Noop Lens Question 50 mm f1.8 II

Just purchased XSi with kit lens.

What would a 50 mm f1.8 II allow me to do that the EF-S 18-55mm would not. I guess Im basically asking what is the difference. I understand that the one is a zoom and the other is not. Also from my reading the 50 mm is more of a portrait lens. What else would the use be for the 50 mm that the 18-55mm would not?

Thank You in advance. Have done much reading here and you guys are fantastic with information.

hi there and welcome, i also learned a lot from this site.

basically you have your zooms and your primes. primes allow for better low light shooting without the use of a tripod. lowest F/ on zooms are F/2.8 if i'm correct, primes go as low as F1.2 or F1.4. Take a few looks at the images from the 50 f1.8 archives and you will see its a pretty good affordable lens.

Just remember lower F/ (aperture) allows for more light to enter the camera to increase shutter speed but depth of view will be tiny (if thats the right word)

Biggest advantage: letting you shoot in lower light conditions.

Don't buy a lens unless you know why you need it.

I had the old kit lens (non-IS) that was a total dog. So I needed something cheap and with good IQ to keep me through several months it would take me to make a better informed decision. If the current 18-55 IS was available back then I'd get it instead and called it a day.

That said there's plenty of reasons to need 50/1.8. It's very sharp and has excellent IQ for the money. Its constant 1.8 aperture makes it very good for low light. It doesn't have the best built or fastest AF but at its price this doesn't matter. It's very good for portraits and as a backup.

I recently purchased the XSi w/ kit lens as well after upgrading from my S3IS, and shortly found out that if I wanted to shoot indoors, something like the 50mm 1.8 would be needed. I'm very happy with the lens.

Basically where I'm going in a round-a-bout way, is the 18-55 IS kit lens is WONDERFUL outdoors and as a walk around lens, however indoors with normal room lighting, the 50mm 1.8 comes in great handy with keeping ISO down and shutter speed up, especially for the price ($70-$90)!