Canon EF 50mm f1.8 MK I - Why is it hard to come by?

tky · 5th November 2004

Just wondering what's so great about the 50mm f1.8 Mk I. Why is it so hard to come by? How much do you think it's worth if we come across one?

Anybody?

mpenza · 5th November 2004

because the owners do not want to sell? It has a metal mount and the build is better than the Mk II.

nickmak · 5th November 2004

And its out of production too!

r32 · 5th November 2004

Its worth more than a brand new 50mm F1.8 II, but definitely less than a 50mm F1.4 lens.

Besides the metal mount, I believe it also has a focusing distance scale. Not sure how the two versions compare optically, though.

sehsuan · 5th November 2004

it stopped production about 1990/1. trying to find one, you might have better luck finding historic artifacts in singapore...

Stoned · 5th November 2004

Does anyone on CS own one? Own up own up!

singscott · 5th November 2004

imheng · 5th November 2004

i have one, but got scratches on the front element.

Stoned · 5th November 2004

I don't suppose anyone is willing to sell

tOGGY · 5th November 2004

Originally Posted by tky

Just wondering what's so great about the 50mm f1.8 Mk I. Why is it so hard to come by? How much do you think it's worth if we come across one?

Anybody?

Saw a few on offer in the last few days in Fred Miranda site. Not cheap - something like US$130 - $150 if not mistaken - exclude delivery & insurance.

ST1100 · 5th November 2004

i had one, quite mint. Chassis same as 35/2 and 28/2.8. (In fact, with all three in the bag, it's very hard to tell them apart in the dark.) Built quality much better than the mkII. Sold it off at TCW for below $200 - gone in one weekend. Regretted selling it.

But think about it - those who want cheap will go for the mkII. Those who can pay more would pay for the 1.4. Who are we left with? Collectors. That's why they don't surface much on the used market.

loki · 5th November 2004

ST1000,

So you sold the 50mm MkI that you bought from me!

Goldwing · 5th November 2004

The Canon EF 50mm f2.5 Macro is another great lens that is seldom mentioned. Its built is much, much better than the mkII and it is very sharp either for macro or landscape.
Gives a 1:2 magnification (on digital, it is effectively 0.8 times magnification). There is a dedicated life size adaptor which can be used only for this lens to give a 1:1 magnification. Bought a new one about 3 weeks ago for $580. The image quality is significantly better that the mkII I had before.

Anyone looking for 50mm should seriously consider this lens.

Stoned · 5th November 2004

unless of course you need the extra stop or stops in the case of the 1.4

Belle&Sebastain · 5th November 2004

Originally Posted by Stoned

unless of course you need the extra stop or stops in the case of the 1.4

its 2/3 stop more.

Stoned · 5th November 2004

yes to be more exact. Thanks for the correction. For the 1.4 it is more than a stop though.

Belle&Sebastain · 5th November 2004

i meant 1.8 to 1.4 is 2/3 stop more, not comparing the 2.5, its 1 stop of difference to 1.8

Russ · 5th November 2004

I am a proud owner of a 50mm 1.8 Mk1 in all its glory - metal mount etc. A bit noisy on the focus but that is about all.

Bought it from TK in 1992/3 for $90 it was their last piece and had been sitting there for a while!! Not selling unless I can find a good used 1.4 one that is not too expensive.

People like me not selling so that is why it is hard to come by.

CAN0N · 5th November 2004

yes you are right. I sold off my 50 1.8 and 50 1.4 to get this excellent macro lens.

it is worth every cent of the $500 it costs.

Originally Posted by Goldwing

The Canon EF 50mm f2.5 Macro is another great lens that is seldom mentioned. Its built is much, much better than the mkII and it is very sharp either for macro or landscape.
Gives a 1:2 magnification (on digital, it is effectively 0.8 times magnification). There is a dedicated life size adaptor which can be used only for this lens to give a 1:1 magnification. Bought a new one about 3 weeks ago for $580. The image quality is significantly better that the mkII I had before.

Anyone looking for 50mm should seriously consider this lens.

erwinx · 5th November 2004

not the first time i've heard someone mentioning upgrading from regular 50mm prime to something else in order to get better image quality. Somehow i think these people just happened to have bad luck and get poor samples of the lenses (or they buy 2nd hand ones that have been banged about and the optics are just slightly out of alignment). I find the image quality of my 50 f/1.8 Mk II fantastic. 50 f/1.4 would give slightly better bokeh of course, but sharpness wise, don't really see anything lacking.

5th November 2004	#1
tky Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 143	Canon EF 50mm f1.8 MK I - Why is it hard to come by? Just wondering what's so great about the 50mm f1.8 Mk I. Why is it so hard to come by? How much do you think it's worth if we come across one? Anybody?

5th November 2004	#3
nickmak Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: London, UK Posts: 2,366	And its out of production too! __________________ *The equipment can only bring you so far - the rest of the photographic journey is done by you.*

5th November 2004	#6
Stoned Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Changi Posts: 4,376	Does anyone on CS own one? Own up own up! __________________ My Personal Folio (of random events and things)

5th November 2004	#9
Stoned Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Changi Posts: 4,376	I don't suppose anyone is willing to sell __________________ My Personal Folio (of random events and things)

5th November 2004	#14
Stoned Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Changi Posts: 4,376	unless of course you need the extra stop or stops in the case of the 1.4 __________________ My Personal Folio (of random events and things)

5th November 2004	#2
mpenza Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,397	because the owners do not want to sell? It has a metal mount and the build is better than the Mk II.

5th November 2004	#4
r32 Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 976	Its worth more than a brand new 50mm F1.8 II, but definitely less than a 50mm F1.4 lens. Besides the metal mount, I believe it also has a focusing distance scale. Not sure how the two versions compare optically, though.

5th November 2004	#5
sehsuan Deregistered Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 6,674	it stopped production about 1990/1. trying to find one, you might have better luck finding historic artifacts in singapore...

5th November 2004	#7
singscott Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: www.whltelightphotographer.com Posts: 1,659

5th November 2004	#8
imheng New Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Here, There & Everywhere Posts: 41	i have one, but got scratches on the front element.

5th November 2004	#11
ST1100 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Singapore, Bedok Posts: 1,801	i had one, quite mint. Chassis same as 35/2 and 28/2.8. (In fact, with all three in the bag, it's very hard to tell them apart in the dark.) Built quality much better than the mkII. Sold it off at TCW for below $200 - gone in one weekend. Regretted selling it. But think about it - those who want cheap will go for the mkII. Those who can pay more would pay for the 1.4. Who are we left with? Collectors. That's why they don't surface much on the used market.

5th November 2004	#12
loki Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 63	ST1000, So you sold the 50mm MkI that you bought from me!

5th November 2004	#13
Goldwing Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 157	The Canon EF 50mm f2.5 Macro is another great lens that is seldom mentioned. Its built is much, much better than the mkII and it is very sharp either for macro or landscape. Gives a 1:2 magnification (on digital, it is effectively 0.8 times magnification). There is a dedicated life size adaptor which can be used only for this lens to give a 1:1 magnification. Bought a new one about 3 weeks ago for $580. The image quality is significantly better that the mkII I had before. Anyone looking for 50mm should seriously consider this lens.

5th November 2004	#17
Belle&Sebastain Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: here Posts: 3,752	i meant 1.8 to 1.4 is 2/3 stop more, not comparing the 2.5, its 1 stop of difference to 1.8

5th November 2004	#18
Russ Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Pasir Ris Posts: 1,613	I am a proud owner of a 50mm 1.8 Mk1 in all its glory - metal mount etc. A bit noisy on the focus but that is about all. Bought it from TK in 1992/3 for $90 it was their last piece and had been sitting there for a while!! Not selling unless I can find a good used 1.4 one that is not too expensive. People like me not selling so that is why it is hard to come by.

5th November 2004	#20
erwinx Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,492	not the first time i've heard someone mentioning upgrading from regular 50mm prime to something else in order to get better image quality. Somehow i think these people just happened to have bad luck and get poor samples of the lenses (or they buy 2nd hand ones that have been banged about and the optics are just slightly out of alignment). I find the image quality of my 50 f/1.8 Mk II fantastic. 50 f/1.4 would give slightly better bokeh of course, but sharpness wise, don't really see anything lacking.