Got my new 50 today!

It's the 50mm 1.8 for $74.95 from Best Price audiovideo! This was the first time I delt with them so I was a little apprehensive, but it showed up in 4 days perfect. I can't belive how much difference there is between this prime lens and the kit lens! It's un-freakin'-real!!! The test pics are MUCH sharper and dof seems easier to control. Is it this way with all prime vs. zoom? If so, I may have to change the wish list.

Congrats on the lens. That's one heck of a deal!

To answer your questions... the 50 is going to be quite a bit sharper than the kit lens. High-quality zoom lenses will be as sharp as your new 50.

DOF changes with focal length. At the 55mm focal length you will get more background blur (less DOF) with an aperture like f/3.5 than you will at the wide angle length of your lens (like the 17mm range). Another factor is how close you are to the subject. Being closer to the subject creates less DOF and critical focus becomes more important.

With a prime DOF is always going to be a constant. You can master the lens and it will be one less thing to worry about during a shoot.

that little lens is awesome! I still use it quite a bit (especially for portraits on the 20D)

have fun with your new toy!

The longer the focal length and closer to subject and bigger the aperture, the more blurred your background will be.

Congrats on the new lens. Primes are fun to have...and can save your butt when there's little light to work with!

Nah, most pro level zooms are pretty darn close to the sharpness of a prime.
Cheap consumer zooms have a harder time having the resolving power of primes though.

Congrats, the first step to a very expensive journey

4x4 you got that right LOL

i got mine the other day (tuesday)
i know what you mean about the sharpness, even my girlfriend noticed the 50 was sharper than my 18-55 kit lens

i dont think my 50 f1.8 has come off my 350d since i bought it