Ack, my head's going to explode!

Okay, first let me start by saying a great big "thank you" to you guys. I've been learning so much on these forums I don't know what I'd do without you. Every time I have a question, this is the place I come. Now, the reason that you don't see a bunch of posts from me is because I'm a big fan of the *search* feature and I can generally find the answers to my questions this way. I haven't seen this question so I thought I'd throw it out there...

After a whole bunch of research/soulsearch/se​arching through my wallet for cash, I've pretty much decided on getting the 50mm f1.4 as my first lense purchase. I'm not so interested in the f1.8 but other comparably priced lenses are tempting because they are not a fixed focal length. Does the fixed focal length on the 50mm bug anyone that uses it? Do you just get used to not being able to zoom? I went to a local camera shop a few days ago and got to play around with a 50mm f1.8 and it was so strange to me! I've had my 350D since June of this year and the 18-55 kits lense, so does getting the 50mm make sense? I find that I mostly shoot in low light/indoors conditions, I love the look of available light portraits, I mostly take closer shots of my two toddlers and I love bokah. Can anyone think of a comparably priced lense that does what the 50mm f1.4 does but is a zoom, too? I'm pretty happy with my kit lense (for now) but not when it comes to low light and portrait work....

Okay, now I'm just rambling. I'm just nervous about the fixed focal length I guess.

Thanks for any help on this, and once again, you guys ROCK!

Greetings,
To match the image quality and speed of the EF50mm f1.4, only the L lenses will better it. May be you can consider the EF24-70 f2.8L or the EF70-200 f2.8L. However, Both lenses are not as fast as the EF50 f1.4, but cost very much more. Enjoy...

I would LOVE to consider the EF 24-70 f2.8L....but then I consider me and my little camera living on the street after my husband tosses us out the front door and it's not so appealing.

*Sigh* A girl can dream, right?

Greetings,
Again, equipment purchases always have to balance between needs (not want) and budget. If you're making a living out of it, then quality is of most important. 3rd party lens do offer good quality at a much lower price compare to Canon. You can look at Sigma lenses, its recent products are much well made than before. Enjoy...

If you have the $300 for the 50mm 1.4, go for it! I just got one this month after having my 10D forever. I have 3 zoom lenses, the 85 1.8 and they are great lenses, but I heard so much about the 50 1.4 that I had to try it out. The construction is superb for the price and the low light issue is really true, it helps a lot. But it isn't a wide lens. If you are doing portraits of a group, you will have to stand back. I also took the 50 1.4 to NYC with me, as the only lens because I wanted a fast lens. It was wonderful. I snapped away, but I did not get a single wide shot. If I had taken the 28-135 IS lens it would have been more versatile, but it would not have produced the sharp pictures. You have to decide which is more important to you. For a first lens, other than the kit, you may consider the Tamron or Sigma lenses for the $300. And for your issue of the husband not feeling supportive, get a part-time job and spend all the money you want. That's what I did. My husband supports my purchases now because I do take good pictures and he appreciates that. Give him a little time and he'll come around. Equipment is really nothing more than toys if you are not buying for business. I just ordered a 20D and that is as much or more than most computers now. Good luck!

SuzyView
A photographer all my life, just couldn't afford the equipment until now

Those are good recommendations, thanks! My guy is actually very emotionally supportive, we just can't afford to be financially supportive right now, lol. Thank goodness for Christmas money, right? Good idea about the p/t job, but then I'd have to pay for daycare and there goes all my camera money again, lol. Do you have a gallery of your pics you've taken with the 50? I'd love to see them!

sorashell,

I bought the 50mm 1.4 about a month ago ( I also own a 70-200mm 2.8L and a Tamron 28-75mm 2.8 ) and can tell you that when I saw the first few pictures from the 50, my jaw dropped. It really is that good. Its the sharpest lens I own. You wont be sorry if you pick one up. As has already been mentioned though you do need a fair bit of distance from your subject due to the 1.6 crop.

I can't thank of a zoom in the price range of the 50mm 1.4 that will perform as well. The 50mm is a great little lens. Do I miss the zoom when it is on my 300D? Yes. But I get use to the fact of having no zoom. Not really a problem when you start seeing the quality of the images the 50 produces.

As for the usefulness of the 50mm, you have to remember the 1.6 crop factor, in essence it becomes an 85 mm, which to me I love to do portraits with it. Now as for the 1.8 of the 1.4, I couldnt justify the extra money for the 1.4 over the 1.8, I would rather use that extra money and buy a 430EX flash or put it towards a zoom lens of some sort. I have used both, and there is very mininal difference in overall oicture quality. You just have to decide if you want that little extra. The build quality of the 1.8 obviously isnt as good as the 1.4, but who of us tries to destroy our equipment In summary, you cant go wrong with either 50mm...Good Luck and enjoy !

Sorashell,

My kit is nothing but primes, the 50mm f/1.4 included. It's a fine lens and you'll be happy with it. I've owned zooms in the past, but for me they actually hindered me photographically. I guess it's because I started with primes (20 yrs ago), so am very used to working with them.

As far as what a zoom does for you, try this experiment. Using your kit lens, set it to say the 24mm mark and look at an object like the TV. Now set it to 35mm and do the same. It should look as if you took a single step forward towards the TV. Now set it at 55mm. It should look as if you took two steps towards the TV.

What you'll notice is that the different settings are similiar to what you'd get by taking a step forward or backwards when composing a shot. So when shooting a prime, you're actually "zooming with your feet". There's another side benefit to this. It forces you to move around the scene you're trying to compose. By doing that you may find more interesting compositions, and if you're looking closely, they way the lighting interacts with your subject.

There's no need to be nervous about shooting a prime lens. It actually can open up a whole different way of "seeing" photographically.

Here's some links to my 50mm f/1.4 samples also....
Taken at f/1.4: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/lmitch/68143114​/
And at f/8: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/lmitch/68143142​/

I love my 50mm f1.4, however you must be told that it is not very sharp wide open. At f2.8 and above it is very hard to beat. It will procuce photos as sharp at f2.8 as other good lenses will at f5.6. To me, with the 1.6x factor, it seems to be the perfect lens to do portraits of the kids.

If you are doing portraits then using a prime won't be a problem as generally with portraiture you can control where you are and where your toddler is (within reason ). I find zoom lenses become indespensable when I am shooting subjects that I can't control my distance to, like moving wildlife, skiers and people at a party or wedding. But when I have the 50mm on (only the 1.8 at the moment) the low light control more than makes up for having to use sneaker zoom.

Oh, and I have used the 1.4 for a day and loved it. It will be my next lens purchase!

Don,

Mine is wonderfully sharp wide open. The thing to remember is that f/1.4 yields an exceptionally narrow depth of field. So narrow that even the most minor movement after achieving focus can show up in the resulting photo..

I think you will be very happy with the 50f1.4 and you get to live at home lol.

Sorashell,

I got Rebel XT in March 2005 and EF 50mm f/1.4 Prime was my first lens purchase after the kit lens . I bought this lens for the very same reason you want it...to take pictures of todlers...grandkids in my case

I love this lens and recommend it without hesitation...it works in low light, works well with flash, and is outstanding with natural light.

I took the attached shot of my youngest granddaughter at Micky Dee's when we were having lunch...the sunlight light was coming in from the left of the picture.

Buy this lens and enjoy...years down the road your kids will thank you for all the wonderful shots.

Jim

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