Considering most of us would have had some form of compact camera be it film or digital, we got used to having zoom lenses. Yes there was something else before digital. And it, like a zoom lens, was FANTASTIC.
The mere thought of having to wait a day or two (maybe even longer to see our images now seems absurd but it used to be like that in the days of film...anyhow, let's not drift away any further.
Once we outgrow the kit lens we get with our starter cameras a whole new world opens up. Let us start exploring that world with a little gem that is often overlooked, misunderstood or simply shunned because it has no zoom...hey, we used to do weddings and portraiture with this and only this. If you were REALLY fancy and well-heeled you had a second body with a 135mm lens on it.
What we have here is the middle of the road in terms of Canon's line-up of 50mm prime lenses. They are called prime lenses because they are static in terms of focal length. 50mm is what you get, that is it, no zoom, no 18 - 55 or anything like that.
I say the middle of the road as there are two cheaper versions. The 50mm f/1.8 Mk I and Mk II. Now the Mk II can be had for about U$ 100.00 or less, depending on where you buy.
You could get it on Amazon here:
http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-Camera-Lens/dp/B00007E7JU
Or you could get it from B & H for pretty much the same price here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/12142-USA/Canon_2514A002_Normal_EF_50mm_f_1_8.html
The Mk I only differs in that it had a metal mount so it is probably more durable but I have never worked with one myself. The Mk II I owned and can vouch for it being fantastic value for money with a slight drawback or two. It is rather noisy and not the quickest to focus. The manual focus ring is rather awkward to work with but if you are on a tight budget this is a lens to have in your bag.
If anyone is interested, I did a brief review on my f/1.8 Mk II a good while back on here:
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=46021
Let us briefly deal with the big guy and then get back to our f/1.4 review.
Canon also builds the Super Nice f/1.2 L Series prime over which you may feel free to drool here:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/457680-GREY/Canon_1257B002AA_Normal_EF_50mm_f_1_2L.html
At around the U$ 1 400.00 to U$ 1 450.00 it will have to sit on the shelf a wee bit longer.
And yes, there are others too...like the f/1.0 built around 1989 and be sure to put your house up for sale should you want that one. There also the FD lenses which predated the 1987 EOS and EF system but let us not complicate matters any more.
Similarly, Nikon has their own array of 50mm lenses with the latest being the f/1.4 AF-S which sits pretty much at the same price level as our friend the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM.
Now I would like to focus on the real world qualities of the lens so I will not get into any further technicalese or geekspeak. If anyone wants to know more about the technical aspects I hightly recommend this site here:
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/
Oh and by the way...before anyone reading here gets overly depressed about not owning that nice f/1.2 soon...read more here and you will see it is not perfect despite the asking price...
http://www.photozone.de/canon_eos_ff
Not EVER to encourage pixel peeping but the only reason why I would ever point anyone to a highly technical site like that is simply because (1) you do not have to take my word for it by reading for yourself and (2) you will see that everything has a week point. So go on and shoot and enjoy the lens that is on your current body now! That is an order!!
Upgrade by all means but know that you have only outgrown your current gear once you can convince that person staring back from the mirror...now I REALLY hope my wife does not read this...
Right, enough waffling...back to the 50mm f/1.4.
Before we really get to understand the numbers it might not look like there is much in it...I mean, get real...f/1.2...f/1.4...f/1.8...Hello!
Well, I am guessing half a stop between f/1.2 and f/1.4 and two thirds of a stop between f/1.4 and f/1.8.
For more on f/stops explained please follow my other blog here where I am working on an article demystifying the basic principles of photography...f/stop, ISO, Aperture AND the big schmuck that relates to all of them...the camera's TTL (or Through The Lens) light meter.
http://antonroland.blogspot.com/2010/07/lets-go-back-to-boot-campthe-basics-101.html
So with the crazy ISO numbers at our disposal with current digital cameras two thirds of a stop seems worthless. True, but in the film days it could have meant the difference between getting the shot or not.
Just look at that huge aperture hole inside there. It makes me want to drive my car through there it is that big. That is possibly the biggest benefit of prime lenses. No zoom can match that type of aperture and expecting it would be to expect something rather unfair of the zoom. Or zooms no person could buy unless your surname was Branson or Trump.
So, yes, there is a bit of a trade-off there but that is photography...everything is a trade-off of some sort. If you want to make images in very low light you need a fast prime. Flash might not always be permissible or appropriate and even when allowed or called for, it will often ruin the atmosphere if used in an unskilled way.
The 50mm is a fantastic piece of glass to cut your prime teeth on.
For those on a very tight budget I can recommend the f/1.8 Mk II without reserve. When you move on to the f/1.4 you will certainly not lose money selling it.
For those who can afford the f/1.2 I say go for it...be sure to contact me so I can mail you my shipping address too!
For those of us who work on a budget, I would say the f/1.4 is very nearly as good if not better in one or two aspects for a third of the price...but no L bragging rights...who cares, get the shot!!
When you move on to greater primes...and you will...be sure to keep it because one fine day you will find yourself reaching for it.
And nothing else will do!
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