2010年12月21日 星期二

Canon 50mm 1.4 - Where To Find It On Sale

If you ask a bunch of photographers what their favorite lens is, you will likely here the Canon 50mm 1.4 lens mentioned.  It is sharp, fast, light, inexpensive and comes with a large 1.4 aperture.



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What Makes The Canon 50mm 1.4 So Popular?
You may be wondering why this lens is so popular and what makes it special.  Here is a list of the major reasons that this lens is the all-time favorite of photographers - from pro to casual.

Image Quality
The first reason for the popularity of this Canon lens is image quality.  Although it is soft wide open, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens is sharp at f/2 and very sharp when stopped down to f/2.8 or narrower.

Lightweight
The small size and light weight are also responsible for the popularity enjoyed by the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens. This lens is not a bother to carry mounted.

Decent Build Quality
The overall build quality is decent but not excellent.  While the metal lens mount is good, the focus ring fit and function is only adequate.

Quiet USM Motor
The Canon 50mm 1.4 lens features a quiet Micro USM (Ultrasonic Motor) motor.  This is good but not as good as the Ring USM motors in many of the higher quality Canon lenses.

Full Time Manual Focusing
FTM focusing is supported. The 50mm f/1.4 extends up to 5/16" during focusing - the filter does not rotate.

Inexpensive Price
One of the biggest factors of this lens' popularity is the low price. Most of us care deeply about this factor. The 50 f/1.4 is a really good value lens.

Execellent For Low-Light Photography
The lens is very useful for low-light indoor photography when a flash is not permitted or appropriate, for example in a church or gym.

Useful For Portraits
The lens is a good lens and focal length for full-body portraits. Keep in mind that when mounted on a 1.6x FOVCF body, you need some extra space to accomplish the full-body portrait. On these bodies, this lens makes a fine head/shoulders portrait lens as well.

Good Travel Lens
The lens makes a good travel lens - especially for low light situations not easily handled by a general purpose lens. When space is tight and light weight is important, this lens can do the job for you.

If you only need a 50mm focal length, this lens is a great choice. Overall, I think the Canon 50mm 1.4 lens is a good lens - and a very good value.

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2010年12月20日 星期一

Canon EF 50 1.8 Review

The Canon EF 50 1.8 is a fast prime lens specifically designed for the the Canon EOS cameras at an affordable price. This article will hopefully help you make an informed decision before buying the lens.

Pros

When you attach the lens to a DSLR camera that comes with an APS-C sensor, the lens gives about an 80mm field-of-view. Although the lens can also be used for other types of applications, for instance, low light and fine art photography, it is also widely used as a portrait lens.

One of the most outstanding optical qualities of the EF 50 1.8 is probably its fast f/1.8 maximal aperture. It offers the lens the ability to control for shallow depth of field and to shoot at higher shutter speeds than regular kit lens.

The difference in optical qualities delivered by the lens compared to the Canon EF-S 18-55mm IS kit lens is not really obvious at smaller image sizes. However, when the images are compared at larger sizes, the improved sharpness and resolutions provided by the Canon EF 50mm 1.8 lens becomes very noticeable.

Canon EF 50 1.8 Video Review



Cons

Many will agree that one of the most appealing things about the lens is the reasonable price. However, while the optical performance certainly delivers, the low price is reflected in the construction of the lens. The Canon EF 50mm 1.8 lens presents a very plastic feel. Also, the AF motor is not of the USM type. It is noisier and a bit slower compared to other Canon lenses.

Major Features of the Canon EF 50 1.8 Lens

  • Fixed focal length.
  • Offers approximately 80mm field of view in 35mm terms when moonunted a Canon APS-C sensor type of camera.
  • Fast f/1.8 maximal aperture that allows for extended creative versatility by delivering shallower depth of field capabilities compared to a standard kit lens.
  • Can also be used as a fast lens for low-light photography or when higher shutter speeds are required.
  • Sharp image quality compared to the EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS kit lens.
  • Focus as close as.45 meters.
  • 52mm filter thread for attaching optional filters.
  • Polycarbonate lens mount and barrel construction.
  • Lens weight at 130g.
  • Dimensions are 68.2 x 50.5mm (Diameter x Length).
Recommendation

If the rather plasticky construction is not an issue to you, the Canon EF 50 1.8 is highly recommended for its optical qualities and great price. The lens is a practical tool for many types of photography with the good image quality. It definitely gives very good value for your money.

2010年12月12日 星期日

Canon EF 50mm 1.8 - Sharp Images At Inexpensive Price

If you are thinking of buying the Canon EF 50mm 1.8, you have come to the right place. I have written this review to share with you my experience with this lens. I hope you find it useful.



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Sharpness - Its Strongest Quality
The 50 f/1.8 lens' strongest quality is definitely its sharpness. While the sharpness performance at f/1.8 is good enough, it gets even sharper at f 2.8 and above.

The Lightest and Shortest Lens
The 50 f/1.8 is Canon's lightest and shortest lens. The build quality of this lens is rather cheap as you might expect. It is made of plastic construction right up to the lens mount. The light material along with the small size make this the lightest lens out there (4.6 oz or 130 g).

Despite of the light weight, the plastic lens mount still has enough strength. You might just get more wear and tear than you want if you are frequently changing the lens. Otherwise, it should last for more than 8 to 10 years.

Auto Focus
The auto focus is operated by a micro motor. The focus speed is fine in good light when subjects are not moving too fast. This lens makes quite a loud focusing sound so you know when it is working and when the focus is locked.

Color
The colors delivered by the EF 50mm 1.8 lens are fine, but not exceptional. For instance, at wide apertures, the color and contrast are a level below lenses such as the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4.

A Good Low-Light Indoor Lens
The EF 50 f/1.8 is an amazing low-light indoor photography lens. It works really well in places when a flash is inappropriate. It also makes a good focal length for full-body portraits.

Perfect For Travelling Light
If you need to travel light, mount the lens on a small DSLR and you'll have one of the lightest and most affordable low-light combinations that deliver sharp images.

Conclusion
The weaknesses of the Canon EF 50mm 1.8 lens are easily overlooked when you look at the price. This lens is not for everyone, but you probably can't find a better lens available for twice this price.