I did it...Pics added...add some of yours...The Nifty Fifty thread.

[annnewjerz]

i went back over a couple i had i know were that lens and they are ok around f5-8 or so but nothing is sharp lower than that, i mean the whole photo is soft, not like I'm focusing on the wrong place and the dof is short( which of course it is that low) and the speed is like 200, so even for me that ought to be enough to be able to get a sharp portion . like the baby and couch one even the face wouldn't be sharp and yours are.......it would be kind of nice if it was just my lens stunk...maybe i 'll go to the camera shop and see if i can try one out and how it works compared to mine

but thanks to those who posted the info

I would definitely check it out---worth a shot. I bought mine used for around $80 and am beyond happy with how sharp this lens is. I like it at 1.8---it's sharp enough for me, but when you stop it down even further it's raaaaazor sharp (okay maybe not razor sharp like professional grade lenses, but pretty darn sharp as far as I'm concerned)

 

[BorisMD]

If you google focus testing patterns, you will get some that you can print out, complete with instructions, and test your lens yourself.

Here's the one I used:

http://regex.info/blog/photo-tech/focus-chart

Hope that helps.

Boris

 

[grahamsgirl]

What is a nifty fifty?

 

[jann1033]

If you google focus testing patterns, you will get some that you can print out, complete with instructions, and test your lens yourself.

Here's the one I used:

http://regex.info/blog/photo-tech/focus-chart

Hope that helps.

Boris

i did do that once and it seemed off but then i used it at higher f stops and figured it was ok so figured it was just the nut holding the lens...( just deleted them recently in the interest of space )
these are 2 i took just to see if this lens worked or not

f2.2,nothing is sharp here, the center slightly sharper maybe but imo unusable

f8 couldn't get much sharper imo here but in the reviews i think it's not supposed to be sharp here

i admit i have an obsession with this lens and the problems i have with it...however i just looked it up on two forums and both had comments about how closeup/large aperture it has auto focus problems sometimes...so maybe that is the problem i'm having maybe what i think is not sharp is due to it not auto focusing

 

[RBennett]

What is a nifty fifty?

It is the general term a lot of us use to describe a 50mm prime lens. You can't change the focal length, but it has an incredibly large aperture. (Mine goes up to f/1.4) It is great for low light situations and times when you need to work with your depth of field.

 

[bnorm27]

What is a nifty fifty?

The "nifty-fifty" would be a 50mm f1.8 lens. Most manufacturers make them, and they are really inexpensive compared to other prime lenses. The Canon version that I own was around $85. If you do not have one, I would highly recommend buying one. It is a really nice lens!

 

[jann1033]

in film days it was a normal lens ie angle of view your eye "really" sees. now with crop cameras i think a normal is like 35mm

 

[photobob]

The "nifty-fifty" would be a 50mm f1.8 lens. Most manufacturers make them, and they are really inexpensive compared to other prime lenses. The Canon version that I own was around $85. If you do not have one, I would highly recommend buying one. It is a really nice lens!

I have one and I have to say for a cheaply made lens it is tack sharp. Don't drop it! I drop one on concrete and it broke in half! All my other lenses are Canon L series, but I have no qualms about breaking out the nifty fifty.

 

[kaffinito]

i admit i have an obsession with this lens and the problems i have with it...however i just looked it up on two forums and both had comments about how closeup/large aperture it has auto focus problems sometimes...so maybe that is the problem i'm having maybe what i think is not sharp is due to it not auto focusing

I think you might be right. However, most of the reviews I've read state that the Sigma 50mm is the one having focus trouble. Do you have the Sigma version? The second shot looks sharp BTW.

I know for my case that my focus trouble comes from my eyesight at dusk or at night. If I had the 50mm that would AF on my d60, then I might see an improvement in my night shots. My day shots with manual focus are ok. I have an AF-S lens arriving tomorrow, so we'll see.

 

[Evad]

Camera Model: NIKON D80
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 50.0mm (35mm equivalent: 75mm...
Exposure Time: 0.013 s (1/80)
Aperture: f/1.8
ISO Equiv.: 180
Exposure Bias: 0.33
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

 

[spinetnglr]

One of my big boy ( almost 16 lbs.) 50mm at f4.5

 

[jann1033]

I think you might be right. However, most of the reviews I've read state that the Sigma 50mm is the one having focus trouble. Do you have the Sigma version? The second shot looks sharp BTW.

I know for my case that my focus trouble comes from my eyesight at dusk or at night. If I had the 50mm that would AF on my d60, then I might see an improvement in my night shots. My day shots with manual focus are ok. I have an AF-S lens arriving tomorrow, so we'll see.

no i have the canon but it was the canon version i was reading about

 

[Suburbanmom]

These are from the Newport Aquarium in Newport, KY.

All but the last one are through glass.

 

[bnorm27]

I have one and I have to say for a cheaply made lens it is tack sharp. Don't drop it! I drop one on concrete and it broke in half! All my other lenses are Canon L series, but I have no qualms about breaking out the nifty fifty.

I happened to fall (rolled my ankle actually) while carrying my camera. The lens did hit the ground pretty good, and took the brunt of the force. It cracked like an egg! I was lucky however. First, there was no damage to my camera. Second, I called AmEx and with the buyers protection plan, the cost of the lens was refunded to me. I went right out and got another one!!
Love the nifty fifty, but REALLY love my Canon 70-200 f2.8!!

 

[We-Luv-Disney]

I had to look around for a pic from my fity...found this one i really liked...

oh, and I think y 50mm front focuses a tad...
Exif info....
Make Canon
Model Canon EOS 20D
Flash Used No
Focal Length 50 mm
Exposure Time 1/6400 sec
Aperture f/1.8
ISO Equivalent 200
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Mode matrix (5)
JPEG Quality
Exposure Program aperture priority (3)

 

[zackiedawg]

Can Sony join too? Mine's a used Minolta 50mm F1.7, bought for $65.

I use my nifty fifty a little differently. I bought it mostly for low light shots, as I really enjoy high-ISO handheld night photography. It's a different feel from normal slow-shutter night shots, and liberating to shoot that way too sometimes. I've shot some daytime, closeup, and other shots too on occasion, and it's my go-to lens for low light rides at Disney...but mostly I enjoy the handheld night shot stuff. Some examples:

Handheld F1.7, 1/100, ISO1600 - the porch light in front of my house:

Daytime slow shutter, F13, 20-sec exposure, ISO100 (and an ND400 filter) - waterfall in a Japanese garden:

F1.7, 1/80, ISO400 handheld - Cruise ship hallway:

F2.2, 1/125, ISO1600 handheld - Night candid of a ship worker on the job:

F1.7, 1/6, ISO800 handheld - My cat sitting by the pool at night:

F4, 8 seconds, ISO100, tripod mounted - Coronado Springs Resort:

F1.7, 1/40, ISO1600, handheld - my cat playing with her toy in the living room:

F1.7, 1/15, ISO1600:

F1.7, 1/20. ISO1600:

I love the shallow depth of field...and I love being able to shoot high ISO handheld - plus the amount of light these F1.x lenses can pull in is simply astounding - many of the shots above at night were so dark, you'd bump into things if you didn't let your eyes adjust - but raise the ISO and open up to F1.7, these lenses can find light your eyes can't - it's almost like night vision!

 

[jann1033]

don't want to hijack this thread so if op objects i'll start a new one. one place that mentions the canon autofocus issues is dp review( evidently didn't read this one before) http://www.dpreview.com/lensreviews/canon_50_1p8_ii_c16/page5.asp so wondering if some with canon lenses could post some lowlight( under f2.8) close up shots or check their photos and see if they seem to have a focus problem in that area. since mine has been out of warranty for a few yrs guessing it would be cheaper to get a new one than have canon fix it.
thanks

 

[kaffinito]

Shots with my brand new 50mm AF-S. I knew I'd go nuts in WDW if I didn't have this lens with me, my manual focus lens would make me crazy for some of the shots, and since my 50mm has been married to my camera, well...

So far I've found that I do need to be careful with where it will focus, since it seems to want to focus on some really strange points! This one took me several tries.

And I'm going to have to be careful with light. This thing sucks up light!

Also DOF is a killer with this - I'm going to need the next few days before we leave to figure out exactly how to shoot with it.

 

[bnorm27]

Had to search for a Nifty 50 pic.

 

[blackears]

Here are two of mine the first night I got it, Christmas night...still learning the ropes of everything combined...