Canon Lens EF 50mm f1.8 Mk I

D

Darkstar

Suspended / Banned
Messages
318
Name
Ian
Edit My Images
Yes
Been told if I want a nifty 50 to look out for the Mark 1 as it is the best one to find .is this the case
 
Optically they're pretty much identical but the Mk1 has far better build quality, including a metal mount.

They do tend to fetch around twice the price of a new Mk2 though.
 
Stupid question, but normally when a company makes a Mk 2 it's better than the Mk 1. What went wrong with the 50mm f/1.8 for Canon?
 
The Mk2 was deliberately made to be as cheap as possible - all plastic construction, no distance scale window, no proper bayonet hood fitting.

Why they did this I don't really know.
 
I had a MK2 and it lasted 6 months. Got a MK1 now and not a single issue.
 
I think I was unlucky with my MK2, first time I've had an issue with a lens.
 
Hope you have better luck than me!!
The 1st 50mm F1.8 auto focus jammed after 2 days. Exchanged it and same problem as soon as it came out of box.

I just bite the bullet and upgraded to the 50mm F1.4. Bit more money but had it 2 years and it's never skipped a beat.

Great Lens though.
 
Ask yourself, does it matter if the mount is metal or plastic? Do you manual focus using the scale? If not, don't worry about it.
 
I've never really seen the advantage of spending £120+ on a metal mount 50mm F1.8 when you can get a newer Canon 50mm F1.4 for not a lot more, that is sharper and goes to F1.4!
 
The nifty fifty is what it is....almost a deposable lens that teaches you to zoom with your feet......I personally did nt get it and sold mine on soon after getting it.....did nt seem any sharper than my then tamron17-50...
 
50 1.8 Mk2 is the only lens I've ever returned as being soft on one side. Jessops were great about it.

Replacement is okay optically (though 1.4 version is streets ahead around the edges) but it's a horrible thing mechanically and cannot AF reliably at close range for toffee. But it was cheap, and it does f/1.8. No other virtues.

If it breaks, and it surely will, I will take some pleasure in throwing it away and using the excuse to buy a proper lens ;)
 
DaveKing said:
I've never really seen the advantage of spending £120+ on a metal mount 50mm F1.8 when you can get a newer Canon 50mm F1.4 for not a lot more, that is sharper and goes to F1.4!
Click to expand...
Yep just saw one on eBay go for £100 secondhand you can get a new Mark 2 for about £70
 
i've repaired a lot of lenses in the last year, some manual focus, some sigma's and 2 50mm mk2's, and if you think there's corner cutting on the outside... the rear element is held in place by a blob of glue. Extremely easy to fix though, unless you crack the casing I think the worst you can do is dislodge some internal plastic tracking or unseat an element- such a simple construction, from a designers point of view it really is quite a feat of economical design!

j9w0637.jpg
 
mid_gen said:
Ask yourself, does it matter if the mount is metal or plastic? Do you manual focus using the scale? If not, don't worry about it.
Click to expand...

I think if he doesn't do manual focus then it doesn't really matter, but I personally think metal mount is important for reliability etc ......
 
Where are the best (i.e. Cheapest place) to but this, I know Best buy have them, and they price match anyone in the uk that has it in stock,

I have had a look on google, but most are about £70-£80,, Is this about right ?
 
Thank you Freecom2 :)
 
I bought a nifty fifty about 2 - 3 months ago and love it (the Mark ii). The comments on build quality are interesting however. The first one I got had a dust piece (not a spec as it looked massive with the naked eye!!!). Jessops were great and swapped it straight away.

Strangely it doesn't work with my Kenko tubes however, can't work out why?!?!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top