Another 50mm Question

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Strid3r
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p.1 #1 · Another 50mm Question

But its different...I swear.

I am considering buying the 50mm f/1.4, but I am not sure how much I'll use it. I have gone and looked at my photos and seen how many I take @ 50mm, but that is not my concern. My concern is that I have the Tammy 17-50 f/2.8 for my general walk around lens, but I don't know how often I'd be inspired to change lenses for a focal length I can already have. So...

Of the 50mm lens owners (regardless of make and model) how often do you actually drop to the 50mm when you already have it covered with a general walk around lens? Or are all of you prime users?

I guess the reason the lenses appeal to me is the speed for the relatively little cost associated with it and too much speed from a lens isn't a bad thing, especially when I am planning to spend 16 weeks in Europe and its dark castles and museums. Any ideas, experiences, etc would be greatly appreciated.

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 05:27 AM

stanj
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p.1 #2 · Another 50mm Question

I use the 50 (formerly 1.4, now 1.2) quite a lot on my FF camera. It's a good focal length and a 2.8 zoom is no replacement for the DOF control and low light use.

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 05:28 AM

Gutted Hatch
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p.1 #3 · Another 50mm Question

My 50 1.8 only comes out when the sun goes down and my boss is with me at the event (that means he has the flash). Other than that, I usually have the the 10-22 or 28-90 on when walking around the pits.

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 05:31 AM

mh2000
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p.1 #4 · Another 50mm Question

on a cropped camera a 50 is a short portrait lens so the shallow DOF should give you reason enough to go to the prime. On a FF camera a normal lens is quite fine as a do everything lens for many people. Stepping into dimly lit scenes with a f2.8 zoom is more limiting to me than the lack of variable focal length. I use a fast 50mm prime about 80% for walk around on FF, on a crop camera I generally put on my 35/2... you might want to consider that lens (or the 28 and 30 offerings).

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 05:39 AM

mh2000
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p.1 #5 · Another 50mm Question

PS Cost was not the driver, but a 35/2 + 50/1.8 costs about the same as the 50/1.4... I'd rather have that pair than the 50/1.4, especially on a cropped camera... fast normal and portrait length primes.

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 05:41 AM

danmitchell
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p.1 #6 · Another 50mm Question

The 50mm f/1.4 gets you two additional stops for low light and for narrower DOF. Of course you give up all of the other focal lenghts that are available to you with the zoom.

Are you missing the sub-f/2.8 range when you shoot your current lens at 50mm? If no, why get the 50mm f/1.4?

Dan

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 06:53 AM

Mike Ip
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p.1 #7 · Another 50mm Question

I'll find I use a 50 mm when I want a fast and light lens. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the 50 1.8 is the lightest lens available in EF mount?

Conversely, when I know I'm going to be shooting extreme low light, I'll use a 50 1.0 - although on my Leica. Haven't given the Canon 1.0 a try, however.

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 08:48 AM

PierreB
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p.1 #8 · Another 50mm Question

I previously only had zooms (16-35, 24-70, 70-200) but recently picked up a 50 1.8. I was amazed at how cheap it looks & feels & that nearly put me off buying it but I was equally amazed at the results - sharp, great contrast & great bokeh. I like it so much I sold my 24-70 and the 16-35 is for sale. For me, it's primes all the way from now on.

Pierre.

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 09:04 AM

Gerry Szarek
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p.1 #9 · Another 50mm Question

The lens comes out when I need F1.4 otherwise I either use a 17-40F4 or 70-200F4 and zoom with my feet on my 5D ditto 10d. The reason to have the 50F1.4 is the F1.4 . The F1.8 has some serious issues with flare and bokeh. Typically a good prime will beat a zoom in quality, flare resistance, color and bokeh (there are exceptions to this rule), HOWEVER the biggest reason for primes is speed.

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 12:19 PM

mh2000
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p.1 #10 · Another 50mm Question

well, I prefer the bokeh from the 50/1.8 over the 50/1.4 and I don't seem to have an issue with flare frome either lens (used the Canon hood on the 1.4 and a rubber hood on the 1.8). To my eye, the 50/1.4 makes "unsettling" images on average. Typically, Canon primes at 50mm and shorter are worse than zooms for bokeh, but they are faster, sharper and lighter.

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 02:35 PM

claudermilk
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p.1 #11 · Another 50mm Question

I have the 24-70 and 50/1.8 & still use the 50 now & then. Usually under one of three cases: 1) extremely low light levels, 2) I want the extreme narrow DOF, or 3) I want a small light lens on the camera or in the bag as a just-in-case. For example, while I was trying out a 100-400, I didn't want to drag 24-70 brick along for "just in case" so the 50 got nominated--and much to my annoyance I mistakenly grabbed the 18-55!

Didn't think I'd miss the prime like that, it solved any inklings of selling it.

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 06:21 PM

tmr_wa
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p.1 #12 · Another 50mm Question

I have a 50/1.4 and it's almost always on either my 10D or 30D. Before getting the 50, I used a 35/2 but I often found this a bit short, even on the 1.6x bodies. I've owned zooms in the "normal" range, but I've sold them all as nothing beats a 50mm lens for my uses. I also like the small weight and high quality of a 50 prime.

--tom

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 19, 2007 at 07:31 PM

hogwallow
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p.1 #13 · Another 50mm Question

The 50/1.4 is almost always in my backpack. I use it primarily indoors and then outdoors when I want a very short depth of field or I'm shooting in darker shadows. It's fast, it's small, it's relatively cheap and the image quality is adequate.

Edited on Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM

Sep 20, 2007 at 12:11 AM

Barry Pehlman
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p.1 #14 · Another 50mm Question

I use the 50 (f1.8) for copying, photographing flat things, and closeups. This way I don't have to deal with all the issues that plague it, and I can wait for it to stop clunking & spining in AF, or just set it to manual from the start. I feel any 50mm is a boring focal length on a FF body, not much better on a 1.6x. If I must be at 50mm I will usually compromise and use the short end of the 70-200.

Sep 20, 2007 at 03:32 AM


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