@Forrest5000: Looks like your 50/1.8 has suffered some internal damage. Even a cheap vivitar zoom should produce a sharper image. The only lens I used that was so bad was my old tokina 28-80/2.8 atx-pro. My 50 is plenty sharp at 1.8 and I don't hesitate to shoot wide open.
My 50mm f1.8 was super soft wide open until I got a body with microadjustment - after adjustment it is suddenly sharp as a tack! AF accuracy is another issue thou.
RobertLynn wrote:
The 50 1.8 isn't really good for AI servo.
Really? Interesting that all the images in this gallery were taken by a high school sophomore using the plactic version of the 50/f1.8 lens on a Mk2 body. I'm pretty certain that D1 basketball moves a little more quickly than pedestrians walking on a sidewalk.
Scott Sewell wrote:
Really? Interesting that all the images in this gallery were taken by a high school sophomore using the plactic version of the 50/f1.8 lens on a Mk2 body. I'm pretty certain that D1 basketball moves a little more quickly than pedestrians walking on a sidewalk.
I wonder how many out of focus shots he got. The other question is, where did he shoot from? Lateral movement is much more forgiving than forward/backwards movement.
I own the lens, and tried to photograph Judo with it. It was abysmal.
RobertLynn wrote:
I wonder how many out of focus shots he got. The other question is, where did he shoot from? Lateral movement is much more forgiving than forward/backwards movement.
I own the lens, and tried to photograph Judo with it. It was abysmal.
Really? Like any of those things matter? Okay, let's see if this works...he took 3,571 shots and those nine images in the gallery were the only ones in focus!
Let's be honest, it wouldn't matter what number I gave you or what position he was shooting from because it's obvious with the comments you've made in this thread that you don't believe the lens can work in AI servo. Maybe it doesn't work for you, but it's worked for me and a high school sophomore shooting D1 basketball. I dunno, maybe you have a bad copy of the lens? Or maybe it's user error?
The point is, if someone is asking about any particular lens I would suggest they take into account many factors. The OP here has shots of pedestrians walking on a sidewalk, and wonders if the lens is working properly. I posted a link to images of maor college basketball and as a reference, I would think if the lens can keep up with college basketball action, it should be able to keep up with pedestrians on a sidewalk. Of course, that is assuming things like the lens is working properly, the camera works as it should, and the photographer is capable enough to take photos in such a setting.
The first half dozen images in this gallery were taken by me at another D1 basketball game with the 50/f1.8. The lens had absolutely no troubles keeping up. None. I don't recall how many shots were deleted from either of those galleries because...well...uh...they get deleted. And we were both seated along the baseline (I would think that's obvious in the images) and shot action coming straight at us, down the lane and perpendicular to us. Pretty much what one would get from shooting basketball in that position. We were both using AI servo, center point focus and the * button. All other EXIF data is with the images in the gallery.
Is this lens the best one can get for sports? Nope. Heck, there are far better lenses for just about any kind of photography. But at less than $100 it's a rather incredible little lens that should probably be in every photographer's bag.
Scott Sewell wrote:
Really? Like any of those things matter? Okay, let's see if this works...he took 3,571 shots and those nine images in the gallery were the only ones in focus!
Let's be honest, it wouldn't matter what number I gave you or what position he was shooting from because it's obvious with the comments you've made in this thread that you don't believe the lens can work in AI servo. Maybe it doesn't work for you, but it's worked for me and a high school sophomore shooting D1 basketball. I dunno, maybe you have a bad copy of the lens? Or maybe it's user error?
The point is, if someone is asking about any particular lens I would suggest they take into account many factors. The OP here has shots of pedestrians walking on a sidewalk, and wonders if the lens is working properly. I posted a link to images of maor college basketball and as a reference, I would think if the lens can keep up with college basketball action, it should be able to keep up with pedestrians on a sidewalk. Of course, that is assuming things like the lens is working properly, the camera works as it should, and the photographer is capable enough to take photos in such a setting.
The first half dozen images in this gallery were taken by me at another D1 basketball game with the 50/f1.8. The lens had absolutely no troubles keeping up. None. I don't recall how many shots were deleted from either of those galleries because...well...uh...they get deleted. And we were both seated along the baseline (I would think that's obvious in the images) and shot action coming straight at us, down the lane and perpendicular to us. Pretty much what one would get from shooting basketball in that position. We were both using AI servo, center point focus and the * button. All other EXIF data is with the images in the gallery.
Is this lens the best one can get for sports? Nope. Heck, there are far better lenses for just about any kind of photography. But at less than $100 it's a rather incredible little lens that should probably be in every photographer's bag. ...Show more →
Yeah Scott, you hit the nail on the head. I'm stupid, and I don't know how to work my equipment. The lens I own is also a piece of crap. I wouldn't know if I had a good lens in my bag or not.
Lateral movement is much easier to track than forward/backwards movement.
Yes, it does matter how many images he shot. If he shot 3K images and only got 9 in focus, I'd say that wasn't a good outing. I'm not even going to bother clicking the image links. If you think 9 out of 3571 is good, then well....you have lower standards than me. What WOULD be valuable information is if some of the missed shots were posted, to see if they look like the OP's.
I didn't debate whether or not the lens is good (why would I own one if I felt otherwise), I said that using it in Servo is not the best academic test for the lens. It's slow to aquire focus, and in my tests, it gave some keepers, and a lot of losers. Try it controlled, and see if you can replicate the problem.
We were both using AI servo, center point focus and the * button. All other EXIF data is with the images in the gallery.