50mm question - what would you do?

I just got the 430EX recently and I have had the 50 1.8 for a few months. It sounds like you will be needing the flash. I found that the 430 really lights up the living room well. You can really see limitations of the built-in flash, but the 430 provides excellent, even light when bounced off the ceiling.

I bought the 50 1.8 instead of the 1.4 because it was so inexpensive. I figured that I would use the 1.8 for a while and when I started to see the limitations of the 1.8 or if it breaks, I would upgrade to the 1.4.

I would say to get the flash, then decide on the 1.4 vs the 1.8 based on the advise provided on this forum. I think you will enjoy either lens - just make sure you know the advantages\disadvantag​es of the lenses. This forum provides excellect information.

Get a 35mm. Forget the 50mm focal length on a 1.6X conversion. The 35mm is the equivalent of a normal 50mm range on a full frame camera. The 50mm on a a 1.6X is too tight too often for indoor/outdoor regular shots. Trust me I found out the hard way when I had a 300D and the30D...all 1.6X cameras.

buckwheat wrote in post #2486229
Get a 35mm. Forget the 50mm focal length on a 1.6X conversion. The 35mm is the equivalent of a normal 50mm range on a full frame camera. The 50mm on a a 1.6X is too tight too often for indoor/outdoor regular shots. Trust me I found out the hard way when I had a 300D and the30D...all 1.6X cameras.

this is also a good recommendation....

50mm can be a bit long especially on a 1.6 crop indoors. i have a tough time using mine in my living room (it's a pretty small living room though)

I agree with the people here that advise getting the flash. When you become accustomed to bouncing the flash with a white card or simular device attached to the flash head, you will be thrilled with the results. You may be able to shoot at f8 ( bounced ) with your kit lens. Most any lens will give good sharp photos at f8. Kids are fast, and when I'm taking snap shots of them, I want more depth of focus, and the f5.6 or f8 will give me that. Shoot at f1.8 or f2 and the depth of focus may be too shallow.

I don't have 1.4 and honestly I never used it, but I used 1.8 a lot. Lens is little loud, but I never had problems with AF on 20D. After looking at tests I can not justify spending 3x more for a little faster lens. If you have money, go with a faster one, it is better built, slightly faster and looks more serious. Sharpness? 1.8 is very sharp lens. This one was taken at f2.8.

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1.8 and the flash now and save for the 1.4 later!

Like others allready mentioned go for the 50 1.4 it's a very fine lens with a much better performance in every way then the 1.8.

Good luck and Happy New Year...

Pete-eos wrote in post #2485481
1.8 + 430EX, the kit lens is even usable indoors with the 430EX its awesome.

I agree with that. For kids around the house type shots a flash is much more important as others have said.
I have 100's of shots of my kids doing all sorts, even jumping of things and it makes no difference what lens i used apart from FL and if i wanted narrow DOF.
The way i see it (and i could be wrong here but it works for me) is that with a fast lens in low light you have narrow DOF. if the subjects are moving then its harder to get them in focus. with a bounced flash you dont need to have such a narrow DOF and so its easier to get one or more subjects in focus.
I had the 50mm f/1.8II and loved it but i now have the f/1.4 and its my fav lens at the moment. i even have a 24-105L but find that as my flat is quite small and cluttered i like to throw the background out of focus as much as poss so ill use the 50mm f/1.4 most of the time around f/2-f/3.5.

To the OP. have you looked at the Canon 35mm f/2.0? its cheaper than the 50mm f/1.4 and wider so may be more use indoors. Its a very good, small lens.

My votes for the 1.8 and flash. The first things i got for my setup were a decent tripod and a flash. Indoor with kids and family=flash!

Another vote for either of the Canon 35mm. Very good focal length on a 1.6 crop

i had the same dilema recently, decided on the 1.4 as it is better built and arguably better AF, bought the 430EX at the same time. very impressed with both for all the reasons other posters have stated. dig deep, buy both and never look back.

Whatever 50mm you get, I would definitely recommend the flash. It will open up new worlds for you...especially indoors.

I used to use my camera only on weekends b/c of work but now that I can shoot with my 580EX and get great results, I find myself torturing my cats for photo ops with the flash.

It's a matter of time until they hate me and pee on my stuff!!!

An external flash should be the first thing you buy in my opinion. Get the 1.8 and a flash and you will love indoor shooting!

Ask 4 different photographers and get 8 different opinions....LOL

also get a good flash 580EX