I am looking to possibly sell a few Canon lenses I have. Is there any good reason to keep my 50mm 1.8?
I now use my 24-70 2.8L in situations where I used to use the 50mm. (Primarily low-light situations) I used to use it for my studio shots before I got my strobes because the continuous lights didn't allow me to shoot over f/4 at 1/160th. Now I have the strobes and the 2.8L lens.
Because it rocks! I use it in studio with 3 strobes and get amazing CLEAR / CLEAN results from it:
I agree, it is a nice lens and I used it a lot before I got my 24-70 2.8L. However, I haven't touched the lens in a couple months now..LOL I am using the heck out of the 24-70.
well you won't get much selling it and it's very sharp and 1.8. Plus you can reverse it on a macro lens.
True...won't get much selling it. Then again $50-$75 in my pocket towards another lens or the latest and greatest Canon may be more valuable. Who knows!...LOL
I have 3 or 4 lenses I am considering selling. If I don't want the latest and greatest Canon, then I will opt for maybe a wide angle or maybe a macro. I have the 18-55mm kit lens from my 300d...I may just keep that one as my wide-angle. I am already in love with the L glass and getting a different wide angle L lens interests me.
I have never used a macro lens, and they appeal to me so I don't have to stand so far back to get some 'close up' shots. Can you tell me more about reversing the 50mm with a macro lens?
For one thing, you can't get much for it because it's so cheap to begin with. Secondly, it's so cheap to begin with and is much faster than your 2.8 in low-light situations...I'll never get rid of mine, no matter how rarely I use it.
I like my Tamron 28-75 a lot, but it's fairly heavy (too heavy to throw the camera around my neck and go for a ride if it's mounted), and the 50 is much lighter and smaller, and one extra stop brighter.
Because when ya get inna rut... When all your compositions start lookin' a little off... When you get a little bored with your work and wanna do somethin' new... Throw your 50 on with a pledge to leave it there a week or two and a pledge to snap a couple a hundred frames. You'll start to look at camera placement anew... You'll start to look at framing anew... You'll start to look at compostition anew... You'll remember to get close enough anew...
Wow. I guess I'm in the minority, but I say boot it. If I had the 24-70 I wouldn't really hesitate to use that exclusively, leaving room in the bag for something a little better quality than the 50mm down the road. People seem to forget the fact that the 50mm being so cheap is as much a reason not to buy as it is to buy it--meaning if you really need 50mm with 1.8 for a particular type of shot/project then go buy it, otherwise put your money into something better.
That said, it's my favorite lens. LOL. But I only own it and the 18-55. :(
Wow. I guess I'm in the minority, but I say boot it. If I had the 24-70 I wouldn't really hesitate to use that exclusively, leaving room in the bag for something a little better quality than the 50mm down the road. People seem to forget the fact that the 50mm being so cheap is as much a reason not to buy as it is to buy it--meaning if you really need 50mm with 1.8 for a particular type of shot/project then go buy it, otherwise put your money into something better.
That said, it's my favorite lens. LOL. But I only own it and the 18-55. :(
I've never heard anyone say that dollar for dollar you can get a better quality lens optically than the 50 f/1.8. Yes you CAN get higher quality optics (spelled L series) but the cost is much greater... Build quality may be questionable, but that's why it's cheap...
Wow. I guess I'm in the minority, but I say boot it. If I had the 24-70 I wouldn't really hesitate to use that exclusively, leaving room in the bag for something a little better quality than the 50mm down the road. People seem to forget the fact that the 50mm being so cheap is as much a reason not to buy as it is to buy it--meaning if you really need 50mm with 1.8 for a particular type of shot/project then go buy it, otherwise put your money into something better.
That said, it's my favorite lens. LOL. But I only own it and the 18-55. :(
A fixed focal length is great to use for casual shooting, I can't explain it, it just is. It's like a single speed thing.
Plus, I love throwing it in aperture priority, 1.8, and finding ways to use the DOF to portray the subject better.
And there will most likely be times when you won't want to use a $1400 lens when you could use a $75 lens instead. sure either lens might break, along with the body, if you dropped it, but what about just scratching it or bashing it against something by accident?
Edit to clarify: By casual shooting, I mean like walking in the park or going for a ride or something, where getting the wrong framing on the shots isn't going to make it a waste of a trip
Yeah, I guess I'm just bitter because I know first hand how poor the build quality of the 50 1.8 is, having exploded my first copy with a minor fall from 1 foot or so. I took it apart to try and repair it and found myself amazed how cheap it is constructed. I did everything in my power to avoid having to buy it again...but alas the budget was not there for the 1.4.
I've also been increasingly annoyed with it's slow focus. I think I must be expecting too much from a $80 lens.
I have the sigma 18-50 2.8 and a tamron SP24-135 so the little 50 is not used much. But there are times...My second highest scoring challenge entry. 2.8 was not shallow enough.
If you plan on shooting weddings it can come in handy too - low light as well as shallow DOF detail shots.
As for reversing it - you get a reversing ring - it screws to the filter threads of your lens and the 50mm, this turns the 50mm backwards. this combo makes a nifty macro lens, and next order form b&h i'll be getting me one ($10-15, cheap).
I have a friend that loves his canon 100 2.8 lens for macro and just plain use. it is nice. I don't see a need for a 100mm prime, but will be getting it for macro use and well, if i have iti'll use it. Same with the 50 - i don't use it often, but it's nice to have.
don't underestimate the difference between 1.8 and 2.8. We're talking about about more than double the light here. The 50mm can be used in far lower light conditions than your beautiful zoom. As your fastest lens it's got it's place in your bag until you get a 1.4.
I have the same issue with my Nikon 50mm 1.8, and I decided to keep it...it's so cheap and I probably wouldn't get much for it. Just the other day though, it was the best lens in my bag for the job. It's super fast and sharp as a tack. You'll regreat selling your 50mm...
