I've been interested in getting the nifty50, 50mm f1.8, to use under low light and portrait type shots but I was wondering if there are other lenses under $200 USD that would be better and flexible to use for low light and portrait/family/event shots. A friend of mine who does wedding photography has also invited me to be his 2nd guy or 2nd photographer (he uses all canon gear) if I feel comfortable with my camera already so I was thinking maybe get a more flexible lens (zoom wise) instead of the 50mm?
I'm not a pro by any means, I just recently jumped in dSLR world and taking a basic class to get the most out of my camera. Photography is a hobby of mine.
For the cost of the 50 1.8, you really can't go wrong by adding it to your lens line-up. I personally know of no other lens under $200 that would be as worthwhile. The "nifty" feels like a toy compared to just about any other lens, but the shots that come out of it can be quite stunning.
Assuming, you don't have a flash, that is what I would get. You can find mint 430EX flashes on the Buy/Sell forum for about $200. Then use what you have. You might also look at diffusers like a better bounce card (do a search- close to free) or a Demb Flip-It.
For portraits, I would skip the 50 f1.8 and save up for a 60mm macro or 85mm f1.8 instead, which are both much better lenses with reliable USM focusing.
Thanks, I have a 550ex flash that I use but I really do perfer to use the available light if possible. I'll think about just going 60mm or 85mm f1.8, I was looking at them before too but since I'm new to the dSLR world I'd like to maximize my skills and use the "cheapest" gear before buying pro level type of gear. Thanks for all the help.
jrscls wrote:
Assuming, you don't have a flash, that is what I would get. You can find mint 430EX flashes on the Buy/Sell forum for about $200. Then use what you have. You might also look at diffusers like a better bounce card (do a search- close to free) or a Demb Flip-It.
For portraits, I would skip the 50 f1.8 and save up for a 60mm macro or 85mm f1.8 instead, which are both much better lenses with reliable USM focusing.
I have to go against the 50 1.8. I think is a poor choice (in my opinion)
1.8 is really not fast enough for the really low light situations anyway and the 50 is incredibly haphazard with AF accuracy at 1.8
The AF is incredibly noisy, which is an adverse attribute for weddings/events etc. unless the event itself is very noisy. Do not use it during ceremonies it will kill off any mood
well... regarding the noise, it is certainly makes less noise than the shutters on most current Canon bodies... so if you want silent and Canon, you are basically screwed... and I don't have any issue getting my 50/1.8 to focus at all, probably on par with my 24-70L for accuracy (of course with the slow zoom you get more DOF to cover the error) and better than my 50/1.4... I don't know, I just don't get misfocused shots with my 50/1.8... so "incredidbly haphazard with AF accuracy," I have never seen that with my MKI or MKII over 20+ years and many different bodies...
element0 wrote:
For indoors I'd normally have to use flash, I'm thinking the 1.8 would help me make use of the available light before I resort to flash. Thanks.
Bear in mind that DOF will be very thin when you are going to use this lens in low light situations (also depending on the ISO performance of your cam and the actual amount of light). On top of that, AF isn't the most accurate/reliable (again, also depending on the camera). Especially not in low light situations. At least, the copy I once had, was very bad at focusing (on a 5D). YMMV
It's a wonderful lens, and great for anyone just starting out. I got my camera in December, and added it to my lineup because I wanted a good lens for portraits. Eventually I will most likely get a 70-200mm f/4, but for now the 50mm is great....The only problem with it is when you have really bright highlights in the BG, it has a hexagonal bokeh that looks weird with the light (it's fine otherwise).
Well whatever you do, if you're shooting a reception at night or in a dark room...Count on using flash regardless of what lens you have. Not for everything, but you're going to need it a lot. If you don't have anything but the onboard flash, then I'd highly recommend a flash over a lens. You gotta learn to bounce that thing...Direct flash is point and shoot results in a SLR disguise.
Daan B wrote:
Bear in mind that DOF will be very thin when you are going to use this lens in low light situations
And that thing will enable you to blur the background to a degree your slow lenses will never achieve. It's a lovely effect once you learn to master it.
Yakim Peled wrote:
And that thing will enable you to blur the background to a degree your slow lenses will never achieve. It's a lovely effect once you learn to master it.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
That is exactly my point... Since the OP is only using slow zooms at the moment, he should expect a learning curve. And since the 50 1.8 doesn't have the most reliable / accurate AF - especially not in low light (at least the copy I had), this isn't making things easier. Nothing wrong with that though. Just something to be aware of
I had both 50/1.8 and 50/1.4 at the same time for about 3 months. I found AF speed and AF accuracy to be the same (low light included). Only AF noise was different.
