Nifty Fifty

[jewelmicky]

I am looking for a lens for my Rebel to carry around the parks in the morning. I want something not too bulky.
How flexible is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens....for daytime, outside, sightseeing type pics?

 

[AndrewWG]

I am looking for a lens for my Rebel to carry around the parks in the morning. I want something not too bulky.
How flexible is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens....for daytime, outside, sightseeing type pics?

I love my 50mm f1.8. However, that being said, I don't think it is a great walkaround lens for the parks. It is quite narrow, so to speak. I would much rather have something in the 28mm range if I were to walk around with a fixed lens. Possible even less, like 24mm, 20mm, etc. I would look into some wider zoom lenses that will allow you to have a bit of range. The 17-55mm or something like that.

One way to see what I am saying is, if you happen to have a zoom that goes through the 50mm range, set it to 50mm and walk around with it. See what you can and cannot shoot. Basically, you can probably get everything you want, but it forces you to back up and take the photo from further away. When you are in the parks, backing up usually means 50 people can then walk through you and your subject before you take the shot.

The 50mm is fine for daytime shots, nighttime shots, anytime shots. It is just the focal length that would bother me.

 

[jann1033]

probably if i was going to use a fixed lens in general( not necessarily just at wdw) i'd rather have something in the closer to 100mm range...i never use my 50, rarely use that range period, i'm either higher or lower...at wdw however i have heard a lot say they only used about that range and it's cheap enough that even if you only use it there, it would be worth the purchase,, it's a good lens just i have a terrible time getting it to focus but it might be the copy of the lens or the nut holding the lens in my case and it's so tiny and light it feels like you forgot to put a lens on which would be nice at wdw as well.
andy's suggestion is excellllent though! and some of the recent threads with shots with ultra wides have been really great

 

[AndrewWG]

Oh, don't get me wrong here. I am a ZOOM freak! However, I think in WDW that a bit wider is better for most shots. I am not too fond of ultra wide like under 17mm. I think that many of my shots that I took in the parks other than AK were shot at around 24-50 mm. I think I would have been a bit handcuffed by only having a 50mm, myself. But for the record, it will work just fine.

My copy of the 50mm is real nice. Took me awhile to realize that, as I wanted to shoot EVERYTHING at f1.8, but when you play around with it enough and use it at around f5.6 to f8, it is REAL sharp. It worked well for the night parade at f1.8, but again, I thought it was a bit too zoomed in. I would have preferred something wider.

Being that I am more of a nature photographer, AK was heavenly. I could break out the 70-200 with my 1.4x converter and shoot away. That is where you REALLY need the focal length.

 

[jann1033]

Oh, don't get me wrong here. I am a ZOOM freak! However, I think in WDW that a bit wider is better for most shots. I am not too fond of ultra wide like under 17mm. I think that many of my shots that I took in the parks other than AK were shot at around 24-50 mm. I think I would have been a bit handcuffed by only having a 50mm, myself. But for the record, it will work just fine.

My copy of the 50mm is real nice. Took me awhile to realize that, as I wanted to shoot EVERYTHING at f1.8, but when you play around with it enough and use it at around f5.6 to f8, it is REAL sharp. It worked well for the night parade at f1.8, but again, I thought it was a bit too zoomed in. I would have preferred something wider.

Being that I am more of a nature photographer, AK was heavenly. I could break out the 70-200 with my 1.4x converter and shoot away. That is where you REALLY need the focal length.

this is exactly what i have found and why i never use it...i'm to lazy to change from my 28-135 for the occasional shot with my 50

 

[Anewman]

I have taken trips to Disneyland with only this one lens, but I have been there so many times that i knew exactly what I was after and that was lower light shots. I dont think DAYTIME typically requires such a fast prime.