50mm f/1.8

The two are definitely different, I guess.

My f/1.8 does feel "cheap". ?? I call it "lightweight" and "portable". :)

Yes the f/1.4 is nicer. It's metal mount and build quality will let you know you paid $400 for it. Which, by the way, IS NOT BAD AT ALL. :) I love taking a step back. a 7D plus the "nicer" f/1.4 50mm is still only like $1800. Remember what it used to cost to get this work done? :D

Yes. The f/1.8 feels cheap and lightweight. The f/1.4 is nicer. In my opinion, which doesn't matter, the f/1.4 does not feel $300 nicer. It's better, sure. But they are really really close, and I'm very comfortable with my 50mm f/1.8.

*confession*
I'm actually a Photographer.
 
The 50mm f/1.8 Mark I is also a good bet. It's a bit more expensive than the Mark II, because it features a metal mount, distance meter, and is a bit more rugged. It's just as sharp or sharper than the Mark II, here's a whole Flickr group of photos taken with the Mark I - http://www.flickr.com/groups/canon50mm_1-8mark1lens/

You can find them all the time on eBay, or on the used sections of B&H or Adorama.
 
tony240sx said:
Of course but I can also live with one stop for that price difference at this point.




And thanks for posting that footage. Both lenses look great to me and the 1.8 really does well at around 2.8 from what I'm seeing on stills posted online. I'm gonna give it a shot and see how it compares to my nikon 55mm f/1.2.
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your welcome. Hey I dunno man, can you get away with the 1.8? Certainly. But I've seen some stuff shot with the 1.4 that has a whole different feel. If you dig deep on the 5d board there was a vimeo shot with a couple of college age guys with the 1.4. It was bokeh, qualiteh, and authoriteh, as in respect it.
 
I shot this with the Rebel T1i and 50mm f1.8 II and given this is the COMPLETE bottom end solution from Canon it SHOCKED the hell out of me. For the price this lens is a great buy. Even if I had the 1.4 or 1.2 (which I will soon) I would still get this lens for walk around purposes because if it get's hit or harmed WHO GIVES A F---? It's cheaper then good filters LOL
http://vimeo.com/6714522
password: wheeler
 
Johnny Cola said:
I shot this with the Rebel T1i and 50mm f1.8 II and given this is the COMPLETE bottom end solution from Canon it SHOCKED the hell out of me. For the price this lens is a great buy. Even if I had the 1.4 or 1.2 (which I will soon) I would still get this lens for walk around purposes because if it get's hit or harmed WHO GIVES A F---? It's cheaper then good filters LOL
http://vimeo.com/6714522
password: wheeler
Click to expand...
Wow. Really nice.

Also checked out "I-10: A Drive Into Darkness"... also very cool. Is that a SC400?
 
Now watching MUSIC VIDEO : Dougie D f/ Trae & Lil Boss - Boss Mac Swag for the 2nd time...(caught in a rewind loop at 4.18... booty heaven:Drogar-Love(DBG)::thumbup::thumbup:)
 
Just noticed that the 50mm 1.4 USM's focus ring has a full 180 degrees of travel. Much more than my other USM Prime (28mm 1.8). Does the 50mm 1.8 have the long focus ring travel? If not, that might be another reason to opt for the 1.4.
 
SimonPatrick said:
Wow. Really nice.

Also checked out "I-10: A Drive Into Darkness"... also very cool. Is that a SC400?
Click to expand...
I wish, it's just a Ford Tarus LOL
That's what I love about these cameras more than anything, being able to always have it with you and get cool shots. Can't wait for my 7Ds

SimonPatrick said:
Now watching MUSIC VIDEO : Dougie D f/ Trae & Lil Boss - Boss Mac Swag for the 2nd time...(caught in a rewind loop at 4.18... booty heaven:Drogar-Love(DBG)::thumbup::thumbup:)
Click to expand...
LOL glad you liked it. Those girls were super cool and down to earth.

mhood said:
Just noticed that the 50mm 1.4 USM's focus ring has a full 180 degrees of travel. Much more than my other USM Prime (28mm 1.8). Does the 50mm 1.8 have the long focus ring travel? If not, that might be another reason to opt for the 1.4.
Click to expand...
The focus ring on the 1.8 sux, it's a small lip on the edge of the lens and it has about 90 degrees of travel (1/4 turn) BUT I havn't had issues like I thought I would. Pulling focus with it has been surprisingly easy, of course thnx to the fact it is a sharp lens and the Canons have wounderful LCDs.
 
Johnny Cola said:
I wish, it's just a Ford Tarus LOL
That's what I love about these cameras more than anything, being able to always have it with you and get cool shots. Can't wait for my 7Ds


LOL glad you liked it. Those girls were super cool and down to earth.


The focus ring on the 1.8 sux, it's a small lip on the edge of the lens and it has about 90 degrees of travel (1/4 turn) BUT I havn't had issues like I thought I would. Pulling focus with it has been surprisingly easy, of course thnx to the fact it is a sharp lens and the Canons have wounderful LCDs.
Click to expand...
Hey Johnny, what camera did you use for the music vid? That's a super slick production!
 
bjdowns said:
You can find them all the time on eBay, or on the used sections of B&H or Adorama.
Click to expand...

I just happen to find one on ebay, right after reading this thread for an awesome price. It seems they're going for a constant $175-199. I paid $150 shipping & UV Filter included (W00T)
 
Besides being a faster lens, the f/1.4 50mm has (8) aperture blades compared to the f/1.8 only having (5) blades. If you are getting the 7D because you love the look of shallow DOF then get the f/1.4- the bokeh it produces is significantly more aesthetically pleasing due to it having eight blades.

Ash
www.iniosante.com
 
SimonPatrick said:
Hey Johnny, what camera did you use for the music vid? That's a super slick production!
Click to expand...

That was the HVX200a with no lens adapter. I usually shoot with a Redrock M2 or Letus Extreme, but I wanted deeper depth of field so I went without. I really wanted the club to look gritty and not polished and not pretty. I wanted people who are into that type of thing to feel at home and those that aren't to feel icky LOL
And I get people that love it and people that are absolutely offended by it, which is cool 'cause that's what it was intended to do :)
 
I'd personally go for the 50mm 1.8. I actually have the 1.8, 1.4, and 1.2. I use them all for different occasions.

Let me tell you, the 50mm 1.8 is still the most heavily used lens in my collection. Sometimes I want to be light and move around. With the 5D and the 7D, you have to deal with using extra equipment anyway like a mic preamp etc. Because of that, weight gets to be a hassle sometimes.

The 50mm 1.8 really helps in this department.
 
Johnny Cola said:
That was the HVX200a with no lens adapter. I usually shoot with a Redrock M2 or Letus Extreme, but I wanted deeper depth of field so I went without. I really wanted the club to look gritty and not polished and not pretty. I wanted people who are into that type of thing to feel at home and those that aren't to feel icky LOL
And I get people that love it and people that are absolutely offended by it, which is cool 'cause that's what it was intended to do :)
Click to expand...
Well it looks brilliant. Goes to show that the elusive cinematic look isn't necessarily about shallow depth of field. I really like the grungy look of the place... very atmospheric and edgy... the kind of place where I might get lucky or I might get dead... (being something of a nerd, more likely the latter)
 
The 50 1.4 and the 1.2 have ultrasonic motors which quietly aid autofocus while shooting stills. This also provides full time manual focus even when switched to autofocus mode - something the 1.8 can't do. Both the 1.2 and the 1.4 have a focus scale that often helps when setting up a rack focus with video.

I've used the 50 1.8 for a while but just recently got myself the 50 1.4. I really think the image quality for those of us shooting video is comparable. I've heard people mention that the resolution of the video that these cameras are able to produce isn't as high as the stills that they are capable of. For this reason, image quality from the lens isn't as big of a deal if you want to shoot video with the cheaper lens. I don't necessarily agree with that statement, but an interesting point. I will always try to use the tools that will give me the BEST image quality and the BEST audio if it's within my budget.

I agree with what everyone here says, if you can spring for the more expensive versions, get them; if for no other reason than to use the extra stops of light that they afford you. At about $100, the 1.8 is a very easy choice to make if just for your "Crash Lens" that you keep on all the time.

I myself desired the 1.4 because of the larger focus ring and I want to be able to easily use a follow focus ring gear on this lens. Aside from the better low light performance and build quality, that was the biggest factor for me.

-Michael Rivera
 
Just picked up the 50mm f/1.4 from my local shop tonight. I can't tell you how much I love this lens and the speed! It truly is a perfect portrait length and will work great for those MCU's and CU's where you want to really throw the background out of focus. I am now considering either buying the new ef-s 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6, or the ef-s 17-55mm f/2.8. Now that I am hooked on speed I may just have to go with the 17-55mm!
 
get the 2.8. I've been messing around with a T1i while I wait for the 7D and the 18-55 3.5-5.6 only sees the outside of the camera bag when it's been long enough for me to forget how much it sucks compared to the 50 1.8. Then after 5 minutes and it's back in the bag :(
 
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