50mm Prime why so popular

The 50mm 1.4 with 20D is simply magic with a newborn baby. It's not hard to move around to frame what you want, no flash required, a bit hard to get focus sometimes (but hey) and great shots.

I'd take the 50 or especially the 85f1.8 over the kit for ANY assignment. They are great lenses. Nothing against the kit lens, it does a fine job....but it just doesn't compare to these 2 primes.

-daniel

50 was always the most popular focal length, therefore the most research and technology as gone into it. It's easiest to make sharp, and since so many are produced the cost is low.

I <3 my 50/1.8, and can't wait till I can get the 1.4. 80 is a good length for portraits!

as far as sharpness goes..my 50mm 1.8 is as good as my 70-200 f/4 L...in the contrast/color area it falls a bit short but i still think its a must have if you don't get the 1.4

>>as far as sharpness goes..my 50mm 1.8 is as good as my 70-200 f/4 L...in the contrast/color area it falls a bit short but i still think its a must have if you don't get the 1.4<<

i'd say that's a fair statement. my mark I is on ebay now. for portraits i prefer my tamron 28-75 or canon 70-200 f4L.

i figure i may still need a fast lens but i'll wait and see. if i do i'll prolly strongly consider the canon 35 f2 because the length is more usable than the 50.

....the sigma 30 1.4 also sounds good but is way more than i would want to spend.

for now, i am very happy with the three zooms !

ed rader

Let's not forget, that there is third option for 50mm prime, which is 50/2.5 macro. Even though its noisy, hunts in low light (since its macro without USM) and only offers 1:2 macro capabilities, its good enough for my needs on 50mm range.
For me, 50mm lenses usage is pretty much limited to taking pictures of flowers and other small (static) items, because 50mm on 1.6x camera always seems to be too narrow or too wide for me.
I use 85/1.8 as my low light lense on tele end as well as generic tele on hiking trips (if I am 3-7 days trip with tent, etc. and have to cut down weight and size) and 35/2 (or possible 28/1.8 or Sigma 30/1.4 in future) is used for generic low light use.

180 deg only if your eyes protude from your eye socket and closer to your ears, and that is not an opinion.
If your eyes can see 180 deg then you would be able to see the ends of a ruler placed directly paralle to your eyes with the center of the ruler on your bridge of your nose while stare straight ahead.

The only reason you think that you cansee 180 deg is because your eye ball scans side to side rapidly and by turning yur head. If you where to look directly at an object your angle of view is much less then 180 deg. The 14mm lens has an wide angle of view of 114 deg and the 20mm has a wide angle of view of 94 deg.

These 50mm lens offer the absolute lowest price and very sharp high quality output. Sometimes that's all one can afford when starting out.

The sigma 50mm EX DG is the sharpest 50mm made. At 4.65 and rated "outstanding" it is several points higher than any other 50mm lens. It is also a 1:1 macro, which is what I use it for more than a general 50mm type shot. Light weight and light price at about $ 250.

by the way, instead of thinking of it as an 80mm equivilant, consider it a 50mm with in camera cropping.

Why do you think people would only want 32mm?? are you saying all lenses that are non-wide is undesirable?