nifty fifty
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Little Man
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That's a great shot
...and I did
Cheers mate, much appreciated.
You'll love the nifty, give it a few weeks and some proper use, you'll be hooked.
DavidUK
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Cheers mate, much appreciated.
You'll love the nifty, give it a few weeks and some proper use, you'll be hooked.
I've had a play and it looks like it could be fun!
Andysnap
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Well I'm based in Leeds but was visiting our Manchester office today...aren't fuel cards good
Grrrr
And I've got to wait for the cheque to clear so it'll be next week before I can out with mine.
I say again, Grrrrrrrr
Andy
DavidUK
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Grrrr
And I've got to wait for the cheque to clear so it'll be next week before I can out with mine.
I say again, Grrrrrrrr
Andy
What I find amusing is the size of the thing, looks somehow out of place on the camera body!
Digital_Clarity
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My girlfriend said that to me once
DavidUK
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Andysnap
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SteveTolcher
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I've been told that the Nifty Fifty might be a good lens to use in my boxing photography (As I can't offord a zoom f2.8 lens as yet)
Around the gym and at the live shows, the low light ability and fast speed are very good apparently.
Anyone care to comment?
Around the gym and at the live shows, the low light ability and fast speed are very good apparently.
Anyone care to comment?
tdodd
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I have no experience of shooting boxing but a bit of a Google got me to this website....
http://www.amateurwrestlingphotos.com/spotlight/2004titan_boxing.html
The first image was shot with a 1D at 64mm, 1/200, f/2.8, 800 ISO. 64mm on a 1D would be pretty close to 50mm on a 450D (52mm actually), so that's a tick in the box. 800 ISO should be doable on the 450D without too much drama and f/2.8 will buy you a little DOF and perhaps some leeway for the focus not being 100% on the button. I would have expected a shutter speed faster than 1/200 but it seems to have worked for this shot. Whether that would be good enough every time is another matter. Also, whether or not you could work with those settings depends very much at the lighting at your venue(s).
My biggest concern for a Nifty on a 450D is whether or not the focus could keep up with the action reliably. The fact is, I simply don't know whether it would work well enough or not. I don't think there is any hope that you could focus the Nifty manually with sufficient speed and accuracy to be useful, so you would be very much at the mercy of the AF performance.
For a 50mm lens on a 450D at f/2.8 and with a subject 10' away your DOF would be approx +/- 7" either side of your point of focus. That does not leave much room for error in the AF when trying to frame two beefy boxers going at it. The closer they were, the shallower the DOF would become.
Of course, you would also be a bit constrained in framing your shots with a prime lens, compared to a nice 17-55 f/2.8 or 24-70 f/2.8, but then you already know that. The big question to be answered is whether the AF will let you down, and I can't answer that. I hope somebody can.
http://www.amateurwrestlingphotos.com/spotlight/2004titan_boxing.html
The first image was shot with a 1D at 64mm, 1/200, f/2.8, 800 ISO. 64mm on a 1D would be pretty close to 50mm on a 450D (52mm actually), so that's a tick in the box. 800 ISO should be doable on the 450D without too much drama and f/2.8 will buy you a little DOF and perhaps some leeway for the focus not being 100% on the button. I would have expected a shutter speed faster than 1/200 but it seems to have worked for this shot. Whether that would be good enough every time is another matter. Also, whether or not you could work with those settings depends very much at the lighting at your venue(s).
My biggest concern for a Nifty on a 450D is whether or not the focus could keep up with the action reliably. The fact is, I simply don't know whether it would work well enough or not. I don't think there is any hope that you could focus the Nifty manually with sufficient speed and accuracy to be useful, so you would be very much at the mercy of the AF performance.
For a 50mm lens on a 450D at f/2.8 and with a subject 10' away your DOF would be approx +/- 7" either side of your point of focus. That does not leave much room for error in the AF when trying to frame two beefy boxers going at it. The closer they were, the shallower the DOF would become.
Of course, you would also be a bit constrained in framing your shots with a prime lens, compared to a nice 17-55 f/2.8 or 24-70 f/2.8, but then you already know that. The big question to be answered is whether the AF will let you down, and I can't answer that. I hope somebody can.
Mr.B
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There's always been 1 of these on my wishlist, I was going to go for the f/1.8 but I'm now considering the f/1.4 after reading a few comments. I've been with a friend whilst he was using his and upon seeing the end results I was shocked. great lens for the money (his was the 1.8)
subseasniper
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I am bouncing between the Canon 30mm f2 and the 50mm f1.4.
I have a 40D, could anybody with a crop body let me know whether or not they find the extra reach that gives the 50 to be restrictive or not. I like the ideas of a standard lens but the 30mm only gives you f2. The f1.4 has really got me salivating.
I have a 40D, could anybody with a crop body let me know whether or not they find the extra reach that gives the 50 to be restrictive or not. I like the ideas of a standard lens but the 30mm only gives you f2. The f1.4 has really got me salivating.
danbroad
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I know this is a Canon thread, but just to clarify - there's not much difference in build between the Nikkor 1.4 and 1.8 models - they both have aperture rings, and similar tough plastic bodies. I had the 50 f/1.8 on my 350D, and I agree that with hindsight I'd have gone for the 1.4 for its better build.
Don't get me wrong, it is not really a bad lens, but, it is not a great lens.
many photographers bubble about this lens because they are comparing its image quality with the 18-55mm kit lens and it does win that contest hands down!
The 18-55mm kit lens is an el-cheapo that was developed by Canon, not to be an excellent lens, but to be a part of the first sub-thousand dollar DSLR combination - the original Digital Rebel.
The "Nifty-Fifty" was developed for just the same reason, not to be a great lens, but to enable Canon to package their Rebel EOS Film Cameras at a competitive price.
What Canon did was to take a very good lens, the 50mm f/1.8 Mark-I and water down its construction and features to make the "Plastic Fantastic" cheap to produce.
They began will all plastic construction even the lens mount and they removed the focusing scale which IMO is very important - especially when shooting in lower light levels.
The result of the poor construction was a fragile lens that is more likely to fall apart than most "normal" lenses. I have been a photographer for fifty years, most of it professionally; including several years as a combat cameraman in Vietnam. I have NEVER totalled a lens until I was given the "nifty-fifty". All it took was a slight knock against a door frame and the front element was rolling on the ground. There is not much use in photography for a two piece lens.
Sure, buy the lens because it is cheap. However, don't expect a great lens for that price. IMO, your money would be better spent if you took what you would pay for a new "Nifty-Fifty" and added some additional funds to purchase the much better built Mark-I on the used market.
By the way, the Mark-II replaced the Mark-I and a used Mark-I costs more than a new Mark-II. That might give you an indication as to the relative merit in which these two lenses are held by photographers.
Or, if you can afford it, as stevieboy278 recomends, "get the 50mm 1.4 instead - its sharper, focusses better, and is built like a tank . .. . " Additionally, the bokeh is so much better than the five blade aperture of the Mark-II.
many photographers bubble about this lens because they are comparing its image quality with the 18-55mm kit lens and it does win that contest hands down!
The 18-55mm kit lens is an el-cheapo that was developed by Canon, not to be an excellent lens, but to be a part of the first sub-thousand dollar DSLR combination - the original Digital Rebel.
The "Nifty-Fifty" was developed for just the same reason, not to be a great lens, but to enable Canon to package their Rebel EOS Film Cameras at a competitive price.
What Canon did was to take a very good lens, the 50mm f/1.8 Mark-I and water down its construction and features to make the "Plastic Fantastic" cheap to produce.
They began will all plastic construction even the lens mount and they removed the focusing scale which IMO is very important - especially when shooting in lower light levels.
The result of the poor construction was a fragile lens that is more likely to fall apart than most "normal" lenses. I have been a photographer for fifty years, most of it professionally; including several years as a combat cameraman in Vietnam. I have NEVER totalled a lens until I was given the "nifty-fifty". All it took was a slight knock against a door frame and the front element was rolling on the ground. There is not much use in photography for a two piece lens.
Sure, buy the lens because it is cheap. However, don't expect a great lens for that price. IMO, your money would be better spent if you took what you would pay for a new "Nifty-Fifty" and added some additional funds to purchase the much better built Mark-I on the used market.
By the way, the Mark-II replaced the Mark-I and a used Mark-I costs more than a new Mark-II. That might give you an indication as to the relative merit in which these two lenses are held by photographers.
Or, if you can afford it, as stevieboy278 recomends, "get the 50mm 1.4 instead - its sharper, focusses better, and is built like a tank . .. . " Additionally, the bokeh is so much better than the five blade aperture of the Mark-II.
garymercer
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I got my 50mm f/1.4 yesterday and can't wait to try it out properly
Digital_Clarity
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I've gone for the 1.8 and am expecting delivery soon However I might just get the f1.4 to try it out, then sell it on if I don't see a improvement worth the extra £150.
Can't wait :bonk::bonk:
However I might just get the f1.4 to try it out, then sell it on if I don't see a improvement worth the extra £150.Can't wait :bonk::bonk:
POAH
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because its cheap and has a fast aperture but in reality its built poorly, focus accuracy is not particuarly great and its pretty soft wide open.
the 50mm f1.8 would be sharper than the kit lens at equivelent apertures though but its not a replacement for the kit lens.
the fact that it holds it value means you can buy it, play around with it untill you can afford somthing better or get bored, then sell it and not lose much on it.
From the perspective of a beginner, i got mine (Canon) a few weeks back and i love it. I hear what other people are saying about build quality but i keep clear of war zones so this shouldn't be a problem 
For me, i love the new found shallow DOF (although i agree it's not totally sharp wide open) and it does teach you a lot about composition.
For the money, just buy one
For me, i love the new found shallow DOF (although i agree it's not totally sharp wide open) and it does teach you a lot about composition.
For the money, just buy one
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I can relate to that
Going to pick up a 1.4 tonight though, finally be rid of the plastic fantastic for good 
bustersdelight
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Just bought mine from kerso, so will have a play.
matt_wright
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Would this lens be good for helping me photograph my brothers wedding? I have a 450d and i am considering getting the 1.8, but was worried that i wont be able to get potraits with more than one person in?
Any ideas/suggestions?
Thanks
Any ideas/suggestions?
Thanks
Digital_Clarity
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Yes, try it before you get there! The first few times you'll be suprised at how much you have to move around (especially if you're used to a zoom lens like me!).
subseasniper
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I got my 50mm f1.4 a few daysago and am delighted with it. Its the first 'proper' bit of glass for my 40D and it has been an absolutejoy to use, the results are vivid and fantastic and it has totally opened my eyes up to the results possible when you have a decent bit of glass. I would recommend anyoneto try it. Due to the crop on the 40D it is actually quite tight, a good bit more than I thought but itfeels so refreshing to have to move my ass around to frame a shot. Really, really recommend the f1.4