Hoohooo.....got my nifty fifty today

[cfcRebel]

Made a few shots and really happy with the low light performance. However, I do have a couple of questions.

1. When I used my nifty fifty to take close-up shot, I couldn't get as close to the object as my 18-55mm kit lens. That means I need to crop the picture to fill up the frame. Is that what you have to do when using 50mm 1.8II? Maybe I did something wrong.

2. When aiming at an object in low light situation using the kit lens, my 300D will pre-fire a flash to help focus, but the pre-flash does not happen with my 50mm 1.8II in low light. Does that happen to you? Is it because it is not a "EF-S" lens?

Thank you in advance.

[chucksberg]

It's a faster lens, it doesn't need the preflash.

[Raj]

1. I dont have specs for 50 mm or kit lens at hand at the moment. can you check the minimum focussing distance of the two lenses ? that may explain why you can go closer with kit lens.

2. At wide open 50 mm 1.8 is very bright compared to your kit lens, so deos not requires focus assist.
Try stopping it down & see what happens

[drisley]

The 18-55mm kit lens is labelled as having a macro, and the close focus distance is a fair bit better than the 50mm lens.

[cfcRebel]

Thanks Chucksberg, Raj and Drisley.

You are right. The macro distance labelled on the kit lens is 0.28m/0.9ft. Whereas the 50mm's is 0.45m/1.5ft. Well, does that means I cannot get the close-up object to fill my frame? Maybe it was too dark. I will try again tomorrow under a bright day.

Raj, i stopped it down little by little but the assist beam still did not fire. I am not complaining. I was just wondering if it is the same for everybody who uses 50mm 1.8II on their 300D, 350XT or 20D. ;)

[smittymike19]

Thanks Chucksberg, Raj and Drisley.

You are right. The macro distance labelled on the kit lens is 0.28m/0.9ft. Whereas the 50mm's is 0.45m/1.5ft. Well, does that means I cannot get the close-up object to fill my frame? Maybe it was too dark. I will try again tomorrow under a bright day.

Raj, i stopped it down little by little but the assist beam still did not fire. I am not complaining. I was just wondering if it is the same for everybody who uses 50mm 1.8II on their 300D, 350XT or 20D. ;)

what mode are you in/ the flash assist doesnt work in all modes.

[cfcRebel]

what mode are you in/ the flash assist doesnt work in all modes.
I was using the Av mode. Does your flash assist work when using the 50mm? Thanks.

[smittymike19]

do yiu have the flash popped up?

[jokar]

The Thrifty Nifty Fifty is a great lens - but the kit lens will serve you much better for close-up (near macro) shots.

[cfcRebel]

do yiu have the flash popped up?

BINGO! Smittymike19 has the answer!
As soon as I popped up the flash and focused, the assist flash fired. All this long I thought it was the little white hole next to the grip that released the assist flash. :oops: Please pardon my ignorance.

Thanks for the GREAT help.

[Raj]

I am not 100% sure but I think AF assist wont fire in creative modes unless you pop up the flash manually. This is regardless of lens type/model.

Are you trying both lenses in Av mode ?

EDIT: OOPs ! I was late, you find out by the time I posted this :-)

[cfcRebel]

I am not 100% sure but I think AF assist wont fire in creative modes unless you pop up the flash manually. This is regardless of lens type/model.

Are you trying both lenses in Av mode ?


I think I did not realize the assist flash comes from the popup flash. My girl friend has a 35mm P&S, the assist beam outlet is separated from the flash outlet. So i had this impression of the two are always separated.

I sincerely apologize for the confusion. :oops:

[tim]

The minimum focusing distance for the 50mm F1.8 is obviously larger than for the kit lens. If you want to get closer with that lens then yes, you'll need to crop. The solution is to buy a macro lens.

I hate the "flash assist" that the internal flash does, and since I use the creative zone it doesn't pop the flash up for me. I prefer the IR bean on the external flash, which works a lot better too. Also, what chucksberg said in post #2 sounds right to me.

[cfcRebel]

The Thrifty Nifty Fifty is a great lens - but the kit lens will serve you much better for close-up (near macro) shots.
Interesting. I still love my kit lens actually. ;)

[cfcRebel]

The minimum focusing distance for the 50mm F1.8 is obviously larger than for the kit lens. If you want to get closer with that lens then yes, you'll need to crop. The solution is to buy a macro lens.

I hate the "flash assist" that the internal flash does, and since I use the creative zone it doesn't pop the flash up for me. I prefer the IR bean on the external flash, which works a lot better too. Also, what chucksberg said in post #2 sounds right to me.

Good to know. I sure learned alot today. Thanks for all the great advice.