whitesf's Full Review: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens
I got this lens to go with my new Canon Digital Rebel. I needed something faster than the 18-55mm f/3.5-4.5 lens that came with the camera body. Also, I'm a real fan of prime lenses and this lens was dirt cheap to boot. I picked it up at J&R on the way home from work a few weeks ago for $74. That's cheap.
On the Digital Rebel, this lens has an effective focal length of 80mm, which makes it perfect for use as a short portrait lens.
Construction
This lens is inexpensive and it shows in the construction. The entire thing is plastic, including the mount. It is surprisingly light and plastic feeling to the touch. Having said all that, however, the lens does not feel shoddy at all. It is plastic, but relatively sturdy. Also, it is very compact. It looks like a short snout when mounted on the Digital Rebel.
Fast, sharp, big DOF, and color accurate
Ultimately, I didn't get this lens for the construction quality (or lack therof), I got it for the raw speed. By speed, I mean the very wide aperture rather than the focusing speed (more on that later). Having an f/1.8 lens in your bag opens up a whole world of possibility in the realm of proper exposure. No more missing shots because of low light, or in the case of digitals, no more cranking up the ISO speed to 800 or 1600 to get a shot.
Compared to the 18-55mm kit lens I have, the 50mm f/1.8 is razor sharp...even wide open at f/1.8. If you stop it down to f/11, this thing is about as sharp as they come, with very little edge distortion.
As would be expected with a lens with a wide aperture, the depth of field (DOF) is exceedingly deep from f/1.8-2.8 (and a little beyond). This is great for portraits and other photos where you need the subject to stand out starkly from the background/foreground. The difference in DOF between f/1.8 and f/3.5 is huge, and this lens is a cheap way to get that studio pro effect at home.
The 50mm delivers very accurate color rendition. This is especially critical in digital photography, as it reduces post processing time considerably.
Focusing: Quick, sometimes inaccurate, and always loud
The lens focusing relatively quickly. However, in less than perfect lighting conditions, the autofocus is easily fooled and frequently cannot focus on anything. This is very uncharacteristic for such a fast lens. Of course, this is only an issue when shooting with available light, as when using a flash the camera makes use of AF-Assist to help focus. Still, it should be able focus more accurately in mid- to low-light situations.
Make no mistake, this lens is loud when focusing. This doesn't particularly bother me, but a lot of people prefer a silent lens. If you are one of these people, I suggest you pony up the extra $200 for the Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM, as you will disappointed with this entry-priced lens.
Overall
For it's shortcomings, this is a great lens, especially when you consider the very reasonable price. I recommend it for the casual user or even advanced amateur. Pros may well find it worth the extra cash to trade up to the f/1.4 USM model.
Type: Fixed Length LensDiameter: 52mmSpecifications: Focal Length & Maximum Aperture: 50mm 1:1.8 Lens Construction: 6 elements in 5 groups Diagonal ...More at Newegg.com
f/1.8 II 35mm equivalent focal length: 80mm,large maximum aperture (f/1.8) for better low-light photography,compatible with all Canon EOS SLR camerasMore at Crutchfield
Focus Drive: MM Elements: 5/6 View of Angle: 46? Min. Focus: 1.5 ft. (0.45m) Min. Aperture: f/22 Filter (diameter): 52mm Length: 1-5/8" (41mm) ...More at Beach Camera.com
Professional Japan Optic High-Definition 0.34X Super Wide Angle Fisheye AF lens with MACRO , NEW Description Brand NEW!Life time manufacturer's warran...More at eBay
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.