Nifty fifty....prime or not?

Here's my dilemma...I've never used a "fixed" lens before and would like to try one. I've read SO many good things about the nifty fifty lens, and obviously there is a large price difference between the prime and the not-prime (would this be subprime?? seriously not trying to be dumb or a smart aleck here).

Would it be better to wait, possibly several years, to purchase the prime lens, or to purchase the non-prime lens in the more near future? I'm thinking that I'd almost be better off purchasing the non-prime to see if I even like it...and to learn, those sorts of things, and save toward a prime piece of glass, but I welcome other thoughts.

I'm a work-at-home mom...this is one of the reasons why funds are limited.

cant go wrong with the nifty fifty, doesnt break the bank, i would get it, i love mine

the thrifty fifty is a good deal

Errrrmmmm, are you talking about the 50 1.8 and the 50 1.4? These are both primes. The 1.4 has a better build quality, but many people on a budget are completely happy with the 1.8. It has a very acceptable image quality, but is a bit slower to focus. You have listed 2 zoom lenses in your signature, the addition of one of the 50mm primes would work nicely with what you now have.

No question, the 1.8 is a prime (same as any fixed focal length lens) and a finer way to 'get' into primes you'd be hard pushed to find....... I still use mine, even though I got a 50L about three weeks ago. Great little lens.

+1

try it out, its a fun lens to use. its cheap, small & light.

mounted on your XTi, it will feel like a P&S.

Most "Prime" lenses have good or excellent Image Quality, but that is not what makes them "Prime".

Just in case anyone might be confused, I would like to point out that any lens that is not a zoom lens, is a prime lens.

Sort of like a prime number can only be divided by ONE, a prime lens has only ONE focal length.

If you have a "crop" camera, you might be better off to look at one of the other economical Primes like the 28mm f/2.8 or the 35mm f/2.0 ,instead of the 50mm f/1.8.

Thank you all! You clinched my decision, and thank you for the education too. Sometimes I get a wee bit overwhelmed with lens-speak.

Primes are great for a number of reasons but the most important ones are they are usually sharper, faster and smaller than zooms of similar focal lengths.. But one very important factor they are a great learning lens.. You really learn about composition using primes.. Whats the saying?? "Your legs are the best zooms"..

The Nifty Fifty is a wonderful little lens..

nordstern1 wrote in post #6023174
+1

try it out, its a fun lens to use. its cheap, small & light.

mounted on your XTi, it will feel like a P&S.

LOL, I used to get pretty frustrated with my P&S...not positive that's a good thing. lol!

Like my Nifty fifty a lot.

i'm just curious...which two lenses were you debating between...as the whole one's a prime, one's a non-prime confused me..

I think "DoodleBunz" was just using the words non-prime (or sub prime) to mean the cheaper, less well built 50mm 1.8 as opposed to the 50mm 1.4, both of which are "Prime" lenses.

I purchased my nifty-fifty for $50 a year ago. Smoking little lens and you CANNOT go wrong w/this little guy.

NIFTY ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!