Canon Prime Lens? Hello, You all were kind enough to send me answers to my question regarding Full Frame and APS. As a reminder I am not a pro but an enthused hobbyist. That being said...

archernf Loc: Marietta, GA

Hello,
You all were kind enough to send me answers to my question regarding Full Frame and APS.
As a reminder I am not a pro but an enthused hobbyist. That being said I have a Canon T6i along with the 18-135 Macro Zoom kit lens that came with the Canon from B&H. I am thinking of adding the Canon 50 mm 1.8 lens for the additional speed for some very occasional low light photos. The 1.4 would be nice but a bit out of the budget for this old geezer retiree. I do not think from my basic knowledge that it makes a lot of difference in light gathering but I defer to your opinions. Digital is rather new to me since the last SLR 35mm camera I had was a Nikon F3 film camera and then I stopped photography for a number of years. Sadly my experience with a major photo shop locally has been not great, unless you are a customer and want to buy something they do not want to spend much time with you.
Many thanks,
Neil

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

I have and use the 50mm 1.8, nice lens and does the job for me, I also have the 40mm 2.8 pancake which i usually find to be fast enough on my T4i. The 40mm is a bit better on interior shots due to the wider angle apx 60mm vs 75mm in full frame terms, Bob.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Just remember that the field of view is different on an APS-C camera, so a 50 mm is going to give you the "look" of a 75+ mm. If you're comfortable with a prime lens of that equivalent length and feel "occasional" use is worth the price, go for it!

I bought the 40 mm pancake not too long ago for my T3i. Great clarity, but as it's my first fixed focal length lens in decades, I find I rarely use it* Too spoiled with zooms - lol. I have an 18-135 (don't know if it's same as yours, but shooting raw and editing, I am very happy with clarity) that gets a ton of use.

Also the EF-S 10-18 mm ultrawide is great fun. Silent focus, great clarity, just a bit more challenging because of its properties. Ultrawides are not for standing beside the road and shooting into the distance

*I do plan to use the 40 mm (equiv angle of view approx 66 mm) when I wander the streets of Seattle next month.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

archernf wrote:

Hello, br You all were kind enough to send me answ... (show quote)

I have 1.8 50mm and love it. For those cases where I want max bokeh - spot on. It's a fun exercise to put the 50 on and learn to move the camera closer or further away for each shot, rather than zoom.

I too thought about the 1.4 but had already sold all my kids to get the new 100-400 II lens.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Have you actually confessed to moving from Nikon to Canon. Oh the horrors!!. Every Nikonian here just passed out. Most of us have started with film and still fire up our dusty film gear every now and then. With regard to the 50mm, it seems as if you have already decided on the 1.8. It's never a mistake to go for a fast prime. Enjoy. Post a few shots from the new lens.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The point made by others was my first thought: the 50mm on your T6i will shoot like a 75mm. I greatly enjoyed my 50 f/1.8 on my cropped sensor camera before moving to full frame. An excellent combination for light(er) weight and single lens walkaround set-up. I own an 85mm on full frame for much the same look now. If looking to stretch limited funds, look to used models at KEH rated EX or EX+.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

boberic wrote:

Have you actually confessed to moving from Nikon to Canon. Oh the horrors!!. Every Nikonian here just passed out. Most of us have started with film and still fire up our dusty film gear every now and then. With regard to the 50mm, it seems as if you have already decided on the 1.8. It's never a mistake to go for a fast prime. Enjoy. Post a few shots from the new lens.

Don't beat him up, he's joined the good guys, VBG. No flame wars please!!!

archernf Loc: Marietta, GA

Thanks for the reminder about KEH, they are local, Hmmmm maybe a 40mm I forgot about the APS-c format rendering it more like a 75mm
More food for thought, I appreciate the feedback and hope the Nikonians will not get their panties in a wad for my transgressions but the Canon was to good a deal to pass up and it is a fine camera
Neil

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

If it were me and I was in your shoes:

1.) Very limited funds.
2.) Not frequent low light needs.
3.) The 50mm isn't stabilized and your 18-135 is.
4.) For your crop sensor, to get a 50mm field of view would require a 35mm lens.

I'd just keep what I had.

The 50mm is f/1.8 and at 50mm your 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 is at f/4 (or less I believe) when at a 50mm equivalent field of view for your camera (35mm?) and so what you are looking at in terms of low light is 2 stops and the stabilization HAS to be worth a stop at least so it comes down to one stop; 800 vs 1600 or raising your exposure 1 stop in Lightroom.

I'd seriously go try and take those low light shots with what I had first and then if what I had isn't cutting it, I'd search for the solution to my problem.

OR...you could load that F3 up with some Tri-X and shoot away at 1600! :)

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I own a 50mm 1.8 prime and wished I had bought the 35mm prime instead, for my APS-C camera. A nifty fifty is suppose to see what the eyes see on a 135mm format camera. It was my first ever lens on a SLR film camera. Loved it.

archernf Loc: Marietta, GA

As I understand it the Image Stabilization is important on zoom/long lenses, and not so important on "short/prime" lenses??
Neil

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

archernf wrote:

As I understand it the Image Stabilization is important on zoom/long lenses, and not so important on "short/prime" lenses??
Neil

True, but the 50mm will act like a 75mm in that regard. I wasn't suggesting that the 50mm should be stabilized, just listing the situation as it currently stands.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

archernf wrote:

As I understand it the Image Stabilization is important on zoom/long lenses, and not so important on "short/prime" lenses??
Neil

The 50mm f/1.8 STM is inexpensive for what it is, and would work well as a narrow DOF portrait lens. I have the earlier version as well an adapted FL 55mm f1.2 manual focus lens. That's lot's of fun to play with, even on an APS-C body.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

archernf wrote:

Hello, br You all were kind enough to send me answ... (show quote)

Neil, I would not even hesitate at about a $100. Nothing else is as fast or as sharp for even close to that money!
It's not about what that lens sees but about how you use it. It's just a different shooting style. It's a little tighter and you look for tighter composed shots! I have a 1.4 and the lens NEVER leaves my bag. It's just small enough that it's always there because you never know when you need the speed. Almost any indoor shooting or even heavy overcast or close to sundown. It's extremely versatile. It will also make a pretty good portrait lens!
I too have a few primes and the focal lengths are ALL covered by my zooms but not even close to doing it at the speed of my primes. So they are completely different use lenses.
If that's what you can afford, just get it and don't look back. NO purchase is forever, if it doesn't work out, just sell it and get something different. If you like it, may you have a long and happy relationship!!! LoL
SS

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

One important thing to remember if you really want to try this lens is to buy from B&H or Adorama. They both have a "30 days try it out and like it or send it back for a full refund" policy.

I always take advantage of that for sure. Just keep the lens in the same shape as you got it with the same paperwork, packing and everything. Don't fill out any cards or anything.

If you don't like it, you are only out the shipping cost.

It's the best deal going.