Canon Normal 50mm f/1.4 SSC any good??

[newbsterv2]

Hi all! This is my first post and I am a newcomer to photography. I recenetly purchased and receieved my Canon Rebel K2 kit with the Canon EF 28-90 III USM lens and have a question. I was told by many and have seen many reviews that a canon 50mm prime lens not only lets way more light in and is faster but also provides a much sharper picture than an el cheapo zoom. Well looking at B&H photo today I saw a few used older Canon lenses mentioned in the above title for $59. I don't care if they are autofocusing I am just looking for a sharp lens for B&W photography, decent build quality, and smooth operation even if it's an old lens. Also I want to make sure the thing will work on my lens. Thanks for all your help!!!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...goryNavigation

[mjs1973]

Welcome to the forum! The lens you are looking at is an FD mount lens for the older, manual focus canon bodies, such as the AE-1. This lens will NOT work on your Rebel K2. You need an EF lens. Here is a link to the EF version of the 50mm f/1.4 lens that will work on your K2. I don't have this lens, but I have heard many good things about it, and it's one of the many items on my wish list.

If you are looking for something a little less expensive, check out the EF 50mm f/ 1.8. I have also heard that this is a great lens for the price.

[Stephen Lutz]

I have a 50 1.4 EF and it is a stupendous performer. Really, really good. Of course it is "limited" in that it is only 50mm. However, it is liberated (from flash) by it's 1.4 max aperture. I use mine only occassionally, however, as the zoom range and ability to switch from one focal length to another is important to the sort of photography I do (social/documentary in swiftly changing environments). Weird, but the lense I have used the most recently has been a Tokina 24-200, on a 10D with a big ole honkin' 550EX flash.

[readingr]

I have a Canon 50mm F1.4 and it is a cracking lens and used to use it a lot on my AE1 and still do when using film. Now I use Digital more often than not.

Roger R.

[Michael Fanelli]

Hi all! This is my first post and I am a newcomer to photography. I recenetly purchased and receieved my Canon Rebel K2 kit with the Canon EF 28-90 III USM lens and have a question. I was told by many and have seen many reviews that a canon 50mm prime lens not only lets way more light in and is faster but also provides a much sharper picture than an el cheapo zoom. Well looking at B&H photo today I saw a few used older Canon lenses mentioned in the above title for $59. I don't care if they are autofocusing I am just looking for a sharp lens for B&W photography, decent build quality, and smooth operation even if it's an old lens. Also I want to make sure the thing will work on my lens. Thanks for all your help!!!

Be aware that an f/1.4 will be pretty much useless at 1.4. The DOF will be so shallow that it pretty much won't work well for most subjecvts. Unless you have a reason for the f/1.4, get the f/1.8. A great lens and a WHOLE lot cheaper.

[Stephen Lutz]

Here's an example of the 50 1.4 at 1.4. Choose the focus point carefully, but as you can see, it can make some nice photos even wide open. (Shot in near darkness, ISO 1600)

[Lionheart]

Be aware that an f/1.4 will be pretty much useless at 1.4. The DOF will be so shallow that it pretty much won't work well for most subjecvts. Unless you have a reason for the f/1.4, get the f/1.8. A great lens and a WHOLE lot cheaper.

I have both (I have the original EF 50 f1.8 with the metal mount) and I don't use either one wide open very often. Actually, I rarely have the 1.4 on the camera or in the camera bag at all, I prefer to pack the 1.8 as it is quite a bit smaller than the 1.4 and takes up a lot less space in the small carrying bag I use these days (bad back-sigh).
I also had the FD 50 f1.4 before it got stolen along with two of my A1 bodies (and high speed motor drives), but that was a lens I used a lot with my A1 bodies because it was my sharpest manual focus lens.

[newbsterv2]

Hi all!! Thanks for the responses they're much appreciated. I'm a little ticked at the fact that I bought the K2 kit instead of just getting the body for $99 and then buying a good lens. The new 28-90 EF III seems very soft to me no matter what aperture I'm at and after looking at the MTF measurements at canon's web page I can see why. I'd the EF 50mm f/1.8 mk II going to be much sharper and punchier than a good quality 24-50mm zoom?? I like using the wide angle modes the most and would hate to be stuck at 50mm but would like decent image quality without spending a fortune. What do most people who do a wide range of photography use?? A bunch of different primes or a couple zooms?? Any ideas for a newb??


OTE=Stephen Lutz]Here's an example of the 50 1.4 at 1.4. Choose the focus point carefully, but as you can see, it can make some nice photos even wide open. (Shot in near darkness, ISO 1600)[/QUOTE]