I’ve been on the hunt for an inexpensive high speed camera lens for a little while and I heard about Canon’s EF 50mm 1:1.8 II lens, which sells brane new for less than $100. After keeping an eye on the eBay listings for a little while I found one for $77 including shipping and a protective filter.

1.8 F-Stop: It Rocks
A nice low F-Stop like this means two things: 1) More light can reach the sensor (Enables higher shutter speed and better exposure in low light situations) and 2) a very narrow depth of field. For many situations, the narrow depth of field looks really nice. You can always lower the aperture for a greater depth of field but that requires more light or a slower shutter speed.

The end result of this low F-Stop means that my photos have a more photo journalistic feel to them, like I’m really recording moments in time rather than just snapping pictures. It also means that I am able to capture those moments (without a flash) that I just couldn’t before. Like when my daughter is playing peek-a-boo under the kitchen table. Low light, but enough for this little lens to get the shot.

Getting Used to No Zoom
I was worried about not being able to zoom at all. You can shoot at 50mm and that is all. I have to admit, however, that it’s really no big deal. There have been occasions in which I wish I could have had a wider point of view or zoomed in closer but usually the 50mm is just great. I mostly use this lens for shooting indoors and you can get close enough to a subject with this distance that my images are often framed pretty well.

4 Ounces? Wow.
I’m not all that concerned about weight because I’m not hiking around the Himalayas lugging around equipment but the nice light lens is kind of enjoyable. I like the feel of a heavier bodied camera and lens but the light lens allows for greater agility and makes you feel like looking around a bit more. If you do travel with a camera and have to carry it on your back a lot, the light weight of this lens is a real plus.

Overall Performance
I’m an amateur. I’m not going to be able to give a bunch of info on distortion levels and focal accuracy, etc. My experience with this lens is that I am better able to get the low light shots that I want, it focuses quickly and the images come out great. I hate using a flash in most situations so this is a great way to capture the beauty of natural lighting without all of the blur that comes with the kit lens.

Sample Photos
Ya gotta post photos, right? Here are some examples of situations in which the 50mm F1.8 (aka Fantastic Plastic) really shines. Again, I’m no professional but these are the kinds of shots I was hoping for from this lens.

Conclusion
If you need a high speed lens and don’t have a lot of money to spend on it, this is the lens for you. For under $100, the Canon 50mm F1.8 EF is a fantastic little piece of glass. I’m really enjoying it and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to upgrade the lens set on a modest budget.

Tags: photography, tutorials //