50/1.4 or 18-50/2.8?

New here. Wish I had stumbled upon this place sooner! I could spend hours soaking up the collective wisdom offered by everyone here.

Speaking of which, I am in need of some of that superior wisdom to help me sort out a lens choice question. I'm looking to add a lens to my bag. I have a Canon 28-105 f/3.5, a Canon 70-200L f/4, and a Canon 50/1.8.

I am looking for a good lens for indoor shooting without a flash. As I said, I have a 50/1.8, but with it's focus issues and kind of cheap feel, I'm considering replacing it.

I'm considering the following:

1) Canon 50/1.4. Very good lens, and will work well in low light. Faster than the 50/1.8, and much better built. Would I gain much by replacing the 50/1.8 with the 50/1.4?

2) Alternatively, I'm considering something in the range of 17-50mm. While not as fast, it may be fast enough for what I want to do. Since I also do not have a zoom in this range, I'm thinking this may be a good addition instead of just upgrading my 50mm. Lenses I'm looking at in this category include the Sigma 18-50 f/2.8-4.5 SLD, and the Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 VC. Thoughts on these lenses?

Would definitely appreciate the thoughts. I don't have a lot of spare cash, as this is just a hobby, so I need to be selective when adding lenses. Until I win the lottery, that is .

Thanks much!

Based on the fact you are considering the Tamron, I assume you have a crop camera. With this in mind, I would go with the Sigma 30/F1.4 lens. I also have the Canon 50/1.8 lens and indoors it is at times a little long. It doesn't focus as well as the 50/1.4 and has a cheap build, but it does take some good pictures.

snj1013 wrote in post #9619983
Based on the fact you are considering the Tamron, I assume you have a crop camera. With this in mind, I would go with the Sigma 30/F1.4 lens. I also have the Canon 50/1.8 lens and indoors it is at times a little long. It doesn't focus as well as the 50/1.4 and has a cheap build, but it does take some good pictures.

Guess I'm truly a newbie here. Not sure what a crop camera is. I have a 400D/XTi.

ms960 wrote in post #9620002
Guess I'm truly a newbie here. Not sure what a crop camera is. I have a 400D/XTi.

You have a crop camera.

snj1013 wrote in post #9620013
You have a crop camera.

Thanks for clarifying that for me .

So, you'd take the Sigma 30/F1.4 lens over the Canon 50/1.4 or either of the wide-angle zooms I listed?

Depends on what you are shooting the 50 1.4 is good or the 85 1.8 the sigma 30 is a great lens as well and the Tamron is nice just loud like your current 50 1.8


Other than "Cheap feeling" why sell the 50 ?

ms960 wrote in post #9620025
So, you'd take the Sigma 30/F1.4 lens over the Canon 50/1.4 or either of the wide-angle zooms I listed?

I would, an f/2.8 lens wont give you THAT much more speed over your 18-55IS. Not compared to an f/1.4.

The Sig 30 is a great lens, I use mine all the time indoors on my 40D

SQMazda6 wrote in post #9620053
Depends on what you are shooting the 50 1.4 is good or the 85 1.8 the sigma 30 is a great lens as well and the Tamron is nice just loud like your current 50 1.8


Other than "Cheap feeling" why sell the 50 ?

I'm shooting indoor things such as kids (stationary/portraits) , stationary objects and the like (table settings, etc.).

I'd only consider selling the 50/1.8 because of it's known auto-focus issues.

Is it a general consensus that a fixed-length lens like the Sigma 30 is preferred over a 17-50 or the like?

ms960 wrote in post #9620025
Thanks for clarifying that for me .

So, you'd take the Sigma 30/F1.4 lens over the Canon 50/1.4 or either of the wide-angle zooms I listed?

If you are considering to spend the ~$300 on the Canon 50 f/1.4, and based on your needs, the Sigma 30 f/1.4 is the best lens in that range for the price. The 1.4 would give you the fastest aperture (biggest opening) and the 30mm is a suitable range for indoor shooting. You do not have to cram into the corner to get a full body picture. With this, you can keep the 50 f/1.8 when you want the increased reach indoors, and it is a great portrait lens. Its optics are the best bang for the buck.

I upgraded my nifty fifty to the 50mm f/1.4, but I was not satisfied for indoor shoots home, friends, family, small spaces shoots, so I got Sigma 30 f/1.4, and realized I didnt used the 50 much any more, so I traded my 50 for 85, then got back a nifty fifty to fill in the gap, and because its so cheap.

The Tamron 17-50 is a great lens, but it is f/2.8, compared to 1.4, it makes a difference. You will probably want a flash with the Tamron lens. A body with higher ISO would make the Tamron more useful in low light as well.

ms960 wrote in post #9620088
I'm shooting indoor things such as kids (stationary/portraits) , stationary objects and the like (table settings, etc.).

I'd only consider selling the 50/1.8 because of it's known auto-focus issues.

Is it a general consensus that a fixed-length lens like the Sigma 30 is preferred over a 17-50 or the like?

Primes (fixed lens) are almost always better than zooms. The trade off is that you can not zoom, so you have to decide which is more important. The ability to zoom, or the better primes, with its more work of changing lens when you want a different range. The popular "prime kit" would be something like 30 f/1.4, 50 f/1.4 (or f/1.8 to be economical), and 85 f/1.8.

Or get the Tamron 17-50 and a flash.

The 50 f/1.8 is not a major problem with autofocus issues, at least not on mine. If you are doing stationary objects, its better to use a tripod and manual focus, and in this case, you dont have to worry even if you copy does have autofocus issues.

I use primes anytime I have "shoots" and use zooms when I need the added flexibility of zooming in and out.

Are you shooting in a "studio type" setting, where they go and pose on a background or with props or something? Or are you just taking pictures of your friends and family kids in action? The Sigma 30 is the "go to lens"for indoors without flash.

professorman wrote in post #9620139
Primes (fixed lens) are almost always better than zooms. The trade off is that you can not zoom, so you have to decide which is more important. The ability to zoom, or the better primes, with its more work of changing lens when you want a different range. The popular "prime kit" would be something like 30 f/1.4, 50 f/1.4 (or f/1.8 to be economical), and 85 f/1.8.

Or get the Tamron 17-50 and a flash.

The 50 f/1.8 is not a major problem with autofocus issues, at least not on mine. If you are doing stationary objects, its better to use a tripod and manual focus, and in this case, you dont have to worry even if you copy does have autofocus issues.

I use primes anytime I have "shoots" and use zooms when I need the added flexibility of zooming in and out.

Are you shooting in a "studio type" setting, where they go and pose on a background or with props or something? Or are you just taking pictures of your friends and family kids in action? The Sigma 30 is the "go to lens"for indoors without flash.

I'm not shooting formal portraits against a background. Just shooting various spontaneous scenes with the desire to not need my flash in those situations.

All excellent points. I could see a possibility of getting the Sigma 30/1.4 and potentially selling the 50/1.8. I do like my 28-105 but it's just not fast enough for what I want do do, and find the 50/1.8 has too much reach for many indoor scenes.

So, I will take a serious look at the Sigma 30.

Thanks so much!

Yes, with a FFLL (fixed focal length lens) aka prime lens, you will get wider aperture for the same price or cheaper than you will get on a zoom/telephoto.
I would play with your kit lens and put it at 30mm and see how you like the three FL on the primes (30, 50, And 85). The 85 1.8 is fastest AF lens of the three as it is the only one with ring USM (the best type of focusing motor out right now) I'm pretty sure.
There is always a war between zooms and primes and you will get lots of your opinions.

Good example of zoom vs prime that you have is 18-55 kit vs 50 1.8
you pay 200 for the 18-55 by itself and only 100 for the 50 1.8,

About the crop... Basically every camera sensor is compared to a 35mm frame negative unless you go to medium or larger format (not relavent here though). When you have an APS-c sized sensor like you 400D the sensor is only about 60% the size of the full frame therefore if you put a 50mm lense on a FF camera and on an APS-C the APS-C looks more zoomed in (80mm equiv.)

Looks like everyne beat me too it, took me so long type that up on my phone

Doing a quick read of reviews of the Sigma 30/1.4 EX DC HSM lens on Amazon, some are reporting it has some serious focus/clarity issues. Many are reporting poor results with this lens. Are these anecdotal, or is there an issue with this lens?

The sigma tends to have front and back focusing issues per copy. You need to find one that does not have these issues. I hear that the quality control is lacking a little, but if yo get one, all it needs is for Sigma to calibrate it, and you have a dead on focus and it will become your most loved lens.

Mine was okay when I got it. I bought mine local.