Explain to me about this lens...
 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...0mm_f_1_8.html

why is it so cheap?

and what is the major difference between that and this one:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...Autofocus.html


and is 50mm the way to go if I HAVE to get a fixed range?



I want the lowest possible aperture, and they are either fixed or $1,500. So unless some one wants to pay for me to get a $1,500 lens I have to get a fixed one.

Help!

I tried to tell the difference by looking at the specs
Looks to me like the cheaper one is better
I would look at canon website at these two to find more details

Your op kinda confuses me.

Janie not only is the f range different I suggest you take a real close look at the build. The 1.8 which is called " the nifty fifty " is made of plastic. The 1.4 is more solidly built.

I've owned the 1.8 twice and was very impressed with the output it gave me. I didn't hang on to either though cuz it didn't suit my style and what I like to shoot.


Here's a link that you might be able to extract some useful info out of.

http://www0.epinions.com/review/pr-C...t_412667907716

And a review of the nifty fifty

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/r...ns-review.aspx

And a review of the f 1.4

http://www.the-digital-picture.com/r...ns-review.aspx

You might change your mind if you read my links. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

That said, many people consider the Nifty Fifty to be one of their best investments as far as a prime lens is concerned. It's packs a big punch for the buck and is fantastic for the budget minded.

Ok I think I understand what you were asking... maybe...

A zoom is a zoom and a " fixed " is considered in photography talk as being " a prime " lens.

Read this Janie...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_lens

by fixed I meant fixed focal length! http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/tongue2.gif

as in can I really use a 50mm for what I want to do???

Can I find a lens that has a focal range and is still f1.something for under $1,000???

http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/frown.gif

i don't have $400 to spend! but it does look like the f1.4 is a good lens for me...right?

Janie the 1.4 is a hell of a good lens but so is the 1.8 for the cost. I know you're on a budget, we all are and that's why I'm not going to answer yes or no because if you buy something and find out it doesn't suit your style of shooting you will end up hating me. What I would suggest you do is go to a camera shop and have them bolt one to your body. You can fool around with it, get the feel of it's range and see if it's what you expected. I found mine to be excellent for shooting people at parties and such. It didn't suit for birding or even scenery... but... your tastes are considerably different than mine. You're a hell of a lot more artsy fartsy and you would probably get a lot more use out of it than I did.

Now if it was me buying the lens I would get the 1.4 for many reasons but mainly because of it's build quality. It's much more robust, has a metal mount instead of being all plastic, quieter, faster on the focus, etc. In other words it's built to last where the 1.8 is disposable imo.

Make sense.

Here's something else worth trying Janie. Take your existing kit lens and set it at 50mm. Then walk around, whack off a bunch of shots and see if the focal range is ok for you. I think you'll find it very limiting.

lol DUH! Thanks guy!

and I could NEVER hate you!!! http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/biggrin.gif

We always try and tackle an issue in the hardest way possible.

Kewl beans. Wanna go halfers on a kid then? http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif

hm...you can have it. I don't want kids. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...es/tongue2.gif

Neither do I but we could practice just for the hell of it. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/thumbsup.gif

The reason why the 50 f/18 is so cheap, it is the way it is built compared to the way the 1.4 is built. Plus the 1.4 has a distance scale on it, something very useful if you know how to get the best out of it

Plus the focusing is USM, a much better way of focusing

The USM is just faster and quieter.

Tuffy you have the Nifty Fifty don't you? Tell her what you think of it.

I think it will do a lot of good, for portraits, but don't expect too much in low lights compared to the f/1.4http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/thumbsup.gif

I'm thinkin' she might wanna hear if it's a good walk around lens or not. http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/wink.gif I didn't find much use of the 50mm as I said before. She needs to explain her shooting style to be able to properly answer this question.

Pffft, that is hard to say for a good walk around lens, I would suggest 24-105mm is a good walk around lens (i.e. good focal length range) but that is even more expensive than the 50mm f/1.4, but it is a good lens to practice with if that is what you meanhttp://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...s/thumbsup.gif

That's kind of what I mean but I'm being very careful. I don't want to tell her that lens or any other would be suitable because if it turns out wrong I'm dead meat. Like I said before she and all the rest of us are on a budget of some sort and gotta watch where the most bang for the buck is.

I snapped up a used 28 - 135mm lens that I'm kinda getting fond of as a walk around lens. T'was cheap and it produces decent results.

Even if you were pro, I think budget would still come into mind. I mean you can't just splash the cash everywhere, you are going to have days where jobs are thin on the ground so to speak