Is it worth getting a nifty fifty?

redmonkee

redmonkee

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PHILIP
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Hi guys

I'm debating whether to purchase a canon nifty fifty for my 1D3 as a general portrait lens. At the moment i'm using my 135L and am getting some gorgeous portraits when using it as a walk around lens when out with my gf.

However I am having to stand quite far back when taking her pic due to the focal length. Would a nifty fifty be a good option? I'm worried i'll get it and be unimpressed by the image quality having been used to the images from the 135L :thinking:

Any thoughts or sample images greatly appreciated :thumbs:

Phil
 
Honestly, I don't think its the most useful focal length for portraits, its a bit inbetweeny. I'd rather have a 35mm or 85mm, but they are more expensive.
 
Bottom line is it is a great lens for the money, fast glass and sharp as a tack. I have never regretted getting mine. It is an "inbetweeny" but still worth getting imo.
 
you may not be unimpressed with the IQ but you will with the build quality and noise it makes when focussing..........
 
I love mine, super quality and pretty decent in low light. Myt only issue is i have to manual focus mine as its on a D60 and i didnt have enough cashola to by the AF-S one
 
punkuate said:
Honestly, I don't think its the most useful focal length for portraits, its a bit inbetweeny. I'd rather have a 35mm or 85mm, but they are more expensive.
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I find the same thing...., thinking of selling my 50mm 1.4g and just getting a 35 & 85 f1.8 instead.
 
I have a 50mm 1.8g and also a 50mm 1.4d and can say there is hardly difference in performence between the 2 apart from the build quality the 1.8 does feel a bit more plasticky but at the current price (i paid £62 for a 3 month old one) an absolute bargain. I use it as a walk around lens on my D3 but on a crop sensor it may seem a bit long
 
If the Canon version is anywhere near as good as the the Nikkor version then yes :thumbs:
 
I use the 50mm f1.4 and think it's a great lens for portraits, but then I have a 1.6x crop camera. It's so light and small that it's in my bag all the time. Amazing when you need it. I've used it for baby shots and portraits with minimal depth of field, karting (low light in those indoor kart tracks), it's great as a macro lens with extension tubes and of course low light conditions such as concerts.
 
Just got one off of a chap on here. Cant wait to get it. Been after one for ages. Probably leave it on camera all the time. Can't see me using the kit lens.
 
redmonkee said:
Wow didn't expect so many replies so soon so cheers guys :)

My main concern is will I be left unimpressed after using the 135L? as that is extremely sharp. I've heard the nifty can be soft at 1.8 is this generally the case?
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Yea, heard it can be soft at 1.8 but otherwise it is a sharp lens and it won't break the bank to buy one. You could always sell it on and hardly lose anything!
 
I haven't had mine long (lens) but took this last night of my wife in candlelight

Katie2.jpg
 
i have the 135L and have owned the 50 1.8.

you will be pretty disappointed with the 50 1.8 after seeing the 135L.

basically, it's soft wide open, has horrible bokeh and it can't touch the colour and contrast of the 135L. they are worlds apart.

but.... it's less than £80 quid.

it's certainly not a lens i miss having.

but, like you, i do find my 135 is a bit long and over these winter months i haven't used it too much (as i've been taking more pics indoors over christmas etc).

i got a Sigma 85 1.4 which i think is a really great length on a full frame body for all sorts of portraiture - see a few sample pics i've taken here: http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=283597

i'd definitely recommend it if you're in the market for a prime - MFD is 85cm.

other than that, the 24-70 2.8 is a great lens for indoors and i've used mine to great affect also - i certainly recommend that lens highly too.

the nifty fifty is a overrated imo.
 
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The nifty fifty isn't worth your time on a body like that, coming from a 135L.

Maybe try one out to try the focal length, and if you like it, buy a 1.4, Canon or Sigma?
 
I wouldn't get it for portraits (but it can take nice ones), it;s more use at night and available light scenarios - and is a great walkaround lens because of its size.
 
cuthbert said:
i have the 135L and have owned the 50 1.8.

you will be pretty disappointed with the 50 1.8 after seeing the 135L.

basically, it's soft wide open, has horrible bokeh and it can't touch the colour and contrast of the 135L. they are worlds apart.

but.... it's less than £80 quid.

it's certainly not a lens i miss having.

but, like you, i do find my 135 is a bit long and over these winter months i haven't used it too much (as i've been taking more pics indoors over christmas etc).
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This is exactly the kind of view I was looking for :thumbs:, I know the nifty fifty is rated highly, but a lot of that is due to it costing £80 therefore bang for buck is pretty hard to beat. But having the 135L in my bag I'm worried i'll just stick to that and step back a bit and never use the nifty.

They ain't L for no reason :D ......Damn this L fever:)
 
It only gets raved about because its the cheapest way to play with a wide aperture lens.

If you have something better (and the 135 f2 is fantastic) you will wonder why you wasted 80 quid on the cheapest piece of Canon glass you can mount on your camera.

85 or 35 is the way to go. Hire them both and see which one suits the working distances you are comfortable with.
 
desantnik said:
It only gets raved about because its the cheapest way to play with a wide aperture lens.

If you have something better (and the 135 f2 is fantastic) you will wonder why you wasted 80 quid on the cheapest piece of Canon glass you can mount on your camera.

85 or 35 is the way to go. Hire them both and see which one suits the working distances you are comfortable with.
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Thats what i'm beginning to think.

I've just started planning ways to finance the Canon 35mm 1.4L :lol:
 
I enjoyed playing with it as f1.8 was a novelty after the kit lens, but the bokeh can be pretty ugly, especially on night portraits with OOF lights in the background. I acquired the 50mm 1.2 when I bought my camera. A lens I wouldn't have otherwise bought but the offer was too good to refuse, and I'm pleased I did. Now I want a 135L!
 
redmonkee said:
I've just started planning ways to finance the Canon 35mm 1.4L :lol:
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I've got one on my 5D right now :) its definatly well worth the money its so solid and sharp, trying it out on its own just walk about lens seems to work really well just lots of foot zooming but darn sight smaller then carrying the 24-70 and much sharper imo.
 
kiteninja said:
I've got one on my 5D right now :) its definatly well worth the money its so solid and sharp, trying it out on its own just walk about lens seems to work really well just lots of foot zooming but darn sight smaller then carrying the 24-70 and much sharper imo.
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Hi Morgan i'd love to see some sample shots from that lens :)
 
redmonkee said:
Hi Morgan i'd love to see some sample shots from that lens :)
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5349149177_937704f900_z.jpg

Handeld, 1/60, iso800, f2.5(:S thought i hit 2.8 ooops) focus point left eye
Clicky for big
Stopped down a bit, will get some studio shots uploaded if you like or if you like pm if you want anything specific
 
i got a nifty fifty and must admit i haven't given it the use i thought i would
 
kiteninja said:
5349149177_937704f900_z.jpg

Handeld, 1/60, iso800, f2.5(:S thought i hit 2.8 ooops) focus point left eye
Clicky for big
Stopped down a bit, will get some studio shots uploaded if you like or if you like pm if you want anything specific
Click to expand...

Morgan that looks great, i'd love to see some shots wide open if you have any :thumbs:
 
I bought a 50/1.8 off this forum before Xmas. As said previously, it isn't on par with an L lens and it's a cheap way of getting into fast glass. That aside, it really is great fun. I'm chuffed to bits with mine. Sure it's an ugly lightweight piece of moulded plastic that looks almost invisible on my 1D3, but hey I'm having fun with it, and that counts for alot.
Dean :)
 
I bought a 50 1.8 for my D200, used it about twice over a year and then sold it. They're sharp, but sharpness isn't the only quality in a lens to look for. On my cropped body, the 35m 1.8 dx out performs it in every way, and is a much more usable focal length.
 
The nifty fifty is a great buy. You can't go wrong with it.
It looks cheap and useless but wait until you see the photos.
 
eos1 said:
The nifty fifty is a great buy. You can't go wrong with it.
It looks cheap and useless but wait until you see the photos.
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Compared as the OP is doing, to the 135 f2? Have you ever used a 135 f2? :love::love::love::love:

(just wish Nikon's 135 was half the lens the Canon one is)
 
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