Is an "L" better than a cheap prime?

fstop11.net wrote in post #2169746
The Canon EF 50mm F1.8 produces excellent IQ results compared to my 100 - 400 L IS and 17- 40 L F4

Primes are just great.

By that do you mean the nifty produces noticable sharper and better images than 100-400 and 17-40? If it's true, you either have a really brilliant 50mm or some horrible L zooms. Not to mention you can't directly compare them as they don't share the same focal length.

Shoot4Fun wrote in post #2169290
Would anyone mind offering an opinion about whether my inexpensive 50mm 1.8 prime (~$80) would make a better portrait lens than my ridiculously expensive EF 35-350 L? I'm not asking about focal lengths, just whether a cheap prime is better than an expensive zoom.

Yes. 100%

considering you have an APS-C body, the 50mm f/1.8 makes an excellent portrait lens. If you are looking for the best stuff, be prepared to spend the money! If you are willing to make a few comprimises on aperture, build quality, and AF noise levels then the 50mm f/1.8 makes an excellent lens. I spend double that and got the 50mm f/1.8 MK1 for its better build quality, focus ring, and cult status. The 50mm f/1.4 is better, but costs 4 times as much as the 1.8mk2. The f/1.2L is probably going be better than that... but costs 20 times what the f/1.8 costs!

Even an L zoom would be hard pressed to out perform the sharpness and bokeh-ability of the 50mm primes. They are REALLY sharp, even wide open. Once you stop those lenses down to f/2.8 or so, they have downright fantastic IQ. If you want to knock out the background, its no problem with the ultra big aperture.

sirsloop wrote in post #2171426
Even an L zoom would be hard pressed to out perform the sharpness and bokeh-ability of the 50mm primes. They are REALLY sharp, even wide open. Once you stop those lenses down to f/2.8 or so, they have downright fantastic IQ. If you want to knock out the background, its no problem with the ultra big aperture.

Theres a ton of 50mm owners who would disagree with you there, but i guess in a properly lit portrait environment this would not be a factor. But its difficult for me to see my 50mm f1.4 sharper than either my L´s untill i start to hit f5.6