Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens by Canon
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Digital camera reviews of Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens
Digital camera Review: 50mm canon lens
Summary: 5 Stars
My first single focal length lens. I'm still trying to adjust it...but its getting better. Very light.
Digital camera Review: 50mm fixed - Awesome!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this lens. I, too, find myself using it as my main lens. The quality of the focal object is profound as the background is blurred. I am an extreme amateur so I still do a lot of experimenting with low light, ISO, etc. I still find it tricky to accurately select my focal point. This lens really lets you know if you focused on the wrong object! I've never realized how a flash really distorts color in a photo. With this lens, set the ISO at 400 turn off the flash and be prepared for some really true colored, high quality photos.Digital camera Review: 50mm options for Canon
Summary: 5 Stars
Once upon a time, an SLR came with a 50(ish) mm "standard" lens with a maximum aperture of somewhere in the f 1.4-2.0 range. Today a 28-70mm (or digital equivalent) zoom is usually kitted with an SLR. This has a maximum aperture generally in the f 4.0-5.6 range. That's something like 1/2 to 1/4 the light gathering ability, and often considerable optical quality, given away in exchange for cheap zooms.
If you're looking at this, then you've probably decided on a 50mm or so prime lens, likely because the kit zoom lens is both slow and not very good quality. Here are the options for Canon:
Canon 50mm f/1.8 (version 2): It's inexpensive, very fast compared to any cheap zoom and exceptionally good for the price. On the down side, it's cheap feeling, noisy in focusing, and difficult to focus manually. You should buy at least this.
Canon 50mm f/1.4: A little bit faster, but that's a less important trait these days with good digital high effective ISOs. More importantly, it's robust, easy to use, with full-time manual focusing (you can just grab the ring even when it's autofocusing), and good image quality
Sigma 50mm f/1.4: More expensive than the Canon lens, but slightly better image quality wide open. It's a tough sell since the quality change isn't huge. But if the extra money and Sigma logo don't bother you, then go for it.
Canon 50mm f/1.2: Big money for that extra light-gathering ability. If you need this for photographing in a club, then you'll buy it. If you don't need it, it's too expensive and heavy to compete with the lenses above.
Another, used, option, the original Canon 50mm f/1.8 EF lens was sturdier and better built, but they're only available used and possibly abused. I own one and am happy with it. I have shot with the Canon f/1.4 as well and that's the lens that I'd buy today.
Digital camera Review: 50mm/ 1.8 is well worth it
Summary: 4 Stars
Although it does take a little longer than I would like to autofocus, this is a great lens. It adds an amazing artistic element to all of your photos, regardless of your skill level. great for "up close" portraits with available light. very sharp (within its small depth of field). For the price, its a must have.Digital camera Review: A "gateway" lens...
Summary: 4 Stars
Pros: Absolutely no better way to get started with prime lenses short of finding a used EF 50mm f/1.4; it's fast, it's light, and it'll teach you about depth of field and bokeh. It'll make you focus with your feet, and getting closer WILL improve your images. If you get a good one--and I received a good one first time out--the autofocus is fast and locks in tight. And if something goes horribly wrong (slip, crash, tinkle), you can buy a new one with very little heartburn.
Cons: With the sensor factor, it's effectively an 80mm lens, so it's not really "normal," it's made of plastic, it can be soft when it's wide open (the focal plane is vanishingly small at f/1.8), and it seems to be subject to some quality control issues in manufacturing. If you have big, meaty fingers, it can be difficult to find the ring when you want to focus manually.
I bought this thing as an affordable experiment: it's been a happy little surprise because it's a damn fine bit of glass. I find myself reaching for it a lot, especially for close-up work. Now, the only thing holding me back from more primes is that pesky money issue.