Canon 50mm f1.8, the best bargain in lenses

[rtphokie]

This lens can easily be found for under $80 but produces results which rival lenses costing many times more. I finally bought one and my only regret is not doing it long ago.

My first SLR many many years ago was a Minolta which shipped with a 50mm prime lens. It's a great lens to learn with. It's a lens everyone should have. The Canon XT and XTI should ship with this lens.

My first trip out with this lens, taking my son to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC

 

[DizGeek]

I had one once but sold it with my D60....great lens at an incredible price.

 

[JR6ooo4]

'Gotta have one!

I've posted this too many times but it's another example:

Date Taken 2006-03-27 19:16:43
Camera Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XT
Exposure Time 0.0025s (1/400)
Aperture f/1.8
ISO 1600
Focal Length 50mm (80mm in 35mm)
Exposure Program aperture priority
Exposure Bias -67/100 EV


Mikeeee

 

[bostran1]

I'm still waiting to get mine. But for the price, its at the top of my list.

 

[Lachesis00]

it is quickly becoming one of my favorite lens!

My colors are off because I was using the laptop *grrr*. More human error then anything.

 

[jann1033]

it is quickly becoming one of my favorite lens!

My colors are off because I was using the laptop *grrr*. More human error then anything.

love the feet! that is so cute

i do have a question about the lens, no way mine would ever focus as closely as the butterfly or bee and i don't think it would even crop that much so what is your secret there. mine is very sharp but is very hard to focus. i've tried it at different apertures and it's still hard. maybe i should try with the new rebel i got and see if it is better now

 

[rtphokie]

i do have a question about the lens, no way mine would ever focus as closely as the butterfly or bee and i don't think it would even crop that much so what is your secret there. mine is very sharp but is very hard to focus. i've tried it at different apertures and it's still hard. maybe i should try with the new rebel i got and see if it is better now

This is not a macro lens. The closest focusing distance something like 18 inches. The 50mm f1.4 lens costing several times more also suffers from this limitation. The bee and snake above are cropped. For the sharpness this lens produces, I dont mind cropping the results down that much.

 

[DueyDooDah]

I assume that 50mm was the prime lens of choice for SLR cameras, so is a 50mm prime still a good choice for dSLR? Due to sensor sizing, the 50mm is really an 80mm on my camera. Shouldn't a ~30mm be used to get the 50mm effect? Or is my assumtion incorrecct?

 

[dburg30]

Basically, the sub 80 buck price is the kicker. That's why it's a top pick for most folks to get a nice portrait lens, great low light capability for that price.

SLR DSLR whatever, it's an awesome lens for the price.

 

[Groucho]

I assume that 50mm was the prime lens of choice for SLR cameras, so is a 50mm prime still a good choice for dSLR? Due to sensor sizing, the 50mm is really an 80mm on my camera. Shouldn't a ~30mm be used to get the 50mm effect? Or is my assumtion incorrecct?

You're probably correct, however it can be difficult to find a fast, affordable lens in that range. I'm been looking pretty hard for one myself, and even looking at decades worth of lenses, there are extremely few that can touch a fast 50mm for quality and speed.

The modern ones that I've found are the Pentax 31mm F1.8 - would be my choice except for the cost, $780 after $100 rebate, gulp - and Sigma has a series of F1.8 lenses for most mounts; 20mm, 24mm, and 28mm. I've had a hard time finding any reliable reviews of them and those that I have found have been a little iffy. I already have a manual-focus Sigma 28mm F2.8 but F2.8 is still a bit slower than I'd really like, and I wouldn't mind AF (though I'm actually looking at most of my "wanted" lenses being MF, but the name "Zeiss" on a couple helps make up for that. )

And for older lenses (like M42 mount ones), there are few - lots of F2.8s, a few F2.5s, and a small handful of F2.0s, but the desirable ones are all rare and valuable. I'd love to see a <$250 fast prime in that size... sigh!

Speaking of M42s, there are adapters for most cameras out there to use M42 mounts, and you can find a wide selection of really fantastic older 50mm lenses for under $100 out there, thanks to their ubiquity. Obviously you lose AF ability and need to stop-down to meter, but you can get some stellar quality for low bucks.

 

[Anewman]

You're probably correct, however it can be difficult to find a fast, affordable lens in that range. I'm been looking pretty hard for one myself, and even looking at decades worth of lenses, there are extremely few that can touch a fast 50mm for quality and speed.

Very true, the closest I can find is the Canon EF 35mm F/2.0, which gets mixed reviews. I am sure its reviews would be much better if the price was under $100 because it always gets compared to the $75 50mm, aside from focal length and focus speed they are very comprable.

IMO it is still a good deal at $225.

 

[Groucho]

Yeah, there's a Pentax 35mm F2.0 also currently available for $300 but I haven't paid any attention to reviews. I'm really looking for something wider - I have lenses picked out for fast 85mm, 135mm, and 180mm, but I still can't decide on a wide one... 24mm probably, or even 20mm. If I could find some reviews that said that those Sigmas were fantastic, it might make the process a little easier.

Besides, I know that F2.0 is awfully darn close to F1.9 or F1.8, but there's that mental thing about a lens that's faster than F2.0.

 

[jann1033]

This is not a macro lens. The closest focusing distance something like 18 inches. The 50mm f1.4 lens costing several times more also suffers from this limitation. The bee and snake above are cropped. For the sharpness this lens produces, I dont mind cropping the results down that much.

thanks i was wondering if i was totally off my rocker when i use this lens

 

[MICKEY88]

thanks i was wondering if i was totally off my rocker when i use this lens

do you really want anyone to comment on that for you...LOL

 

[jann1033]

do you really want anyone to comment on that for you...LOL

well i did preface it with " when i use this lens" so i guess if you want to limit comments to those occasions only