Decide between Canon 50mm f/1.4 or 50mm f/1.8 with 430EX II Flash

Probably beaten to death, but can anyone recommend if it is worth to keep my refurb Canon 50mm f/1.4 or keep my existing 50mm f/1.8 with a newly bought 430EX II Flash. Costs offset between flash and 50mm f/1.4. I have 60D.

I am still deciding between New 15-85 and Canon Refub 24-105L at this point in time, so I am most likely keeping my 430EX II Flash. I mainly shoot kids indoors and still learning photography, so fast prime wouldn't hurt, but flash would definitely help. I am still looking at all options in my arsenal.

I liked the 50mm f1.4 a lot more than the 50mm f1.8, but I would never be without a good bounce and swivel flash. So Keep the flash, and then work out which makes the most sense among the remaining lenses. I'd probably keep the 50mm f1.4, 15-85 and 430EX.

I am in the market of a 50mm prime as well. I went to my local camera store this morning. I think I find my answer, the sigma 50mm f/1.4 is better than both the canon f/1.4 and f/1.8. If I were you, I will sell both of the canon and get a sigma. If money is an issue, then get an used one. Build quality is way better on the sigma, I like the size of it. From my hands on experience, the AF is better on the sigma as well. Although the canon f/1.4 is better than the canon f/1.8 in AF but still hunts for focus quite a bit. Just my 2 cents.

tkbslc wrote in post #12810138
I liked the 50mm f1.4 a lot more than the 50mm f1.8, but I would never be without a good bounce and swivel flash. So Keep the flash, and then work out which makes the most sense among the remaining lenses. I'd probably keep the 50mm f1.4, 15-85 and 430EX.

I have heard glowing reviews of 15-85, but still trying to decide on variable aperture & wide angle on 15-85 v/s Fixed Aperture on 24-105 with loss of wide angle plus weather sealing etc etc. I mean for now wide angle is not the most important thing to me since I can always add UWA lens at later point in time.

The only thing I am concerned about is the performance on f3.5+ apertures indoors with flash. I think you can do crazy fast shutter speeds with 430EX II, but f4 might still win the battle. I have yet to test it, but I am sure others here already know.

PS - Red Ring around lens is not important to me. I am still on the fence for Tamron 17-50 non VC, but that is fully redundant with 15-85 and partly with 24-105.

ateet wrote in post #12810225
I have heard glowing reviews of 15-85, but still trying to decide on variable aperture & wide angle on 15-85 v/s Fixed Aperture on 24-105 with loss of wide angle plus weather sealing etc etc. I mean for now wide angle is not the most important thing to me since I can always add UWA lens at later point in time.

The only thing I am concerned about is the performance on f3.5+ apertures indoors with flash. I think you can do crazy fast shutter speeds with 430EX II, but f4 might still win the battle. I have yet to test it, but I am sure others here already know.

PS - Red Ring around lens is not important to me. I am still on the fence for Tamron 17-50 non VC, but that is fully redundant with 15-85 and partly with 24-105.

If flash is allow at the indoor venue that you are shooting....by all means use flash. You will have sharper images and less chance for camera shake. F/4 is simply not enough for low light indoor use, the IS on the 24-105 will help though. IMO, flash will still be the winner.