50 1.4 or 50 1.8

I know, this as been hashed a bit, but here's my thing. I'm covered for primes, biggest gap is 35 to 85. I'm looking at getting one of the above as inexpensive glass for my 40D, which is my 3rd body that I take everywhere without worry of theft. The $300 difference in price wouldn't kill me if I felt the 1.4 had that much more to offer in build and optics.

What says anybody that's experienced both?

Thanks
Ralph

Just had a pretty bad experience with 50 1.8 mk2 after a good 3 year run.
The lens stuck on the 7D and could have taken the 7D with it.

So yes - take my suggestion with a pinch of salt (or bitterness due to my recent experience) but I would suggest go with the 1.4

I love my 1.8 but if I had a bit more cash, I would go with the 1.4 just because of the feel of the 1.8. It feels like a toy. I'm afraid I will break it but overall IQ is pretty good considering it's a $100 lens.

ps_n_dslr wrote in post #12846535
Just had a pretty bad experience with 50 1.8 mk2 after a good 3 year run.
The lens stuck on the 7D and could have taken the 7D with it.

So yes - take my suggestion with a pinch of salt (or bitterness due to my recent experience) but I would suggest go with the 1.4

Thanks
Reading your account on the thread you started got me thinking of doing the 50mm again (I've contemplated it for a while).

RHChan84 wrote in post #12846542
I love my 1.8 but if I had a bit more cash, I would go with the 1.4 just because of the feel of the 1.8. It feels like a toy. I'm afraid I will break it but overall IQ is pretty good considering it's a $100 lens.

At $100, it's almost a curiosity to buy and try. I'm might be more concerned about it failing and tweaking my camera body

Save up for 2 more months.


Get the L.

You'll not regret it.

My two lens dream kit is the 50L and the 70-200(check)

Half way there(isn't that a song lyric??)

pyrojim
sandwiching the 50L between the 35L and the 85LII would be a reach, not that I haven't thought about it, but I really want something that I'm not worried about getting pinched.

I have both. I'd say, buy the 1.8 for under $100 and use it. If you feel it's holding you back, trade up to a 1.4. There's not a huge difference.The 1.4 handles low light and flare situations a bit better, produces a bit nicer background at large apertures, and focuses better (faster, better low light, +manual focus).

i've just recently gone from f/1.8 to f/1.4

the 50/1.8 served me well for 2 years with no problems or issues but i use 50mm so much [>95% of the time!!] i decided to upgrade to the 50/1.4

it is a much better lens obviously & IF i had the money 2 years ago i would have went with it then but like a lot of people i guess budget counts at the beginning so you go with what you can afford & then just continue with it because it does the job.

go for the 50/1.4 IMO

check my Flickr for 50/1.4 shots - virtually everything on there recently

50 f/1.8 is great, but mine mis-focused a bit in very low light, which was important to me. In good light, it works great and the picture quality is very similar to the f/1.4.

I once had the 24L, 35L, 50L and 85L and got rid of the 50L because it NEVER got used. I always reached for the 35mm or 85mm instead. I am now in a similar situation as you and I want to get another 50mm, but don't want to spend a whole lot because it wouldn't get much use. Between the two, I'd opt for the 1.4 just because of the low light accuracy. However, if you shoot in good light usually, this should not matter much. Good luck!

windpig wrote in post #12846492
I know, this as been hashed a bit, but here's my thing. I'm covered for primes, biggest gap is 35 to 85. I'm looking at getting one of the above as inexpensive glass for my 40D, which is my 3rd body that I take everywhere without worry of theft. The $300 difference in price wouldn't kill me if I felt the 1.4 had that much more to offer in build and optics.

What says anybody that's experienced both?

Thanks
Ralph

50 f1.8 is plenty good for non-professional occasional use. Build quality of nifty 50 is not so bad if you consider it only cost $100. Given how rarely one finds the 50mm FL useful, I can't imagine this one will get much use. For many instances, the 50mm FL is either too short or too long.

I'd say get the cheap one and see how you like it. You will always have the option to upgrading to f1.4 later if you shall like it. Changes are you will be better off saving that money and put it towards other useful gears like a nice standard zoom or flash or whatever you desire.

Have the cash? get the 1.4 if you can
Otherwise, buy the 1.8 for 100$ and sell it later for 85, loose some change and upgrade to 1.4

there is nothing wrong with the 1.8 i love mine. i hear that the mkI is better than the newer mkII but honestly for the price just take care of it and it will be fine. it is made completely of plastic and glass of course.

Like many of the posters here, I've used the 50mm f/1.8 II for years. It is my most used lens. It lives on my 5D. I am only now contemplating replacing it because I feel like I shouldn't be using my cheapest lens more than all the rest. That being said, it generally focuses fast and accurately, and it's very sharp. It's even acceptably sharp wide open.

I have never used the 1.4, but I can't imagine it would be worse than the 1.8. I think you'd be happy buying either one. Hopefully you find it as useful as I do!

Here is a shot of my son, 11 days old, wide open:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …/13931652@N00/5​794686577/

Try 1.8. If you don't like it, then sell it and get f1.4.

I bought my nifty fifty about 3 years ago for $79... then sold it for $105 recently. Then upgraded to Sigma 50mm 1.4. Not sure how much I gained. Well, I think I did gain better auto focus in the dark no doubt.

Nifty fifty is plenty sharp.