Is "50mm f/1.8 II" a good lens?

[Learner]

It seems fairly cheep, price wise, but is it worth the purchase and what can i use this for? Can I shoot clear shots at a distance, zoomed in?

Thank you,

Learner

[vvizard]

It's a great lens. The build-quality is not the best though. The lens is priced extremely low compared to it's f/1.8 aperture. 50mm is considered a "normal" lens for 35mm film. Used on a DSLR, you will probably find it a little "narrower", due to the crop-factor. It's not good for distance-shots, since it's only 50mm, and not a zoom-lens.

I once had this lens' "bigger brother", the 50mm f/1.4, and I found the focal-length to be quite little used in my photography. What I used it for, was indoor shooting, since the aperture is superb!

[cokinut]

It's a great portrait lens - that's what a lot of us use it for.

Here's a sample shot : i was just messing around and found this wasp

F4
1/500 shutter
ISO 100

original

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/cokinuts/Misc/CopyofIMG_4257.jpg

100% crop | levels slightly adjusted | a hint of USM in photoshop

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/cokinuts/Misc/50test.jpg

[Al Nakib]

The build quality of this lens is acceptable but lacks USM. Also, my finger keeps hitting the focus ring as it is rotating (AF).

However, the quality of photos produced is just superb!

[bauerman]

Dollar for dollar - maybe the best deal in the Canon lineup of lenses...................

[mdm]

Ooohhh, not to close to that fellow.

[condyk]

Dollar for dollar - maybe the best deal in the Canon lineup of lenses...................

I agree ... but £ for £ :lol: A very good lens to have. Unfortunately I mainly used mine for taking ebay shots! Nevertheless, always produced sharp images and lots of keepers.

[jforget1]

I have this lens and for the price, you can't go wrong, takes a nice picture. Great for portraits.

[Alexandre Gabriel]

Ditto. The best bang-fpr-buck, no matter what some ppl say about 85 1.8, 70-200 4L... this is THE cheap-and-good lens.

[jabtas]

Some people say "you get what you pay for", now this may be true of lots of things BUT with the 50 1.8 you get far more than you pay for.



http://images.fotopic.net/y8jazt.jpg

Get one you will not be disappointed

[indigobox]

Hello,
I bought this lens the other day with my 350d body. Very very impressive, especially for the price. If you are buying it in the uk, then www.7dayshop.com is definately the cheapest place for it.
Cj.

[Keiffer]

I agree, You just can't go wrong with this lense!

[grego]

If you can, and stilll like the focal range, spend a little bit more for the 50 1/.4. But you still won't do wrong with this lens.

[tim]

I don't recommend this len any more, I sold mine and bought the 1.4 version. The reason is the focus motor is inaccurate, when you use wide apertures and close distances (which I do) the focus is often off. For people shooting non-demanding pictures (eg smaller apertures and larger distances) the lens is fine. The 1.4 is a much better lens in every way though.

[lostdoggy]

I don't recommend this len any more, I sold mine and bought the 1.4 version. The reason is the focus motor is inaccurate, when you use wide apertures and close distances (which I do) the focus is often off. For people shooting non-demanding pictures (eg smaller apertures and larger distances) the lens is fine. The 1.4 is a much better lens in every way though.

You're comparing a $70 lens to a $300+ lens thats really unfair. For casual users like me where production is not an issue cloe is usually good enough. But, after using it for the past 1000 shots I can't agree with your finding. Then again I don't have a f/1.4 to compare it to. Someday I guess!!!

I do would recommend the 50f/1.8 for learning, it gives the new photographer a chance to learn the effect of large aperature and since it doesn't zoom (aka prime lens) it teach one to move to find the desire perspective and framing rather then rely on the zooming of the lens.

[Sean-Mcr]

I have the 1.4 version, so can't really comment on the 1.8 too much. But going of what i've seen of it, it's great value and an ideal lens to start off with

[RAitch]

I don't recommend this len any more, I sold mine and bought the 1.4 version. The reason is the focus motor is inaccurate, when you use wide apertures and close distances (which I do) the focus is often off. For people shooting non-demanding pictures (eg smaller apertures and larger distances) the lens is fine. The 1.4 is a much better lens in every way though.

Tim, I remember we were having the same issues. Is the 1.4 better? The USM must be nice.

I know I've found the 1.8 works well with extension tubes... which is weird. I would have thought that would increase the problems, but it doesn't.

I generally don't use my 1.8 wide open up close any more.
I leave my tubes attached to the 1.8 and that's all I use it for any more... macro.

[Carzee]

This a cropped -to sq frame- close-up shot, not macro or bellows, just tripod and the nifty fifty on a 10D's 1.6 sensor.
http://i.pbase.com/v3/58/572458/1/45807767.44617260.050530dd003crop500sq.jpg

[Keiffer]

Nice shot Carzee. Got to remember to bring the spray bottle with me:-) Beginner or experienced, you can't go wrong with this lens.

[Carzee]

[ Ergh? ] Conan not know this bottle. Conan take mouthful river water and blow out with lips very tight....

[SHOWSP]

Carzee... love the rose.....great way to show what a good starter lens the 55m 1.8 is. I just wish I could use it better.

[Carzee]

I read the camera instructions thru and played with EC. The Sun was to the side. I shaded the rose a with clear polythene grocery bag stretched over a wire coathanger taped to a stick jammed down into the dirt. The I got a tinfoil covered cake board (12"x12") from kitchen and held up to the sun to reflect down into the interior of the rose. Used center metering and went EC-1 to underexpose it half a stop, that darkened the background. Dark back colour boosts colour of the foregrd.

---------btw Roanjohn owned this lens before me and had a accident where the lens suffered damage somehow and was apart. He put it back together and reckoned it was still working okay and sent it from NYC with the 10D. He reckoned correctly. Amazing bit of kit, should be sold with all new EOS bodies instead of those cruddy zooms.

[jester from fev]

I love my 50/ 1.8, really sharp and it can work in low light levels. I bought mine origionally to shoot pictures at an evening wedding do. Highly recommended.

[Jesper]

It seems fairly cheep, price wise, but is it worth the purchase and what can i use this for? Can I shoot clear shots at a distance, zoomed in?It's cheap, sharp, and fast (which means it has a large max. aperture, f/1.8 - which, in turn, means that you can still use faster shutter speeds and lower ISO settings even when there's not much light). It's the exception to the rule that more expensive = better.

You can NOT zoom in with this lens. In fact, it doesn't zoom at all. It has a fixed focal length, 50mm.

[RAitch]

...which, in turn, means that you can still use faster shutter speeds and lower ISO settings even when there's not much light

Keeping in mind, of course, that you'll lose effective DOF with the lower apertures... which in MOST cases is good. Anything past 4 feet is alright.. but closer than that at 1.8 will produce some weird focussing/DOF results. It's fine if used from a bit of a distance.

[Outdoor23]

the 50 1.8 is a great starter lens. The 50 1.4 is of course better but $300 more too. If you don't care too much about the build quality, then go for it!

[chemicalbro]

I got a 50 1.8 about 3 weeks ago, i wasn't really sure if i needed a 50mm prime..... and thought this lens would be a good way to find out..... I can say i am VERY pleased with this bargain (coz thats wot it is mate)..... cheap as chips but tastes like caviar.....:cool:

somehow it makes me less paranoid when its on the camera...

on the 350D its light as a feather (even on my macro tubes) and even if i did drop the lens whilst changing tubes or whatever, i could get another one free in a box of rice crispies ;)

[Carzee]

I haven't got a Drudge siren here, but...

Look at this new thread on FM:

RE: the 50mmf1.8 mk2 globetrotting lens thread.....
http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/254142

[jnevin]

Bought the 1.8 a year ago.
Great results but the motor noise, narrow focusing ring and lack of FTM are frustrating.
I sold it (easily) and bought the 1.4 a few weeks ago.
You could buy the 1.8 and if you don't like it change it later. Despite it's shortcomings it is unbeatable value for money.

[Carzee]

Another 50mm f1.8 mk2 sample, Canon 10D body, ISO800, Tv 1/220, Av f10, handheld cause my tripod was left behind at home... used a Hoya MRC Circular Polariser...:D

600kb warning for large sample:
http://www.pbase.com/pixelparker/image/46422899

This handheld pic has been blown big -used as product poster on shop walls. Seeing it tomorrow morning, have to drive 800kms to see it first, then 800 back... logging off for a day.

[Learner]

Wow, thats a nice shot. Makes it worth it for this type of picture!It's a great portrait lens - that's what a lot of us use it for.

Here's a sample shot : i was just messing around and found this wasp

F4
1/500 shutter
ISO 100

original

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/cokinuts/Misc/CopyofIMG_4257.jpg

100% crop | levels slightly adjusted | a hint of USM in photoshop

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y270/cokinuts/Misc/50test.jpg

[Learner]

Got the eyes great on this cutie! Some people say "you get what you pay for", now this may be true of lots of things BUT with the 50 1.8 you get far more than you pay for.



http://images.fotopic.net/y8jazt.jpg

Get one you will not be disappointed

[Learner]

Thank you everyone for the great examples and explanations. I will (when $$ allows)add this to my future collection of lenses.

Learner

[busterboy]

Pound for pound the 50mm f/1.8 is most certainly the best buy from canon for candid or portrait shots by far..;) Here in the UK it costs only a little over £50 which is a steal..:D

I went for the f/1.4 and it is my most used lens..

This was a random shot taken in my room (forget the background)

The quality is second to none..

http://www.timprocter.co.uk/images/candids/tacksharp.jpg

[mbellot]

What background? :D

This was a random shot taken in my room (forget the background)


http://www.timprocter.co.uk/images/candids/tacksharp.jpg

[jabtas]

Got the eyes great on this cutie!

Thanks Learner

[Nabil-A]

at F1.4 thats absolutely fully wicked busterboy...

cant wait to get my camera back from being calibrated to retest for this kind of quality.

[roanjohn]

It's a great lens!!!!

Ro1

[Acc]

Hi

I have one, and it is a great lens for the price.

But I found that at f 1.8 it is not that sharp. At f 4, it is ok.

This makes me wonder: how is the f 1.4 full open ? Is it sharp ? Can this lens be used wide open ? If not, the aperture advantage cannot be used.

Just wandering ...

ALberto

[Steve Parr]

I've found that I've gotten spoiled by the USM on some of my lenses. I normally won't use the 50mm f/1.8 in AF, as I can focus manually faster than the lens does.

At some point, I'll probably break down and get the f/1.4. As other have commented, it has a sturdier build quality and it has USM. Add to that the fact that it's a faster lens and, well, there ya' go.

To answer the original question, though, yes, I think it's a good lens. It's ridiculously inexpensive for an f/1.8 lens and, as examples in this thread show, it'll take a damn fine picture...

Steve

[DavidEB]

well I like having the lens because I can use it in low light for shots like this...
http://www.pbase.com/davideb/image/43949914.jpg


which I couldn't get with my other lenses. I also like the light weight, small size, and low cost.

But, it's not as good optically at f2.8 as my tamron zoom, set at 50mm f2.8, and the focus mechanism is awful.

[pehabe]

I have this lens and I love it... Focus is slow :(

http://img234.imageshack.us/img234/1543/tulip8et.jpg