Nifty Fifty: I am in the market for a 50mm F/1.4 lens for a Canon. I noticed that Canon, Sigma, and Tamron lens offer no IS. Has anyone experience any issues with a 50mm lens without...

MikeMck Loc: Southern Maryland on the Bay

I am in the market for a 50mm F/1.4 lens for a Canon. I noticed that Canon, Sigma, and Tamron lens offer no IS. Has anyone experience any issues with a 50mm lens without IS. I am a 68 year old and am not as steady as I once was. Thanks and have a safe and healthy new year.

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

I have a couple of lens with out IS. Not much of a problem as long as you have fast shutter speed. If you shoot at slower shutter speed, you should use tripod or a mono pod. I have two Canon primes the 70-200 f4 and 300 f4 and have good results with some practice even inside with a good flash on the 70 200. I am twelve years older than you are, but work on breathing exercises light weights to help steady my hands and arms. Just practice and learn the limitations of the lens. The old lens did not use IS and great pictures were taken, just recognize the limits of your lens and enjoy.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

I'm going on 62, is this what I have to look forward to? I have read that exhaling completely before your take a shot, in addition to having a good solid pose for what you're doing, will help steady your shots. I do use a monopod and/or a tripod when needed, especially for wide angle HDR shots like cityscapes.

amehta Loc: Boston

MikeMcK wrote:

I am in the market for a 50mm F/1.4 lens for a Canon. I noticed that Canon, Sigma, and Tamron lens offer no IS. Has anyone experience any issues with a 50mm lens without IS. I am a 68 year old and am not as steady as I once was. Thanks and have a safe and healthy new year.

Very few primes seem to have IS until you get to telephotos. Since they tend to be smaller lenses, the center of gravity of the camera+lens stays closer to your head, so it won't shake as much.

If it becomes a problem, I third the monopod suggestion.

haroldross Loc: Walthill, Nebraska

A 50mm prime lens should not be any problem using handheld. Using the old rule of thumb, 1/focal length for the shutter speed minimum, camera shake at 1/60th of a second and faster shouldn't be a factor.

On most camera bodies, the lens is light enough to balance well in the hand.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Old Timer wrote:

I have a couple of lens with out IS. Not much of a... (show quote)

70-200 PRIME? Are you entirely positive about a 70-200 being a prime? Something doesn't smell correctly, I wonder what it might be.

Beowulf Loc: Aquidneck Island, RI

I agree with all that has been said here. I have been photographing for about 55 years. and at age 71 I can still take sharp photos with a 50mm. I have owned f1.4's and f1.8's, both manual and AF, over the years with no need for IS or VR.

I guess I am still pretty steady, but my problem is deteriorating eyesight with some of my lenses, but the 50's are easy on the eyes.

amehta Loc: Boston

davidrb wrote:

70-200 PRIME? Are you entirely positive about a 70-200 being a prime? Something doesn't smell correctly, I wonder what it might be.

If I'm carrying that lens around when I'm 80, I'll call it a prime and you'll just have to deal. :-)

Old Timer Loc: Greenfield, In.

My error, I do have two primes and the 70 200. I did not make that clear. I have a 50mm also that is non IS. Thanks for catching my error. After checking I have a macro lens that does not have IS also.

davidrb wrote:

70-200 PRIME? Are you entirely positive about a 70-200 being a prime? Something doesn't smell correctly, I wonder what it might be.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

MikeMcK wrote:

I am in the market for a 50mm F/1.4 lens for a Canon. I noticed that Canon, Sigma, and Tamron lens offer no IS. Has anyone experience any issues with a 50mm lens without IS. I am a 68 year old and am not as steady as I once was. Thanks and have a safe and healthy new year.

I have the 1.5 50mm for Nikkon. I have not had any problems with it and don't miss IS with this lens.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

amehta wrote:

If I'm carrying that lens around when I'm 80, I'll call it a prime and you'll just have to deal. :-)

:roll: :roll:

if you are carrying that lens around @ age 80 we'll call YOU prime! :lol: :lol: :lol:

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

MikeMcK wrote:

I am in the market for a 50mm F/1.4 lens for a Canon. I noticed that Canon, Sigma, and Tamron lens offer no IS. Has anyone experience any issues with a 50mm lens without IS. I am a 68 year old and am not as steady as I once was. Thanks and have a safe and healthy new year.

No need.

A 50mm lens is too short to need IS. I'm a shaky-jake and I can hold it ...I'm betting you can too.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

MikeMcK wrote:

I am in the market for a 50mm F/1.4 lens for a Canon. I noticed that Canon, Sigma, and Tamron lens offer no IS. Has anyone experience any issues with a 50mm lens without IS. I am a 68 year old and am not as steady as I once was. Thanks and have a safe and healthy new year.

Mike, I have experienced issues with ALL my lenses, whether IS or not. Sometimes it's the subject moving, not the lens.
It sounds like you should be looking into a good speedlight as well.
Good luck
SS

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

I learned to use proper camera holding/bracing and faster shutter speed to avoid camera shake when I first got involved with a film SLR them moved to a Bridge digital with IS for about 7-8 yrs - now at 76 and back to basic older Canon Rebel 350d &400d Rebels without IS I am back to the old school and am pretty good luck so far.
I shoot with 18-55 and 100-300 lens - Oh, I do use a tripod on the 100-300 most of the time.

As for the Nifty Fifty, I went on a shoot not too long ago and used the 18-55 quite a bit - it will be interesting to check the data and see just how many were shot in the 45-55 range.

amehta Loc: Boston

Harvey wrote:

I learned to use proper camera holding/bracing and... (show quote)

I agree, that will be interesting. Since I was always shooting zooms at their extremes, I just switched to primes at those focal lengths. :-)