50mm f/1.8 Mk II - better than L zooms, as good as L prime

erwinx · 28th July 2005

Occasionally we have people wanted to upgrade from their 50mm f/1.8 to a 50 f/1.4 or even 50 mm macro because they want a sharper lens.

Comparing the 50mm f/1.8 Mk 2, the 50mm appeared sharper than L zooms in an informal test and the equal of an L prime. MLU used.

The 50mm f1/.8 Mk 2 remains one of my favourite lenses because its light and easy to use. And its a bonus that its wonderfully sharp too

Russ · 28th July 2005

My 50mm 1.8 Mark 1 is definitely sharper and contrastier than my 17-40L but not as versatile.

jsbn · 28th July 2005

No doubt, good optics. But the versatility of it is a question to many.

I, for one, prefer to shoot with a zoom lens over a prime lens.

erwinx · 28th July 2005

fully agree. if shooting for someone's wedding or an event, i will use zooms.

theITguy · 28th July 2005

Hmm.... A picture tells a 1000 words? Or a couple of pictures hides more truth behind? So what about the edge sharpness on Full Frame (DSLR or film) comparison? Where are the 24-70/2.8 and 28-70/2.8 from Canon?

It is a fact that the 50/1.8 Mk II is inferior at the edges of the frame (Full Frame) at F1.8 till F2.8.

mpenza · 28th July 2005

think I could use a prime for weddings.... but it'll be a 20/2.8 or 20/1.8 rather than a 50/1.8 on a DSLR.

MakotoMiki · 28th July 2005

TRY TO USE 50MM F1.4, THEN WILL KNOW WHAT'S DIFFERENT
BUT 50MM F1.8 IS GOOD LENS FOR NEWBIE AND POOR GUY(LIKE ME

)
THIS 50MM F1.8II SAMPLES:

PIC ALL FROM MOILE 01.
LINK: http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=164&t=87576

MakotoMiki · 28th July 2005

EF 50 1.4 USM SAMPLES:

PICS ALL FROM MOBILE 01

LINK: http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail....35&last=645142

mpenza · 29th July 2005

if these are not your pics and you haven't gotten permission from the owner, suggest that you just post the link to the pics and not hotlink the pictures here. if not, this is akin to "leeching".

n0d3 · 29th July 2005

Originally Posted by mpenza

if these are not your pics and you haven't gotten permission from the owner, suggest that you just post the link to the pics and not hotlink the pictures here. if not, this is akin to "leeching".

Same thoughts exactly. And is your caps-lock key stuck?

Snoweagle · 29th July 2005

I just bought a 50mm f/1.8 II lens and haven't see the results yet as i'm using a film EOS. Heard it's a very gd prime lens for taking portrait shots and other stuffs cos the angle of view is close to that of the human eye.

Zplus · 29th July 2005

Yes, the 50mm f1.8 mk2 is a good buy. Remember to get the hood too.

Garion · 29th July 2005

Yes, the 50mm f/1,8 Mk II is perhaps the greatest value for money lens in Canon's entire lineup. What I like about it: small, light, very fast aperture, ideal length on a 1.6x crop body for half-body style portraits. My main dislike? Noisy and rather slow AF, tiny & narrow MF focus ring (on the rim?!?), plastic mount. But for the money that u pay, its as good as it gets.

Originally Posted by Zplus

Yes, the 50mm f1.8 mk2 is a good buy. Remember to get the hood too.

The $10 rubber one is also good.

Can buy from CP.

Snow_One · 29th July 2005

I like my 50f1.8 II when I was using SLR. Now it's sitting in my dry cabinet most of the time.
Why? cause I take out my 35/f2 since I started using DSLR

It has a lower min focus distance than my zoom lens and can use for close-up

This is an example taken by snowcrash with his 35/f2:-

happy shooting!

Garion · 29th July 2005

Originally Posted by Snow_One

I like my 50f1.8 II when I was using SLR. Now it's sitting in my dry cabinet most of the time.
Why? cause I take out my 35/f2 since I started using DSLR

It has a lower min focus distance than my f2.8 zoom so can use for close-up.

This is an example:-

happy shooting!

Sorry, juz wondering, you're referring to 35mm f/2 or 50mm f/1.8 for the pic?

Snowcrash · 29th July 2005

Originally Posted by Garion

Sorry, juz wondering, you're referring to 35mm f/2 or 50mm f/1.8 for the pic?

That picture is taken by me with my 35/f2. Snow_one is quoting it as an example...

Garion · 29th July 2005

Originally Posted by Snowcrash

That picture is taken by me with my 35/f2. Snow_one is quoting it as an example...

Oic. 35/f2 is also another sleeper lens.

Snow_One · 29th July 2005

Originally Posted by Snowcrash

That picture is taken by me with my 35/f2. Snow_one is quoting it as an example...

So sorry... never make it clear in my post it's not my picture.... edited already.

erwinx · 29th July 2005

I would love to test 35 f/2 and all the other lenses as well, if someone lends me more stuff, I'm happy to test and post the results.

Anyway, there are reports that the Sigma 30 f/1.4 is sharper than the 35 f/2 (assuming you don't get a bad sample), that would be interesting to test as well, as Sigma's previous attempts at fast WA, eg: 20 f/1.8 was ummm... disappointing...

oeyvind · 29th July 2005

One 50mm @ f/1.4 on ASA 800 film...

28th July 2005	#1
erwinx Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,492	50mm f/1.8 Mk II - better than L zooms, as good as L prime Occasionally we have people wanted to upgrade from their 50mm f/1.8 to a 50 f/1.4 or even 50 mm macro because they want a sharper lens. Comparing the 50mm f/1.8 Mk 2, the 50mm appeared sharper than L zooms in an informal test and the equal of an L prime. MLU used. The 50mm f1/.8 Mk 2 remains one of my favourite lenses because its light and easy to use. And its a bonus that its wonderfully sharp too

28th July 2005	#3
jsbn Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Planet Eropagnis Posts: 2,977	No doubt, good optics. But the versatility of it is a question to many. I, for one, prefer to shoot with a zoom lens over a prime lens. __________________ "Wonders of the Human Mind. Unfathomable to the highest degree."

29th July 2005	#14
Snow_One Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 113	I like my 50f1.8 II when I was using SLR. Now it's sitting in my dry cabinet most of the time. Why? cause I take out my 35/f2 since I started using DSLR It has a lower min focus distance than my zoom lens and can use for close-up This is an example taken by snowcrash with his 35/f2:- happy shooting! Last edited by Snow_One; 29th July 2005 at 12:14 PM.

28th July 2005	#2
Russ Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Pasir Ris Posts: 1,613	My 50mm 1.8 Mark 1 is definitely sharper and contrastier than my 17-40L but not as versatile.

28th July 2005	#5
theITguy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In this small world Posts: 2,042	Hmm.... A picture tells a 1000 words? Or a couple of pictures hides more truth behind? So what about the edge sharpness on Full Frame (DSLR or film) comparison? Where are the 24-70/2.8 and 28-70/2.8 from Canon? It is a fact that the 50/1.8 Mk II is inferior at the edges of the frame (Full Frame) at F1.8 till F2.8.

28th July 2005	#6
mpenza Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,397	think I could use a prime for weddings.... but it'll be a 20/2.8 or 20/1.8 rather than a 50/1.8 on a DSLR.

28th July 2005	#7
MakotoMiki Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 690	TRY TO USE 50MM F1.4, THEN WILL KNOW WHAT'S DIFFERENT BUT 50MM F1.8 IS GOOD LENS FOR NEWBIE AND POOR GUY(LIKE ME ) THIS 50MM F1.8II SAMPLES: PIC ALL FROM MOILE 01. LINK: http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=164&t=87576

28th July 2005	#8
MakotoMiki Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 690	EF 50 1.4 USM SAMPLES: PICS ALL FROM MOBILE 01 LINK: http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail....35&last=645142

29th July 2005	#11
Snoweagle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hougang Posts: 11,828	I just bought a 50mm f/1.8 II lens and haven't see the results yet as i'm using a film EOS. Heard it's a very gd prime lens for taking portrait shots and other stuffs cos the angle of view is close to that of the human eye.

29th July 2005	#12
Zplus Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Some equitorial, tropical isla Posts: 2,359	Yes, the 50mm f1.8 mk2 is a good buy. Remember to get the hood too.

29th July 2005	#20
oeyvind Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3,556	One 50mm @ f/1.4 on ASA 800 film...