niftyfifty vs. 50mm f/2.5 compact macro

I have a Ef 50mm f2.5 Compact Macro and I am wondering if I should get the 'Nifty Fifty' 50mm 1.8

Is there much difference in sharpness, etc other than the macro part? I know there will be difference between
f2.5 & f1.8

JimmyJames

i have had both and the 2.5 is sharper corner to corner. The nifty is maybe a bit faster to focus in good light.

Thanks for your quick reply. I just don't want to spend the $$$ for 50mm and not see any differences between the two.
JimmyJames

The 50 macro was the first used lens I ever bought. It was quite sharp but the AF was fairly slow and very loud.

jimmyjames wrote in post #7638173
I have a Ef 50mm f2.5 Compact Macro and I am wondering if I should get the 'Nifty Fifty' 50mm 1.8

I don't think you'll find anything to be gained by getting the nifty fifty in addition to the Compact Macro. The CM will do everything the 1.8 will do, and generally do it better, especially in terms of sharpness. The only exception is the speed, but really 1.8 is not different enough from 2.5 to be worth spending the money and taking up space in the bag. And the CM has better bokeh.

If you want to add a faster fifty, wait until you can afford the 1.4--that's a more strategically useful move, it seems to me.

Rick "who followed his own advice" Denney

rdenney wrote in post #7638484
I don't think you'll find anything to be gained by getting the nifty fifty in addition to the Compact Macro. The CM will do everything the 1.8 will do, and generally do it better, especially in terms of sharpness. The only exception is the speed, but really 1.8 is not different enough from 2.5 to be worth spending the money and taking up space in the bag. And the CM has better bokeh.

If you want to add a faster fifty, wait until you can afford the 1.4--that's a more strategically useful move, it seems to me.

Rick "who followed his own advice" Denney

Thanks Rick "who followed his own advice" Denney.

Your advice is what I was kinda thinking about in the far reaches of my mind. Did not know about the bokeh factor tho. All makes sense. I had been reading about the nifty fifty on this board/forum and how everyone had one loved, etc.

I did do a search to see if my original question had been asked, but found nothing.

Maybe I just save up for a L lens.
Thanks JimmyJames

jimmyjames wrote in post #7638860
Maybe I just save up for a L lens.

There a LOT of room to explore between the nifty fifty and an L lens.

The reason the nifty fifty is so popular is because it's a really cheap way for zoom-bound folks to realize just how good even cheap primes can be. And at the price, it's hardly a burden for most folks to get one to go along with their kit zoom.

But for those who have the 50/1.4 or the Compact Macro, it would be redundant.

Rick "who'd rather spend $75 on some old manual focus lens" Denney

Rick I do have a few other lens: Sigma 10/20mm,
18-55 IS Canon. 55-250 IS Canon, and the kit lens(18-55) and a non-IS 75-300mm Canon.

I used the Rebel XTi
JimmyJames

OP...keep the CM and keep an eye out for a MF 50/1.4 lens...many can be had or under $50 (plus adapter) and that would give you lowlight capability