenting with low light photography:

http://webpages.charter.net/eunger/1.jpg
http://webpages.charter.net/eunger/2.jpg

[pugnugget]

I bought the 1.8 a week or so ago, and it's been on my camera ever since! I love it! Takes great shots and is very fast and sharp! Not bad for the $80!! Recommend to everyone!

[ijohnson]

That'd be great. I'm vasilating back and forth between the 1.4 and the 1.8; just can't make up my mind. Is it plastic like the kit lenses? Call me a dork, but if it is I think I'll get the 1.4. Sure would be nice to save a few bucks, though.

I upgraded from the 1.8 to the 1.4 because I loved the 1.8 so much. The 1.4 is much nicer. Faster (focus and aperture), quieter, sharper, and sexier. Worth every cent.

I didn't believe that it could be that much better since the 1.8 is so nice, but for my style of shooting, the 1.4 is a totally different ballgame.

If you have the money, get the 1.8 anyway because its so cheap you couldn't regret it. Worst case you will lose $15 and find out that you love shooting at 50mm like I did and get to fall in love with another lens too!!

I hope this doesn't undermine the current thread. I loved the 1.8. Congratulations.

[tim]

You don't have similar sample pics from each lens do you ijohnson?

[snibbetsj]

Actually the f1.8 doesn't focus all that fast but it does produce incredibly lovely, sharp, contrasty images. You can't go wrong with it, not at all. The bokeh on the 1.4 is definitely better though.

[ijohnson]

You don't have similar sample pics from each lens do you ijohnson?

No. I have tried so many times to do lens comparisons and then I find out how unscientific they are. I could make a shot glass look like a better lens than a 24-70L the way I do it.

There is a very good comparison site right here:
http://www.photo.net/equipment/canon/ef50/

That more scientific test concludes very little difference however my personal experience says a LOT more. Its a feeling for me. I am getting almost 80% keepers from that lens while shooting 5 year-olds, whereas the 1.8 was not giving me anywhere near that. Call it luck but it might just be so marginally better that it is pushing me over the edge. Maybe you can find a camera store to put both of them on and see what you think.

[Pelao]

I just got the 1.8.
Unbelievable value in my eyes - especially for some of the family & social shote I love to take. I would like the 1.4, but at this stage I would rather spend on some other glass first. For what you get, the 1.8 is amazing.

Have a read here for the 1.8
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-50mm-f-1.8-II-Lens-Review.aspx

and here for the 1.4
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-EF-50mm-f-1.4-USM-Lens-Review.aspx

Warning: the reviews on the-digital-picture.com will make you spend money...