Which prime lens?
Discussion
Hello. I fancy getting a nice fast prime lens for my EOS20D. Am torn between the 50mm f1.8 and the equivalent 85mm from Canon. Any views as to which would be most useful? I'm not looking for optical perfection and can't really justify spending more that £100. Any advice welcomed.
Thanks.
Thanks.
4hero said:
sorry, reading was never my strong point, I tend to skim *apologies*.
What do you plan on using the lens for?
No problem! What do you plan on using the lens for?
I've currently got a 17-55mm (f4/5.6) and a 70-300mm (f5.6) and quite fancy something faster and simpler. I'm lazy and think it would be good for me. Suspect I'll predominantly use it for portraits. The bit that's confusing me is the 20D is not full frame, so is 50mm the right size to go for?
Having said that, I think prices are kid of dictating the decision anyway.
50 f1.8 is prety good value.
Its sharp from f2.2 up ( not bad below but not sharp).
Its pretty square, doesnt have the best contrast or bokeh but not bad.
Its a poor focuser though and manual focus isnt easy and with any kind of cokin stlye filter adpter is a mare.
Well worth having tho.
Its sharp from f2.2 up ( not bad below but not sharp).
Its pretty square, doesnt have the best contrast or bokeh but not bad.
Its a poor focuser though and manual focus isnt easy and with any kind of cokin stlye filter adpter is a mare.
Well worth having tho.
The Canon 50mm f/1.8 is considered a must for all photographers. Even the pro's regularly keep one as a "spare" and some use it daily. Quite something for a lens that costs less than £50!
In fact, I managed to get mine from a Hong Kong dealer on eBay for less than £40. Cracking portrait lens but I wish I had something wider.
(Just for ref, I'm using it on a 40D).
In fact, I managed to get mine from a Hong Kong dealer on eBay for less than £40. Cracking portrait lens but I wish I had something wider.
(Just for ref, I'm using it on a 40D).
Scott328i said:
4hero said:
Optical perfection for under £100? You're having a laugh 
I can say the 50mm 1.8 is a great little lens for under 50 notes!
Try £80I can say the 50mm 1.8 is a great little lens for under 50 notes!
If you're feeling really geeky, this is what that puppy does.
I was really keen but put off a bit by the reviews concerning its build quality (widely regarded as too plasticky) and the fact that on my cropped sensor it would have been an 80mm equivalent. On the plus side it is quite fast, light etc. I compared it to the 18-55 kit lens found it wasn't enough of an improvement where I was going to be using it, and I already had 2 other lenses which covered that focal length and I couldn't see me using it enough compared to me other lenses (I tend to work at 10mm or 300mm at the moment). I put the money I saved into something else (at the time I could have bought it over the counter for £60 in the States).
For £100 I don't think there's much choice other than the 50mm, but I started to think about the 50mm Macro version which is nearly as fast and more flexible (but still not as good/useful as the 100mm Macro but a lot cheaper).
I was really keen but put off a bit by the reviews concerning its build quality (widely regarded as too plasticky) and the fact that on my cropped sensor it would have been an 80mm equivalent. On the plus side it is quite fast, light etc. I compared it to the 18-55 kit lens found it wasn't enough of an improvement where I was going to be using it, and I already had 2 other lenses which covered that focal length and I couldn't see me using it enough compared to me other lenses (I tend to work at 10mm or 300mm at the moment). I put the money I saved into something else (at the time I could have bought it over the counter for £60 in the States).
For £100 I don't think there's much choice other than the 50mm, but I started to think about the 50mm Macro version which is nearly as fast and more flexible (but still not as good/useful as the 100mm Macro but a lot cheaper).
cone said:
Well after my Q's from a week or so ago , I plumped fro the 450d and I'm very happy so far , also bought the 50mm lense in question and it seems a great lense for the money. Remember I'm stil a beginner but I like this one for some reason .
I'm sorry to be a pedantic tit, but this really gets on my nerves.It is a LENS. Not
jez-m said:
Hello. I fancy getting a nice fast prime lens for my EOS20D. Am torn between the 50mm f1.8 and the equivalent 85mm from Canon. Any views as to which would be most useful? I'm not looking for optical perfection and can't really justify spending more that £100. Any advice welcomed.
The Canon 50mm f1.8 is the only lens Canon sells for less than £100(50mm f1.8 is around £80-£90, the 85mm f1.8 is around £315)
jez-m said:
I've currently got a 17-55mm (f4/5.6) and a 70-300mm (f5.6) and quite fancy something faster and simpler. I'm lazy and think it would be good for me. Suspect I'll predominantly use it for portraits. The bit that's confusing me is the 20D is not full frame, so is 50mm the right size to go for?
To see the field of view the 50mm f1.8 will provide just set your 17-85mm to 50mm and take a few shots 
The 50mm f1.8 delivers impressive image quality for a relatively small amount of money and with relatively few trade-offs
50mm f1.4 (@ f2) on a 30D :
Cheers.
4hero said:
I use the 50mm on my 40D and 350D, lovely little lens for portraits.
edited to say, one of the guys on here even uses his for motorsport shots, with stunning results!
I may not be the guy with stunning results but I used it at FOS last year in preference to my 70-200 2.8edited to say, one of the guys on here even uses his for motorsport shots, with stunning results!
For obvious reasons I put Red Bull first and Ferrari last
A cracking lens for the money and really quite versatile.
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