Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II – Nifty Fifty

As I mentioned earlier in my Lowepro Slingshot 200 review, I’m really getting into the photography scene. My wife and I are expecting our first child, so I want to be able to take really nice photos of all the special moments we have ahead. Well, I recently picked up a new lens: the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II, otherwise known as the “nifty fifty”.

Since I’m still quite the amateur photographer, I didn’t want to drop a lot of money on a new lens, but, of course, I wanted the results that a nicer lens can provide. My good friend Bo, who has written most of the wonderful photography and Photoshop posts for this site, recommended this Canon 50mm lens. I’ve had some time to learn some of its strong points and quirks; the following is a few of my thoughts.

Big bang for your buck.
If you’re looking for great results for just a little cash, this lens won’t disappoint. Averaging at around $85.00, this nifty fifty is probably the most affordable lens on the market. The lens casing is made of plastic, which helps account for its low price, but don’t let that deter you! The plastic casing and mount won’t effect your photos and should hold up just fine with normal use. All of those who complain about it coming apart or other ridiculous things obviously got a lemon, in which case they should just get it replaced (and stop whining).

If your budget doesn’t allow for $80, try looking for a used Canon lens or used Nikon lens. Photographers generally take care of their gear, so you stand a good chance of finding a deal.

Large aperture for a narrow depth of field.
What makes this lens so amazing considering its price is its ability to open up to an aperture of f/1.8. This allows sharp focusing on the subject (even in lower than optimum lighting conditions) while sending the foreground or background into a merging, smooth blur of colors (also known as bokeh [bow’-kuh] ). It works really well for portraits or anytime you want the subject to really stand out.[ad name=”250×250″]

Fixed focal length
One thing to note, is that this lens has a fixed focal length. That means no twisting the lens and zooming in and out. So, you’ll probably have to get used to framing your shot for the first few times you use this lens. I think some people who are just getting started in photography look at this as a negative, but I would beg them to reconsider. The 50mm does a great job of showing things from the photographer’s point of view and, in my opinion, should be used creatively in this respect.

Pros and Cons
I’ve been shooting with this lens for about a week, and I think I’m ready to dish out a few pros and cons.

• Pros: Very inexpensive, especially when compared to its f/1.4 ($350) and f/1.2 ($1400) brothers. This lens is quite small and very light, and won’t take up much room in your camera bag. Focusing is sharp, especially at f/3.2 and smaller, and should be considered an upgrade to the stock lens that comes with the Canon XTi. Works out great for “everyday shooting.”
• Cons: Focusing is a little loud, if you’re someone who worries about that sort of thing. Also, in really low light, it tends to “hunt” a fair amount (focuses in and out repeatedly). Lastly, you’ll be tempted to do some macro work with this lens, but, unfortunately, you won’t be able to focus on anything closer than 16″ or so.

Summary
Considering everything, I am very happy with this lens and would have no trouble recommending it to anyone, especially those who are just getting into photography. At only $85, there’s no excuse for not having this lens in your arsenal. To wrap things up, here are a few pictures I snapped around the how with this lens. Please note that I’ve done nothing to these images (no cropping, no touch-ups) except resizing them for the web.