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50mm lenses, what's the difference?

taptic

taptic

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Dec 5, 2012
1,341
437
California
I had both for a while. The only "drawback" might be that the Mk1 is slightly noisier, but otherwise is virtually the same aside from the build.
 
Cop out answer, but depends on your needs?

The better build was definitely nicer, but it's wasn't a life changing difference.

If I were on a budget, or didn't have my focal ranges covered and wanted other lenses, I'd get the $100 model.

If I had all my lenses covered minus a 50, and planned on keeping it for a while then sure, I'd spring for the better build.

I only purchased it because I got a very good deal on it; ending up being a "free" upgrade once I sold the Mk2.
 
Also consider that the early version of the lens could be over 25 years old. While the better build quality is nice, I'm not sure it's worth double the money over a newer one.
 
Ok, say I could get them for the same price. I'd like build quality, but is there a difference in the workings of it? Would it take longer to focus and stuff?

Which one would you get if they were the same price?
 
Sometimes there is more to it than just build quality. For example, I purchased a $600 Rokinon lens over the $2000 Nikon version simply because it performs better with point light sources in the corners. The Nikon was better overall but the corner coma wasn't as good as the Rokinon. Since I do a lot of night work that includes stars this was important for me.

Older lenses might not have the same coatings as modern lenses. The result is they may be more susceptible to lens flare. They may not handle chromatic aberrations as well.

Bottom line is if you aren't looking at pro level glass then you would likely be happy with images produced by either lens.

For me, if everything else were equal I would go for the 1.4. Sure it is only a half stop faster but with the type of photos I take I'll grab every little bit of light I can. ;)
 
50mm lenses, what's the difference?

The f1.8 lens is a plastic construction with no focus distance guide on it.

The f1.4 has an additional half stop, allowing more light in, as well as being a smaller DoF. It also has a focus distance guide on it, making hyper focal focusing easier to do. It is also a bit better build quality.

Both of the lenses are great lenses however, so it won't matter which one you get.
 
plasticphyte said:
The f1.8 lens is a plastic construction with no focus distance guide on it.

The f1.4 has an additional half stop, allowing more light in, as well as being a smaller DoF. It also has a focus distance guide on it, making hyper focal focusing easier to do. It is also a bit better build quality.

Both of the lenses are great lenses however, so it won't matter which one you get.
Click to expand...

I think you may have misunderstood. There is an older 1.8 option that has the build quality of a 1.4. I think I've gotten the answer I needed though, so thank you all for your help. :)
 
DShap5 said:
I think you may have misunderstood. There is an older 1.8 option that has the build quality of a 1.4. I think I've gotten the answer I needed though, so thank you all for your help. :)
Click to expand...

Yes that's true, I was under the impression you were referring to the current f1.8 "MK II" ;).

They're all awesome 50mm's though. From the 1.8 to 1.2! :)
I am biased to the f1.2 however. The $1200AUD price tag stops me buying one :|
 
Up until a few years back my 50 was a 1.8 Mk1 . Tiny , optically nice , built well ( I had mine for 15 years at least before it died and was replaced with a 1.4). A few things you should know before getting one … There's no full time manual focusing , you've gotta switch the AF/MF switch to MF to do so ;there's no Ultrasonic motor , so there's some noise when autofocusing … not a lot but it's there ; if it breaks….oh well… Canon won't fix it . Still , it's pretty nice and real small….
 
You could always sell the 50mm f/1.8 for probably 2/3 of new price if you don't like it.
 
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